Neighbour built a lean to, now DM house isn't a semi

[fortifiedwithtea]

This is not a new problem but I love to know if anything can be done about it in the future.

Many years ago when I was a kid next neighbour to Mum and Dad built a lean to joining their house to our garage so incorporating our garage wall into their house so to speak. They did this without permission. Dad was furious at the time but Mum begged not to complain.

I can't believe my Dad let this go. Over the years its meant every time next door needs workmen to access her back garden she has expected Mum to give permission to open up the garage for their ladders, paint pots, chainsaws fucking tree pruning whatever. Then the workmen have to climb over Mum's fence.

Mum is 77 yo now and neighbour is in her 80's and talks of one day buying a retirement home.

If neighbour ever sells can my Mum me insist the lean to is taken down.

The neighbour is an odd woman for other reasons. I would love for my Mum to put up a six foot high fence and tell her neighbour to fuck off to the far side of fuck, but she never will.

[wowfudge]

Post this is legal too for advice - I'm not sure whether the law relating to adverse possession may apply as it's presumably over 12 years ago. The issue is whether the lean to crosses the original boundary line between the properties. Also, how does your mother carry out any maintenance of the wall if it is within the neighbour's lean to?

[fortifiedwithtea]

Yes the lean to has been up donkeys years, when I was a kid and I'm 48 yo now. I just never know the circumstances whilst Dad was alive (he passed nearly 7 years ago).

Tbh maintenance of the wall hadn't crossed my mind . Looking at the front of the property - its house with attached garage with a flat roof. Side wall of garage is on boundary that Mum is responsible for i.e. Mum owns fence in back garden between them.

Next door originally had a side path leading to their back garden. They blocked the pathway in by creating this lean-to using Mum's garage wall. They also knocked through the wall from their hall giving access to the lean to and had the area plastered. Their house is unusual as their garage is in a separate block.

Touch wood the wall is standing strong

[Bramshott]

I don't know about insisting its taken down, but surely you would be completely within your rights to say that access through the garage was a 'friendly' arrangement between your DM and the neighbour and won't be able to continue under new ownership. Up to new owners then to see if it's more trouble that its worth to have a house where you can't access the garden except through the house.