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Original poster

CF next door neighbour?

50 replies

babyno5 · 14/07/2019 23:19

Next door neighbour (who I'd say we get on pretty well with) collars DP the other day and says that they're getting their driveway extended and will be "reclaiming" the part of our front grass that they believe belongs to them!! This is news to us!!
We bought the house 12 years ago. They bought 15 years ago when they were built.
They are detached houses with no front fences. Their existing drive borders our grass.
We've looked at the plans and it suggests the actual border is half way between its existing position and where CF NDN wants to claim.
The grass was laid my builders and front hedge (right up to existing boundary) was also installed by builders. It makes no sense! Equally we will have the issue with neighbours on other side as it would seem technically we own a strip of their grass

OP posts:
Original poster
babyno5 · 14/07/2019 23:20

Sorry forgot diagram!!

CF next door neighbour?
OP posts:
Cherrysoup · 14/07/2019 23:21

Show them the plans and get exact measurements.

NeonLights · 14/07/2019 23:21

Sounds very suspicious! You need to get hold of your deeds and investigate this ASAP. Send them a recorded delivery letter with a photocopy if your deeds stating that you will take legal action if they do anything on YOUR land.

Original poster
babyno5 · 14/07/2019 23:30

Sorry meant to clarify the "path" that goes between the houses is fenced off at the edge of the back of the houses and is our back garden. They however have a side door (which they never use) but use the path to store their bins. They only started doing this about 6 months ago and it's a real pain as they look straight in our living room window when they go out to the bin. They also have a gate at the other side of the house where they used to keep their bins. We've now started leaving our blind down for privacy on that side of the bay window

OP posts:
billy1966 · 14/07/2019 23:35

@NeonLights

Do exactly as advised above.
First thing tomorrow.
Do not hesitate as they could start work and you will have a problem.

Original poster
babyno5 · 14/07/2019 23:45

Thank you. Will do.
Why do people do shit like this? 12 years neighbours happily rubbing along-socialising a bit etc.
Do you really need another 15 inches of driveway?? 😂

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NeonLights · 14/07/2019 23:54

I’m a fan of those nightmare neighbour type trashy shows (I have suffered bad NDNs myself). It’s interesting to note that the vast majority of disputes concern border issues! Act swiftly to avoid more complicated issues such as compensation etc!

44PumpLane · 15/07/2019 00:01

It's quite common in "new builds" from the late 80's and 90's for the neighbours path down the side of their house to end in front of a bit of garden that then appears to be your garden but actually isn't.

We moved into our last house and wanted to gravel that bit to make it easier to get into and out of the car. We spoke to our new neighbours who were fine with it, turns out that bit was actually already gravelled but just so overgrown it looked like part of the grass on first glance ans they were glad we were intending on getting rid of all the weeds.

As others suggest just make sure you have the correct boundary and then be pleased it's one less bit of grass to mow!

Original poster
babyno5 · 15/07/2019 11:37

Well bugger me! Checked the deeds this morning and it appears she is correct!! Made more annoying by the fa t she must have known all along and on the strip of garden there were 2 conifers which had been damaged in a storm. Said neighbour made various remarks asking when we were having them removed. We did go ahead with removal last summer and idiot contractor also mistakenly cut down my loved cherry tree (whole other thread last year!) so not only did we pay for the removal of HER conifers we've had to take contractor to court to cover costs of cherry tree reinstated.
Think it's time to have a 6 foot fence erected to improve our privacy.
Is it too early for gin? 😂

OP posts:
LakieLady · 15/07/2019 11:46

12 years neighbours happily rubbing along-socialising a bit etc.
Do you really need another 15 inches of driveway??

Maybe they've actually spent 12 years being pissed off about it, but never said anything!

Crazycatlady10 · 15/07/2019 11:49

I remember the cherry tree thread I think, I was v angry on your behalf!

Veterinari · 15/07/2019 11:53

If it’s been yours for 12 years and you’ve paid To maintain it, you can claim it’s yours in actuality
www.gov.uk/government/publications/adverse-possession-of-registered-land/practice-guide-4-adverse-possession-of-registered-land

MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours · 15/07/2019 11:54

can they do that? if it's one of these estates with no fences, and open front lawn/gardens, there are often restrictions about putting up walls, enclosing spaces, laying paving.

Can you find anything out about that?

Biker47 · 15/07/2019 11:54

Your diagram looks exactly like how my house is, in the diagram I'm the house of the right, there a path between the houses to my back garden only, and once you get to the front of the house the path turns to grass. I own up to the wall of the neighbouring house, so own the grass on the front lawn up to that point, my neighbours know this and they cut the grass for that part anyways as it saves it looking a mess if I just cut up to the boundary. I plan to extend the driveway in a few years time, just hope my neighbours don't move beforehand, and new ones come in who think they own all of the front garden.

PCohle · 15/07/2019 12:20

Try to claim AP is likely to be time consuming, costly and would totally destroy good relations with the neighbours (and the dispute would have to be declared when you come to sell the house). It's annoying but I'd take it on the chin.

Original poster
babyno5 · 15/07/2019 12:27

@LakieLady well if that's the case they should have explained the day we moved in!!

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Original poster
babyno5 · 15/07/2019 12:30

@MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours there are other houses with high fences. It's not an estate as such. Just a few houses built in a road with lots of older different styled houses. Some have fences and some have gates on their drive. We've never put either up but thinking about now as privacy is an issue. We are near a station so lots of people walking past every day

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Original poster
babyno5 · 15/07/2019 12:30

@PCohle yes absolutely going to take it on the chin 👍

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MyHeadIsBursting · 15/07/2019 12:33

I remember your cherry tree thread, did they replace it for you in the end?

RagamuffinCat · 15/07/2019 12:34

I think you should ask to be reimbursed for the trees you paid to have cut down, since you did so at their request.

chiccocico · 15/07/2019 12:35

I'm pretty sure you have a right to claim.it by now. They are CF for letting you pay for conifer removal when they always knew it was theirs.

WhosThere · 15/07/2019 12:41

Your Surveyor should have told you this when mapping out your boundary during the purchase. Your Conveyance Solicitor should have flagged it with you too.

WhenOneFacePalmDoesntCutIt · 15/07/2019 12:46

They are not CF for reclaiming a property that is actually theirs, why shouldn't they?

They may have known, or they may have just found out.
You should get real legal advice to know if maintaining gives you a claim, and now.

Nothing wrong with a 6 ft fence for privacy, go for it.

AintNobodyHereButUsChickens · 15/07/2019 12:51

Gosh I remember the cherry tree thread. I was furious on your behalf, I'd love a cherry tree. What was the outcome of that?

spiderlight · 15/07/2019 12:52

@babyno5 I was so incensed about your cherry tree! Did they replace it?

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