Not sure where to put this, so putting here for heavier traffic in the hope that someone can advise before I fork out hundreds for official advice.
So we bought our first house in 1997. Loved it, cherished it, but eventually DH wanted to move somewhere else due mostly to the feral neighbourhood kids who thought is was funny to egg houses, and ketchup cars etc etc. At the time, there was also a drugs den opposite our house, which would be patronised late at night by undesirables, shouting, "Val, Val, let me in!" etc etc. You get the picture.
We moved out in 2005 with our 15 month old baby, equity stripped it in order to move to a better neighbourhood, but took a big mortgage out on it in order to put a down payment on our house in the nicer area. It has been let out ever since via a family friend who is a property manager. In addition, during this time, the area has become re-gentrified and more pleasant.
We have been vigilant landlords, who pride ourselves in offering a good quality house in exchange for a fair rent. We spend a lot of money fixing things, quite rightly, so that our tenants have a positive experience with us. We detest slum landlords with a passion.
All went well and good until three years ago, when we had some terrible tenants for 6 months, who sub-letted, smoked in the property to include weed, and trashed the paint work and soft furnishings in the downstairs. It cost me £200 just to get the house cleaned after they left, they were so dirty.
Around this time, I asked my friend if she would like to move in. She was currently in a Grenfell Tower type tower block, so she snapped my hand off, but said she could only afford £650 per month. I knew my house was worth at least £800 but didn't care right then. I was happy to give her mate's rates for a while to ensure it went to a good tenant. We worked for the same agency, and I knew she was earning £135 per day.
Time passed and it became untenable for mate's rates to continue. I have been long term ill for a number of years, which has made it difficult to continue to teach on a supply basis, which I was doing pre kids. I am in debt to the tune of 12 grand. My own home has many issues including broken taps, toilets and most recently a half caved in ceiling due to a leak in the roof.
I suggested a small rental increase - still almost 100 quid below market value, which made her flounce and leave (she likes to do one or two days work per week only). She was vile. She gave her notice min July, then spent 7 weeks refusing viewings. I had a lot of interest in the house in this time, but we had to turn them away.
So there is that. In the end, in desperation, my husband and I decided to sell the property. But the estate agent who viewed it today won't take it on, for quite another issue. Despite him saying how awesome and amazing it is, whilst all this shit has been going on, my greedy, land grabbing neighbour has been appropriating the alley way that we shared with access to the front.
I was first made aware of this in 2015 when she removed her wall and block paved her garden and the front of the alleyway. She then locked the gate so my tenants didn't have access to the front of the property.
At the time, the tenants didn't care, so I was advised to let things be by my property manager, as she is a vile woman who creates trouble over nothing. He told me to sort things out during a void, so as not to create issues with the current tenants.
In the meantime, my ex friend moved in and enjoyed the house for a while. I got a phone call last year from the neighbour telling me that she was taking over the entry space and ordering me to pay half towards the new fence between our gardens. I was poorly at the time and she is a bully, so I just said, ok whatever.
I asked that she placed a gate at the head of the property to still allow us full access to the road from the garden.
She didn't do this.
Now, she has rendered my property worth £185, 000 unsellable by her actions. I contacted Land Reg tonight and they confirm that she does
NOT own the land she had stolen.
Feel sick and anxious tonight because in good faith I let a house out to a so called friend who has done all she can to cause me financial loss. I have to find money for the huge mortgage and council tax this month. I also have neighbours there who want to ruin my chance of selling and who can happily take my land and access rights when I am poorly.
If you are going to give me shit about this, then do jog on. And the egg throwing kid was one of these said neighbours's kids back in 2005.