Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

NEIGHBOUR CROSSED THE BOUNDARY BEFORE EXCHANGE

867 replies

MummyToBeAgain1 · 26/03/2025 09:29

Hi

I need some advice please.

We're buying a semi detached property and due to exchange and complete in a week or 2.

Over the weekend we drove past the property to find a fence being built between our garden and the property on the right. I suspected they had come in to our garden at a glance so drove past again yesterday.

The fence had fully been up and clearly it crossed in to our garden (to be). I've attached a quick drawing which shows what I mean. The red line is the fence the neighbour has put up.

Just for some context this is a auction property as the owner has died and the children wanted a quick sale. This means that we have a deadline for completition which makes things more stressful.

What do we do now?

Tia

Sensitive content
NEIGHBOUR CROSSED THE BOUNDARY BEFORE EXCHANGE
OP posts:
Antonania · 06/05/2025 14:29

stitchy · 06/05/2025 14:23

It's so incredibly galling when copper-bottomed shitbags who would steal from bereaved people come out on top and are rewarded for their twattery

Absolutely, but ultimately a few extra k was not worth the fight to vendors who were getting rid anyway, and lucky for them OP was prepared to live next to these people. If OP hadn't agreed to the reduced plot, someone else would have done.

You must be pleased to get it over the line OP, if not in the way you'd have liked.

TroysMammy · 06/05/2025 14:27

Once the property is yours couldn't you challenge them because the Land Registry deeds show it belongs to you?

stitchy · 06/05/2025 14:23

It's so incredibly galling when copper-bottomed shitbags who would steal from bereaved people come out on top and are rewarded for their twattery

redphonecase · 06/05/2025 14:23

Gosh. You went through with the purchase. Good luck living with those neighbours......

Original poster
MummyToBeAgain1 · 06/05/2025 14:23

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 06/05/2025 14:19

@MummyToBeAgain1 now it leaves you able to grab back the land!!! you go back to your solicitor and demand they write a letter to cf neighbours stating the boundary line has recently been altered by them and it needs to be reinstated!! do not let them get away with it!! they will probably comply pretty quietly because they knew they were doing the wrong thing! you need to do this, no matter what you had to pay!! dont change it on the land registry!! any argument they have will never stand up in court!!

Edited

The thing is though the final agreement was a price reduction and that we would change it on Land Reg post-completion. Not sure where that leaves us going forward?

OP posts:
allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 06/05/2025 14:19

@MummyToBeAgain1 now it leaves you able to grab back the land!!! you go back to your solicitor and demand they write a letter to cf neighbours stating the boundary line has recently been altered by them and it needs to be reinstated!! do not let them get away with it!! they will probably comply pretty quietly because they knew they were doing the wrong thing! you need to do this, no matter what you had to pay!! dont change it on the land registry!! any argument they have will never stand up in court!!

LurkyMcLurkinson · 06/05/2025 14:13

MummyToBeAgain1 · 06/05/2025 14:03

They've got away with it because it's a auction sale so there's a strict deadline for the completion date.

Show quote history

I would at least hope the sellers knocked on their door to highlight what horrible humans they are and to tell them they should be ashamed of themselves.

CantStopMoving · 06/05/2025 14:11

PsychoHotSauce · 06/05/2025 14:10

Oh, that's a good point, and the more sensible thing to do. Legally keep the land, just don't include it in the sale to OP. Then chase the CFs separately. That makes much more sense - my bad for just assuming they let the CFs have it.

Show quote history

That’s what I would do! Play the long game! 😂

PsychoHotSauce · 06/05/2025 14:10

CantStopMoving · 06/05/2025 14:07

The sellers don’t have to give the land to the neighbours for free surely? They can just keep it as a ransom strip?they can then make a life difficult for the neighbours when they want to sell.

Oh, that's a good point, and the more sensible thing to do. Legally keep the land, just don't include it in the sale to OP. Then chase the CFs separately. That makes much more sense - my bad for just assuming they let the CFs have it.

Original poster
MummyToBeAgain1 · 06/05/2025 14:08

CantStopMoving · 06/05/2025 14:07

The sellers don’t have to give the land to the neighbours for free surely? They can just keep it as a ransom strip?they can then make a life difficult for the neighbours when they want to sell.

I've no idea about that but good point. What would happen?

Also, when we change it on Land reg then it's the neighbours - for free.

OP posts:
CantStopMoving · 06/05/2025 14:07

The sellers don’t have to give the land to the neighbours for free surely? They can just keep it as a ransom strip?they can then make a life difficult for the neighbours when they want to sell.

