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AIBU?

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New neighbours

667 replies

Plannergirl9 · 10/06/2020 12:12

Sorry this is a long one. TLDR: Essentially we were gifted land from ex-neighbour when they died. New neighbours who bought her house has told us we must sell it to them.

A bit more backstorey. Our elderly neighbour lived next to us until they died in late December. She had a side bit of garden like an allotment that we used to help her with (hatched area on diagram). Unbeknownst to us she gifted us that area of land in her will. The rest of the house and land was to be sold and the money given to charity.

After the will reading we have had the land registry changed to confirm we now own the land. The house was put up for sale late January. In mid February we received a letter from a solicitor asking that we sell the land to the potential buyer of the house. We emailed back saying no we won't sell. We then heard nothing more from any solicitors. House was then sold during lockdown.

The new neighbours moved in on Monday. Yesterday they came to our door asking for the name of our solicitor so the land purchase can take place. We told them we were not planning on selling the land and that we told their solicitor that. The new neighbours didn't take it well. Apparently they only bought the house on the provision that they could buy the land and this was agreed with us via their solicitors.

The new neighbours got quite loud and angry about us apparently misleading them and left to speak to their solicitor. They seem to think we legally need to sell them the land as there was a written (email) contract between them and their solicitor who confirmed to them by email prior to the sale of the house that we would sell the land.

Aibu to a) not sell the land even though we technically didn't buy it and b) that the fact their solicitor has mislead them is not our problem?

Neighbours land is in red.
Our land is in black and the hatched area is the land they expect to buy.

New neighbours
OP posts:
CherrySpritz · 10/06/2020 16:30

What’s her dad going to do? Tell you you’re being really, really mean and you’re to sell your land to his daughter forthwith?

SoupDragon · 10/06/2020 16:30

By entering into conversations you may be giving the impression there is wriggle room on this.

It won't, given that the conversation will be the OP simply stating that they did not agree to sell.

Itwasntme1 · 10/06/2020 16:30

Dear god why would you speak to her dad🤣.

Is he another of these ‘ill sort this out’ types who will try and bully you into handing over your land.

I wouldn’t be phoning her dad. All you need to say is you were asked if you wanted to sell your land. You said no. That position will not change and That is the end of the Matter from your perspective.

Something appears to have gone wrong on their end (very suspiciously), however you can’t shed any light on that.

Do we think the dad wrote the solicitors email 🙄

Daisydoesnt · 10/06/2020 16:30

Blimey OP, you do realise they are going to try the emotional guilt trip on you now?

What possible good can come from continuing the conversation? As far as I can see they owe you an apology but nothing further till they have had a long conversation with their solicitor. End of!

yellowsubmarines · 10/06/2020 16:30

Grin That 'solicitor' email. lol
If it's a real law firm they would have a website and be listed in numerous places. Call the law society of Scotland before they close today and ask them if they have the person who signed that email listed as a member? Is this the same solicitor that contacted you previously about the land?

www.lawscot.org.uk/

If I was your neighbour I wouldn't be emailing you back and forth I would be going after my 'solicitor' for lying. It makes me think they are trying it on with you and there is no 'solicitor', but what a very strange way to start a relationship with your new neighbour. Confused

I agree with pp. These people sound like they will be a nightmare to live next to. Maybe tell them you will sell that bit of land on the condition that they buy your house as well. Set an extortionately high amount and move away as quickly as possible.

UncleShady · 10/06/2020 16:32

Did ... did her dad write that letter?

wintertimeblues · 10/06/2020 16:32

I've had an email from the female neighbour asking if we could speak to her dad.

Shock Grin lol it gets better!

Roussette · 10/06/2020 16:33

OP.... do not call NDN's dad!

For all you know, he could be some shit hot something or other who tapes your conversation.

I would kill them with kindness but just say... if you don't mind, I do not want to get involved with this so I would prefer not to ring your father. We have always said we are not selling this piece of land. This is between you and your solicitor.

