New neighbours

[Plannergirl9]

Sorry this is a long one. TLDR: Essentially we were gifted land from ex-neighbour when they died. New neighbours who bought her house has told us we must sell it to them.

A bit more backstorey. Our elderly neighbour lived next to us until they died in late December. She had a side bit of garden like an allotment that we used to help her with (hatched area on diagram). Unbeknownst to us she gifted us that area of land in her will. The rest of the house and land was to be sold and the money given to charity.

After the will reading we have had the land registry changed to confirm we now own the land. The house was put up for sale late January. In mid February we received a letter from a solicitor asking that we sell the land to the potential buyer of the house. We emailed back saying no we won't sell. We then heard nothing more from any solicitors. House was then sold during lockdown.

The new neighbours moved in on Monday. Yesterday they came to our door asking for the name of our solicitor so the land purchase can take place. We told them we were not planning on selling the land and that we told their solicitor that. The new neighbours didn't take it well. Apparently they only bought the house on the provision that they could buy the land and this was agreed with us via their solicitors.

The new neighbours got quite loud and angry about us apparently misleading them and left to speak to their solicitor. They seem to think we legally need to sell them the land as there was a written (email) contract between them and their solicitor who confirmed to them by email prior to the sale of the house that we would sell the land.

Aibu to a) not sell the land even though we technically didn't buy it and b) that the fact their solicitor has mislead them is not our problem?

Neighbours land is in red.
Our land is in black and the hatched area is the land they expect to buy.

[BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup]

If you want to keep the land then keep it.

You made no legal agreement with either of the parties next door to sell the land to them.

Just be aware that you will not have good neighbourly relations.

[Cabinfever10]

They are having a laugh.
You don't need to sell anything to your cfucker nee neighbour

[FOJN]

Sounds like they are CF's trying it on or were misled by their Solicitor. Either way it's not your problem, the land is yours and you are not obliged to sell it no matter where it's located in relation to both properties.

They cannot have a contract with the Solicitor to buy the land because the Solicitor doesn't own it so has no right to sell it.

If they come round again I'd calmly tell them to take it up with their Solicitor and advise you will call the police if their behaviour continues to be intimidating.

[LaughingDonkey]

''We emailed back saying no we won't sell''

Do you still have the email exchange saved?..

[HappyDinosaur]

They are talking nonsense, no one could have such an agreement as you could easily turn around and say you can buy for £1 million, so it would be pointless.

[Throckmorton]

Keep the land. They need to take it up with their solicitor and get compensation from him if he mislead them. Obviously keep copies of all the communication you had with the solicitor regarding this.

[StrongTea]

Their problem not yours.

[WhentheRabbitsWentWild]

Cheeky GITS

No OP YANBU

[makingmammaries]

I would so not be selling that land.

Your new neighbours sound like they need to be kept at arm’s length. The more land on your side of the boundary, the better.

[TriciaH]

You are not obliged to sell the land because their solicitor lied to them that's their fault. If the land is why they bought the property they should have asked for proof you would sell to be drawn up as a contract from you or have added it to the sale and processed at the same time. You are not obligated to sell even if you had said you would unless a contract was signed the same as they were not obligated to complete the house purchase until they signed the contract.

[makingmammaries]

Also, a contract between two parties is not enforceable against a third party. That’s a basic legal principle. Whatever they think their solicitor promised is between them and their solicitor, and they can do one.

[Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear]

I would just email the solicitor including the original email you sent saying you wouldn't sell and then refuse to have anything more to do with it.

[Windyatthebeach]

So hopefully now they will sell the house... Cf of the week imo..

[krustykittens]

They are bullies and they hope if they are aggressive enough with you, you will sell. Tell them to fuck off, I can't stand people like this!

[ElsieMc]

This is nonsense op. The land is yours. I don't believe their solicitor told them you had agreed to sell the land either and there is some misunderstanding on their part.

As in any property purchase, either party is quite free to withdraw up to exchange of contract in any event although I do not believe you ever agreed. You clearly said you did not want to sell.

A previous neighbour of ours bought a house with a small garden and she offered on the house solely on the understanding she would approach the farmer to buy an extra plot of land from him. The two purchases ran side by side to exchange of contracts. She did not want one without the other and made her position clear.

If you asked them to provide the paperwork they would be unable to. They are trying it on and want your land. The emphasis being on your land.

I would ignore them now op. They cannot insist you sell them land you do not want to. I would avoid them as much as possible and it is helpful to keep the land gifted to you in your former neighbour's will to separate you. They are beyond cheeky and rude.

[PolkaDotsPolka]

Their solicitor has mislead them... Not your problem.

[BigSandyBalls2015]

Blimey the front of some people is staggering. What a way to introduce yourself to your new neighbours. Forward the email (hope you've still got it!) and ignore them. Cheeky AF

[Windyatthebeach]

Why on earth would you allow this to happen? They are bonkers...

[friendlycat]

Gosh this scenario is certainly bonkers. Who buys a house without the commitment to own what they want from the land/house? This really is not your problem but sadly it seems as those your new neighbours are going to be very unreasonable about this even though none of this is your fault and all the fault lies with them, their estate agent and most importantly their solicitor. Good luck going forward.

[thegcatsmother]

Tell the neighbours to go away; it's your land. If it you want it, keep it; if you don't, then sell it at a massive premium.

[wink1970]

If you haven't already, fence off that part of your land, both to make the point and to deny them access.

There was a thread on here a while back where someone was 'tending' the poster's land and trying to gain rights to it based on that (which reminds me, i must look up how that ended).

[Pelleas]

They need to be taking this up with their solicitor, not with you.

[ImInYourMindFuzz]

Do you still have letter and sent email? I would copy letter, attach printed out letter and keep for the next time you are approached about this. Say this is the extent of the conversation you had regard the sale of the land, you will not be selling the land and any further contact will be taken as harassment. I bet they’re just trying their luck.

[ImInYourMindFuzz]

Or say you’ll sell for £100k and see what they say lol!

[cstaff]

They have gotten off to a bad start with you having just moved in so any bad feeling that come out of this is down to them. Just say no unless you fancy making a lot of money and offer it at an extortionate rate. Otherwise they can fuck off.