Ive just had another visit from the man who wants to buy the house next door to mine. Hes worried about a roof that overhangs a shed that runs along the boundary (shed is built from long rectangular concrete slab things and has a flat roof). He's been round here four or five times now mithering the life out of me and is starting to do my head in.
My house used to belong to my parents, now me. 60- odd years ago, my parents neighbours built this shed along the boundary. The side wall of this shed encroaches onto our side of the boundary by about a 18 inches wide by about 6 feet in length. The boundary wall is connected to the rear of their shed and runs (unsurprisingly) between the two properties. Shortly after the shed and wall was built, my parents covered the gap between the gable end of the house and the boundary wall/shed to make a porch. The guttering has always been on the neighbour?s side of the boundary for about 6 feet and also across the neighbour?s shed roof, but following the boundary, for about two feet. My parents got permission from the original neigbour to do it and for over 60 years and with at least 5 different families living next door, everyone has been OK with this.
He is complaining about the overhanging roof and says its got to come down or be moved or he'll just knock the shed and wall down. He did backpedal a bit when I told him that "his" shed is actually built on my property, and "his" shed wall is on my land and this roof has been in place for over 60 years. He reckons that his mortgage company wont let him have a mortgage with things the way they are (which is a load of bollocks as it hasn't doesnt affect the value of the house, which is on the market for £45k more than the last time it went up for sale 10 years ago). He didnt have an answer when I asked him how he thought the different people that have lived there before him managed!! He just opened and closed his mouth for a bit trying to think of something to say then changed the subject.
It is literally a load of fuss over a couple of inches. He wouldnt even see it unless he comes out of either the front or back door, and walks around the corner of the house to stand in the passage and look at it. Its properly maintained and not scruffy or loose or full of weeds or anything like that.
I'm not overly worried just yet, as he hasn?t actually had his offer accepted. I phoned the estate agents to pretend to arrange a viewing and I can go and have a look at the property tomorrow if I want - its empty, the nice old couple that lived there died last year and their sons (who are lovely) have said that they aren't in any hurry to sell the house.
He also made a comment when he walked off down the front drive past a really old conker tree which is on the same boundary "ooh that's a bit big isnt it". I swear I could see him mentally revving up his chainsaw. :(