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Original poster

Neighbour stole our woodland?

983 replies

TwittleBee · 27/01/2019 07:00

Our DGrandad left me and my sister his woodland when he passed away a few years ago. It isn't anything that special (as in its not protected and hasn't any distinguished species) but does have a TPO on a couple of trees. It is a place that my sister and I visit occasionally and thought that perhaps we could use it as a place to "wild camp" with the kids this summer for a few weekends. Even had insipiration from what George Clark created in a piece of woodland in his series Amazing Spaces and thought maybe one day with enough money we could do the same.

Anyway, we went down there this weekend to have a look to see if we could maybe clear a patch for a good tent destination, Thought it be good to do this now before everything starts flourishing in the spring.

To our shock it's all been fenced off and there has been some very obvious clearing of trees and shrubs! We knocked on the nearest house to ask what's happened to our woodland and the couple that lived there informed us that they have now taken it as their own and have started keeping it in order for past couple months. They said that it now makes our land legally theirs?

Obviously we shall be seeking legal advice but in the meantime, can what they claim actually be correct?

Just seems so unfair? Surely that would mean I could just fence off any land and claim it as my own?

OP posts:
insecure123 · 04/02/2019 08:17

Hopefully they have at least made some effort over the weekend to return it to normal OP!

viques · 04/02/2019 08:56

Great update op. Hoping to hear more good news and the sound of a fence being ripped from the ground!

Boysgrownbutstillathome · 04/02/2019 09:23

Great news Smile

MulticolourMophead · 04/02/2019 09:39

If the letter was sent on Friday, theres no guarantee they've even received it yet. I doubt there's been any effort made this weekend.

Ruru8thestars · 04/02/2019 09:47

Great news!

insecure123 · 04/02/2019 11:35

oops read the update wrong....noticed it was posted this Morning so OP means it will be this coming weekend she is going to check!

Galwaydags · 04/02/2019 11:52

Overinvested

Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/02/2019 12:12

Placemarking for OP's update

So glad the solicitors were able to reassure you, but somehow I doubt they'd be all that shocked ... after all, they deal with CFs like this all the time

SirVixofVixHall · 04/02/2019 13:07

Yes, I hope that is enough and that they don’t try and push it further.

LakieLady · 04/02/2019 13:18

Great update, Twittle.

I guess this means CheekyFuckerFest is off though ...

MulticolourMophead · 04/02/2019 13:21

I wonder if they'll try to argue with the solicitor when they've read the letter. Would also be interesting to see if they try to bill you for the cost of removing the fence.

Jux · 04/02/2019 13:50

They do sound like the sort of people who will think that you have paid your solicitor to say that. They'll probably go to solicitor after solicitor to find one who'll say what they want. Some people really don't understand how things work.

Original poster
TwittleBee · 04/02/2019 14:03

I agree Jux they do appear like that sort of people.

I am also really worried they will make our visits there a misery by calling the police. Seems hassle to have to remember to take copies of deeds and ID every time we want to visit there - but I should imagine that will be really important to remember when we start camping there for weekends in the Spring.

Our Dad has actually said he might go camp there first for us to see if he gets any trouble.

OP posts:
thecatsthecats · 04/02/2019 14:08

You could get a durable sign printed and set into concrete at the entrance.

*This land (map) is registered property. The owners last visited (one of those slidey date things that only you can change).

It does not belong to (CF name). Please be kind to them if they say otherwise. They have enough problems as it is.*

BrightYellowDaffodil · 04/02/2019 14:09

Even if they did call the police out of malice, the police would get wise to them after the first one or two calls. If you’re bothered, pop a photocopy of your ID/the deeds in your car glove box, or take photographs of them that you keep on your phone.

gamerchick · 04/02/2019 14:09

Ah man I'm properly jealous, I'd love to own something like that Grin

Good luck OP.

purplerainpitcher · 04/02/2019 14:16

I hope it all works out easily for you. hopefully they listen to the letter.

HeyNannyNanny · 04/02/2019 14:21

They don't enjoy holidays at their "friends" house in Mexico do they?

QuitMoaning · 04/02/2019 14:23

I didn’t know about this method of getting land, I thought you had to buy it.

I just mowed my neighbours front lawn so as I have maintained it, I get to keep it. I now need them to go out so I can hoover the lounge and claim ownership of the house. Who needs estate agents and lawyers when all you need is a hoover, lawn mower and tree axe to claim any land.

DGRossetti · 04/02/2019 14:32

I didn’t know about this method of getting land, I thought you had to buy it.

It goes way back when to the days of the Black Death when whole villages were abandoned. If you had to rely on proof of ownership, then there would be vast tracts of land that couldn't be used because while they belonged to someone, you couldn't legally buy them. So it became the law that if you moved onto land, and were able to enclose it without challenge for 12 years it became yours.

I imagine it's lasted so long because it's never really caused a problem. Indeed, most of the screaming headlines about adverse possession usually had a very small section about how the original owner had not challenged for whatever reason. It's probably a sign of the press situation, but my impression was Labour run local authorities were incredibly incompetent at challenging squatters. The most famous case being a house in Central London that was handed over to squatters after 12 years occupation with no council action.

HeyNannyNanny · 04/02/2019 14:33

They don't enjoy holidays at their "friends" house in Mexico do they?

flumpybear · 04/02/2019 14:42

Are you able to fence off the land yourselves? Perhaps suggest to the CF's thst if they're prepared to let you keep the fencing then you won't prosecute them for stealing land, trespassing, wilful destruction of your woodland (did you mention they'd damaged some trees/bushes!? Or am I recollecting incorrectly?)
Whatever happens it would be sensible to get your land cordoned off somehow so it's obvious it's owned, private and that footprint belongs to you

Jux · 04/02/2019 15:48

Good heavens, HeyNannyNanny!!! Do you think the Mexican House Thief has struck again? GrinGrinGrinGrinGrin

Jux · 04/02/2019 15:51

DGRossetti, that was interesting. Thank you.

bruffin · 04/02/2019 18:01

DrGrossetti
There was similar in Cyprus. My family farmed land for generations under Ottoman law and claimed. Then the goverment took it over, but family fought in the courts and won. Land worth millions and government had sold it.
Government the decided to rescined the Ottoman law so we lost