CantStopMoving · 06/05/2025 14:05

WhiteCloudd · 06/05/2025 13:53

So in the end the seller lost out because of the shitty neighbours. They sound horrible.

Presumably them sellers can take legal action against them if they want to?

PeachPumpkin · 06/05/2025 14:04

Thanks for the update OP. Sounds hideously stressful, but I’m glad it’s sorted.

Original poster
MummyToBeAgain1 · 06/05/2025 14:03

LurkyMcLurkinson · 06/05/2025 14:00

This is so sad for the sellers, who I’m sure you said had experienced a bereavement. What horrible humans your new neighbours must be. Do you know if anyone spoke to them directly to challenge their behaviour or have they essentially just got away with it without even being asked how they could behave so disgustingly?

They've got away with it because it's a auction sale so there's a strict deadline for the completion date.

OP posts:
PsychoHotSauce · 06/05/2025 14:02

CowTown · 06/05/2025 13:58

I wonder why the sellers didn’t sell that bit of land, and make the CFs pay them?

Show quote history

The CFs would just ignore and scupper the sale presumably. The sellers were on a deadline and CFs had all the leverage.

I have no idea where they stand legally but if I were the seller, I'd be seeing if I could sue CFs separately for the loss in value. But they'd need solid evidence of where the boundary was before, and the big thing is it could be deemed they've 'accepted' the boundary change without selling it to CFs.

I don't know, you'd need a particularly smart barrister for that one.

Original poster
MummyToBeAgain1 · 06/05/2025 14:01

Baystar · 06/05/2025 13:58

Absolutely shocking on the neighbours part and completely agree with your comment, seller has definitely been the injured party here.
Good luck though OP, glad you have an outcome that will get you to the finish line now.

Show quote history

Thank you :-)

OP posts:
Original poster
MummyToBeAgain1 · 06/05/2025 14:01

CowTown · 06/05/2025 13:58

I wonder why the sellers didn’t sell that bit of land, and make the CFs pay them?

Show quote history

There was a strict deadline for the sale due to it being a auction.

OP posts:
LurkyMcLurkinson · 06/05/2025 14:00

This is so sad for the sellers, who I’m sure you said had experienced a bereavement. What horrible humans your new neighbours must be. Do you know if anyone spoke to them directly to challenge their behaviour or have they essentially just got away with it without even being asked how they could behave so disgustingly?

Original poster
MummyToBeAgain1 · 06/05/2025 13:59

AhBiscuits · 06/05/2025 13:57

So the neighbours get some free land. I just don't think I'd have been able to accept that if I was the seller.

I wouldn't either. I still don't understand why they didn't just knock on the neighbours door and speak to them to move it.

OP posts:
Swiftie1878 · 06/05/2025 13:59

MummyToBeAgain1 · 06/05/2025 13:56

I shall keep you updated about them!! Hopefully, this was a sneaky take whilst the property was vacant and not they day to day behaviour!

Show quote history

No decent people would have done this.
Be very wary. They are nasty bastards.

Baystar · 06/05/2025 13:58

WhiteCloudd · 06/05/2025 13:53

So in the end the seller lost out because of the shitty neighbours. They sound horrible.

Absolutely shocking on the neighbours part and completely agree with your comment, seller has definitely been the injured party here.
Good luck though OP, glad you have an outcome that will get you to the finish line now.

CowTown · 06/05/2025 13:58

MummyToBeAgain1 · 06/05/2025 13:57

Sadly, yes, the sellers lost out. :-(

Show quote history

I wonder why the sellers didn’t sell that bit of land, and make the CFs pay them?

Original poster
MummyToBeAgain1 · 06/05/2025 13:58

PsychoHotSauce · 06/05/2025 13:56

I'm really happy for you OP, but be very careful with those neighbours. They've managed to land grab and got away with it. There's no telling what they'll do when your back is turned now. I would be taking photos of locations of every garden structure/boundary with the pics showing actual measurements from other garden structures to prove location. I'd also set up a camera or two (with all the right privacy settings so it only covers your actual garden), so you have proof if they ever try anything else.

Thank you for your advice. We will be getting cameras and will be fully observing them as much as we can.

OP posts:
Original poster
MummyToBeAgain1 · 06/05/2025 13:57

WhiteCloudd · 06/05/2025 13:53

So in the end the seller lost out because of the shitty neighbours. They sound horrible.

Sadly, yes, the sellers lost out. :-(

OP posts:
AhBiscuits · 06/05/2025 13:57

So the neighbours get some free land. I just don't think I'd have been able to accept that if I was the seller.