New neighbours

[Plannergirl9]

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.

I think it is a wise decision to stay at arms length from the nitty gritty of this, op. Certainly in light of that bizarre letter. It will only continue their illusion there is any ongoing discussion about the 'sale' of your inherited land.

There is nothing you can add to the situation. Your land was never up for sale. They need to deal with the people who were involved in their sale.

Keep conversation light and bounce away from involvement. 'What you are not getting any satisfaction from your sol'r. Oh dear. Maybe consider complaining to the Law Society. Very dodgy people about! Never mind, lovely weather forecast for the week. You can get your bbq out. Are you redecorating. Margaret four doors up is an interior designer". That sort of stuff.

Have u checked if the solicitor u emailed is the same bizarre solicitor who's letter they showed u today?

They just sound totally entitled

I reckon if u don't ring the dad you'll find him on your doorstep soon enough. They sound that sort.

Very strange situation and you have handled it well.

As a matter on interest how old are this couple? I wonder what they wanted this land for. Perhaps they were informed that it had been part of the property and were a bit put out that it had been given away.

or I wonder were hey planning on building a shed there.

Either way they have not started their life in their new property on a good foot and I would be a little wary of them in the future.

When this is all over op I vote you print off and frame the email. Put it up in your dh's man cave!!

wow... can't wait to see how this pans out... have you had any emails from their solicitor before? what details does your conveyancing solicitor have for theirs?

It's not your problem. Its a matter for the neighbours, the estate agents and their legal reps. Just ignore it, but put a fence up around the land.

Don't fucking phone her dad?!

I'd just keep repeating in a kind but firm voice "Theres no need to discuss it further, as we definitely won't be selling our land, as we confirmed with your solicitor".

If they raise the subject again say you have concerns about the legitimacy of the solicitor and are contacting the Police. Then watch them run for the hills

Actually I like this idea ...

Probate takes 8-18 months and a house sale say 6-8 weeks in Scotland at best. Longer in England. Certainly extremely, impressively speedy to have probate wrapped up in under a month.

I wouldn't talk to her dad, I would just say that you there isn't anything further to discuss, the land will never be for sale. If you agree to talk to her dad you are agreeing to bring put under more pressure to sell.

Dear Neighbour

I'm sorry that you appear to have been given incorrect information from your solicitor, although I note this was not the solicitor that initially wrote to us.

We will not sell the land and have never given anybody any indication to the contrary.

I do not think it is wise for me to speak with your Father as this a legal dispute between you and your solicitor.

Kind regards
Neighbour

Make sure you have a good fence between you and them. Posts in concrete and all that.

Don't be ringing anyone else!

I'd stick with "we were asked by X solicitors if we would sell the land on y date, we put in writing on Z date that we would not. I believe that's before you bought so I don't know why you were told we might be up for selling, but this is between you and the solicitor now, I'm afraid if we get involved it'll only muddy matters further. I do hope you get to the bottom of why they messed up so badly."

I think they communicate with their solicitor by seance.

You do not have to be a solicitor to undertake conveyancing, perhaps they have a friend or relative who undertook this for them.
My late father undertook all his own conveyancing (2 houses) he worked in a field that made it easy for him and had access to any legal assistance he needed.
It could be that whoever was undertaking the conveyancing in this case was not a solicitor.

@LouLouLoo

Dear Neighbour

I'm sorry that you appear to have been given incorrect information from your solicitor, although I note this was not the solicitor that initially wrote to us.

We will not sell the land and have never given anybody any indication to the contrary.

I do not think it is wise for me to speak with your Father as this a legal dispute between you and your solicitor.

Kind regards
Neighbour

Yep. That's perfect.

Then continue to be sympathetic about how badly they've been served by their solicitor. These will be your neighbours for a while, so you need to do everything you can to avoid ill-feeling.

I think they communicate with their solicitor by seance.

@OVienna (Classics degree here).

Do NOT call her dad ffs. There is no need, you don’t owe any of this a minute of your time or attention. You have been polite in your dealings with your neighbours, leave it at that. Any further discussion, particularly involving you making calls in an attempt to ‘resolve’ this, will simply push you from your firm stance to one that seems up for debate. It’s not so no reason to call.

Tell her as much. “I’m not going to call your dad. We were approached about selling the land, we explicitly declined and as far as I am concerned that’s all the involvement I am prepared to have. It’s not for sale.”

Stop engaging - the email above is perfect. They are bonkers

I agree that Lou has the perfect response.

im probably the only person that does want you to phone her father. i want to know what he says for your reply to be. ive already told your daughter the land has not, is not and never will be for sale.

i would also email the solicitor explaining you have seen an email and you already explained the land was not for sale. and would like an explanation of how this has went from you not selling, to their client want to get the ball rolling to buy it etc

Bless your old neighbour - how lovely of her.
Of course you can sell the land
'OK we have considered this. It will £350,000. Let me know your solicitors name and details and I'll get our solicitor to draw up the contracts'
Hopefully that should put them in their place!
CF's everywhere!!

We're currently going through probate confirmation, which also involves selling deceased MIL's house. We can't get probate confirmation until the house is sold as that forms part of the overall assets that need to be distributed

So it's perfectly possible for her to have died in December and for the sale to have been completed by now. (Indeed, that's one of the things what's holding us up getting MIL's estate finalised at the moment, as we can't put it on the market )

(Also, FWIW - it's not called "probate" in Scotland, it's called "confirmation" )

Shameless placemark