Daisydoesnt · 10/06/2020 16:33

Oh, I bet they told her dad that they were buying the land, and that it was all agreed with the solicitors, and it was only at a peppercorn price.

And now he is going to try and bully you into selling it to them.

I stand by my comment that they've been terribly naive but that is not your fault.

SockYarn · 10/06/2020 16:33

It would be very unusual for a Scottish solicitor to do the conveyancing on an English purchase as they’re two different systems

Tell me about it... we sold in England and bought in Scotland at the same time and needed two separate sets of solicitors. Total and utter fucking nightmare. (But yet all parties involved managed to email/fax each other in English not faux-Latin).

Fluffycloudland77 · 10/06/2020 16:33

Think I’d be a bit embarrassed to ask my dad to be contacted.

Thesuzle · 10/06/2020 16:33

The old neighbours Will predates the new neighbours buying the house.
You win

Vinosaurus · 10/06/2020 16:33

Jesus wept - don't phone her dad! That is ridiculous! What the hell has her dad got to do with things? Is she not a grown adult?

What could he possibly say that would change anything? All he is going to do is at worst threaten you and at best try to emotionally blackmail you.

namesnames · 10/06/2020 16:34

@UncleShady

I think you've hit the nail on the head here.

SockYarn · 10/06/2020 16:34

Also very much agree that OP you must NOT get involved by speaking to Dad, mum or anyone else.

This is between your neighbours and their solicitor. You have made your position clear. Keep out of it.

Roussette · 10/06/2020 16:34

I too think the Dad wrote the solicitors letter. No doubt Grin

TerrapinStation · 10/06/2020 16:35

Her Dad might be better employed speaking to the "solicitor" who supposedly told them a load of nonsense in the first place. I wonder what she thinks he's going to add to proceedings

OhYeahYouSuck · 10/06/2020 16:35

This reply has been deleted

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Jimdandy · 10/06/2020 16:35

If that is a genuine email from their solicitor (which I highly doubt - I began my law degree in 2003 and we did not use Latin then!) then he/she must be ancient if they still communicate with their clients that way!!

But secondly, even if his email is genuine all it says is they have “potentially” agreed to sell it, which means absolutely nothing either.

I could potentially agree to fly to the moon?!

The Verbal/oral sale of land is not legally binding because land is unique.

MissConductUS · 10/06/2020 16:35

They can't possibly have assumed they had a right to buy the land without a contract with you, the owner. So I think they are trying it on as well.

Very nice diagram, by the way. Smile

PhilTheGroundhog · 10/06/2020 16:36

If you do speak to her dad, I'd record the conversation so he can't twist anything or lie.

AriadnesFilament · 10/06/2020 16:36

“Please can you speak to my dad” = “my dad wrote that email and he’s going to try to talk you into agreeing that you agreed to sell”

Don’t bother

Tell em to bugger off, buy a very secure fence as previously suggested, and make absolutely sure they have no way of accessing the land without causing criminal damage, and contact the actual solicitor. Inform said real solicitor that you are reiterating your position that the land is not for sale and further attempts by the new owners of the house to attempt to elicit a sale by potentially fraudulent means will result in further action by you.

I imagine at that point they will ask what they hell you're on about, and you can tell them they’ve provided fake emails and leave it up the solicitor to sort.

wowfudge · 10/06/2020 16:36

I'd print a copy of the email you sent their solicitor at the time, redacting your own email address, and tell them to do one. Or rather, tell them it appears their solicitor is telling porkies.

We bought an interest in a piece of land when we bought our house. It was a condition of purchase for us that the deal on the piece of land was completed at the same time as completion on the house. We had to pay extra fees to our solicitor for it even though it only cost a pound. No way would we have accepted some wishy washy, "you'll probably be able to agree something when you're in" kind of arrangement.

TerrapinStation · 10/06/2020 16:37

@OhYeahYouSuck

That all happened extremely quickly from the death in late December.
Are you trying to imply something?
ThisShitCrazy · 10/06/2020 16:38

If you speak to her dad (seriously is she12?) put it on loudspeaker and get your DH to video the whole thing