How to Legally Obtain a Rotting Car from a Neighbor

When someone you know keeps their vintage car collection in the woods, it can be frustrating. Unfortunately, you cannot force the owner to sell the cars to you directly. However, there might be legal ways to ensure these cars are handled properly and you could potentially benefit from them. This article explores these options and provides practical advice.

Overview of Legal Options

There are several legal avenues to consider when dealing with rotting cars on private property. Here, we will explore how environmental laws can be used to address the situation.

Using Environmental Laws to Address Rotting Cars

Rotting cars in the woods pose a significant environmental risk. They slowly leach pollutants into the ground, which can contaminate water courses and harm local flora and fauna. Therefore, you can leverage environmental protection laws to force the car owner to either sell the cars voluntarily or have them seized and sold at public auction.

Environmental Impact Studies

Environmental impact studies can be commissioned to assess the damage caused by the rotting cars. However, these studies are not cheap and can be particularly challenging if access to private land is required. Public bodies may sometimes commission these studies, but cases involving a few cars in privately-owned woodland are often a low priority compared to more serious environmental threats.

Environmental Action and Hardstanding Areas

If environmental impact studies show significant harm, the landowner might apply for permission to construct a hardstanding area with drainage designed to collect pollutants. If your plans backfire, you might have to pay for any legal fees. However, if permission for a proper storage site is denied, you might be able to negotiate the purchase of any cars that have to be sold.

Real-Life Examples

There are several real-life cases where rotting cars on private property met a similar fate. Here are a few examples:

One neighbor had a 1965 Mustang with a locked-up engine sitting in their property for years. Despite offers to purchase the car, the owner did not sell it. Eventually, the owner passed away, and the family called a junkyard to haul the car and several others away.

Another instance involved rare vintage cars that had been sitting in a nearby wooded area. By the time the owners passed away, the cars were in such a state that they were not worth the effort to pull them out of the weeds. The family hoped these rusted scrap metals with missing parts could be sold for a high price, but potential buyers were few and far between.

Conclusion

While it can be tempting to try and obtain a rotting car from a neighbor through legal means, the options are limited. Environmental laws can be used to address the environmental impact, but the process can be lengthy and costly. It's often more practical to look elsewhere for potentially restorable cars. If you do wish to pursue legal actions, ensure you have a clear understanding of the costs involved and potential outcomes.