I rented a house from a someone, who as he was moving out ask if I wanted some bar stools and some silk plants he had up on some plant shelves. I said OK, when I moved out, I moved the stuff he gave me. Now he is saying he wants it back. I said, no you gave it to me. I've received several nasty messages from him and he just text back saying he called the police and pressed charges. I am thinking he is just blowing hot air. Am I right?

Hello C:

I don't know if he's nuts or not. Just tell the cops what you told us.

excon

Blowing what hot air? That he really hasn't pressed charges or that nothing will happen? We can't know the former, and the latter will depend a lot on the police department. Some (most, I would guess) will tell him that it's a civil matter, not criminal, and to sue you in small claims.

Given that this is probably a semantic misunderstanding, you really should give the stuff back. Technically 'do you want this' is merely asking IF you want it, not an offer of a gift. He might decide to give it to you, sell it to you, or neither.

Unless you have some proof that he gave you the items, then I would return them. He may have merely been asking if you wanted to use them during your tenancy, instead of him moving them to storage. Without such proof, you could be accused of theft. While I doubt if this would get to a court, it could be inconvenient.

I agree even more with ScottGem in that he probably meant 'do you want (to USE) these things' while there. It was wrong of you to assume. Do the ethical thing and return them.

Hello again, s:

I agree with my friends that you should give the stuff back. Not because you have an obligation to do so (I believe they were a gift), but because they are nothing but THINGS that can be replaced - and they're not even especially nice things.

Who needs trouble over this kind of BS?

excon