My neighbours have been divorced for a while.
The wife remained in the house with the kids.
The husband left a long cupboard with 2/3 carpets on top of it next to the machsanim in the building. The carpets are rotting from damp and have a terrible smell.
I have tried calling him several times in order to ask him if he would like to come and take it. I always get an answering machine and he never calls back.
I asked his son to ask him. The son spoke to his father and said that appears that he forgot about it and will think about it.
I have not heard back from them for over a week.
Should I ask the son to speak to his father again or should I send a letter informing him that if he does not remove it by next week – then it will be discarde.
I would like it out by Pesach.
Answer:
A person does not have the right to enforce guardianship of his property on somebody else.
Therefore, the husband will not have the right to leave the carpet there against his former wife’s will.
For this reason, I think that sending out a letter informing him that it will be discarded if it isn’t removed within a week is a fair option.
