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.

[Moominmammaatsea]

@emmagrundyforpm, Quintus est in triclinio. Clemens est in horto. Grumio est in culina. Cerberus est in via.

Can still remember it as plain as day many decades on.

[UniversalAunt]

Ah, Caecilius I remember him well.

[thetrolleywitch]

Im with you on Caecicilius and all of his (boring) escapades!

[thetrolleywitch]

Cerberus est in mensa. Cerberus latrat.

[londonscalling]

If your neighbour's house was put up for sale in January and you only put a fence around the piece of land before lockdown, then their garden would have seemed much bigger when they viewed the house. Now they realise it's a lot smaller since you've separated off your piece of land, they are no doubt trying their luck. They sound like CF's!

[Stinkycatbreath]

Even if you had said that you wanted to sell you are entitled to back out at last minute anyway.

[timeisnotaline]

This is very funny! I’m glad it’s so clear cut, the op has no need for solicitors or talking to someone’s dad about the forged pseudo legal document her neighbours have pulled out of their behinds. Offus Fuccus you peppercorns would be very tempting!!

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

[quote Moominmammaatsea]@emmagrundyforpm, Quintus est in triclinio. Clemens est in horto. Grumio est in culina. Cerberus est in via.

Can still remember it as plain as day many decades on.[/quote]
I'd forgotten about poor old Grumio stuck in the horto!

[TrickyD]

I have a Classics degree, though most of my Latin Is forgotten after over 50 years, but I remember enough to know the new neighbours’ attempt is utter rubbish.

[Scoobydoobywho]

Habens risu vestra. Et non opus est tibi ut loquaris ad me Pater. You're having a laugh. I don't need to speak to your dad.

[OldOakTreeRibbon]

Ecce, proximi idiotae

Look, our neighbours are idiots

[londonscalling]

I don't think you should use the services of a solicitor at this stage. Why should you have to spend money doing that? You've nothing to prove!

[MrsElijahMikaelson1]

[Whitepriv]

@Plannergirl9 OP could we have an update pretty please 🙏 this story is golden 😂

[DrManhattan]

Sell it. For 1 million $$$$

[WotnoPasta]

Just marking my place. Where is OP! I just read the whole thing!

We had neighbours as children who kept trying to fence in a bit of council grass next to their house to add to their garden. I remember them sending the council gardeners away so it looked scruffy and uncared for, they thought if they looked after it they could then have it. They complained they wouldn’t have bought their house if they’d known they couldn’t buy it.

I also know someone who bought a house where part of the downstairs had been separated off to make a shop. They never spoke to the shop owners before purchase, they just assumed they would sell it to them to make it part of their house again. The shop does very well and still there!

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

If your neighbour's house was put up for sale in January and you only put a fence around the piece of land before lockdown, then their garden would have seemed much bigger when they viewed the house.

That's exactly why you check the deeds and/or make sure that your conveyancer has everything definite and in writing (a real conveyancer, that is - not Del Boy). From the original diagram, I don't think the plot of land looked more 'naturally' a part of either house, so even more reason why you have to check.

You might as well 'assume' and buy yourself a massively long house, never bothering to check or ask yourself why 'sections' of 'your house' have their own front doors and different numbers every few yards and other cheeky people living in them....

[SoupDragon]

@londonscalling

If your neighbour's house was put up for sale in January and you only put a fence around the piece of land before lockdown, then their garden would have seemed much bigger when they viewed the house. Now they realise it's a lot smaller since you've separated off your piece of land, they are no doubt trying their luck. They sound like CF's!

They knew full well that bit wasn't included as they asked the OP (via solicitors) if they could buy it.

[DirtyStinkinBass]

Laughed my head off at the solicitor letter, as if 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
Hope you're OK OP. what a wonderful gift from your neighbour. Enjoy it!

[Biker47]

Si vis pacem, para bellum.

Quite apt in this instance; if you want peace, prepare for war.

[Greenkit]

Have you had any more issues with them?

[JWrecks]

That letter is bonkers! I absolutely love it!

@Plannergirl9 Print it out and frame it!

[Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel]

She even bought a new dress for her coffin

Oh that made me cry

They are in the running for CF medal! Following with interest

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

It's been lovely weather today for a pleasant Sunday outside. Ideal for taking your time to stretch two great big long washing lines diagonally across your entire large plot of land (you'll need quite a few support poles) and then slowly and painstakingly hanging two wet socks and a single pair of pants on each of them.

All the while waving cheerily at your lovely new neighbours enjoying sitting out in their tiny little cramped garden, of course - it costs nothing to be friendly.

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

In fact, it would also be an ideal opportunity for to sell a little home-made jam to your neighbours. You could make a small sign saying 'Home-Made Jam Sale' and put it over a table in your garden with the preserves displayed on it.

Of course, you'll need to advertise that there is a sale on, otherwise how will anybody know?! Simply put a very large sign on the edge of your adjacent sizeable plot of land saying, in really big eye-catching letters, "FOR SALE - VERY CHEAP" with a small arrow on it, showing them where to go for the sale and clearly assuring them that your preserves will be really competitively-priced compared with the cost of the branded ones at the supermarket.

It might also be kind to make duplicate signs as well, with the words translated into a different commonly-understood language, as you have to remember that not everybody speaks good English. Can you think of another lingua franca that might be helpful and appropriate for your street?