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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
SirVixofVixHall · 10/06/2020 14:27

Agree with everyone, you should not feel you even need to discuss this again. This is between them and their solicitor, although something doesn’t ring true, as surely even if you had wanted to sell it, they would have needed to know the price ?
They sound annoying neighbours, ignore.
And your elderly neighbour who has sadly died sounds lovely.

ExhaustedGrinch · 10/06/2020 14:29

Even if I didn't want the land I'd keep it now for their attitude. I'd also buy a really ugly statue for the patch of land and face it towards their window/door. Grin

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 10/06/2020 14:31

@Daisydoesnt

Please can someone tell me what the gag is regarding the House purchase with the meadow??
there's no gag just another thread where the OP bought a "house with a meadow" only for it to turn out that in spite of the previous house owners using the meadow for 20 years, it is not on the deeds and does not actually go with the house purchased. Their neighbours are mowing it and claiming it as theirs, again in spite of it not being included on their deeds either.

Seems to be a lot of unclaimed unidentified land grabs going on! :o

notapizzaeater · 10/06/2020 14:31

CF - how did she expect to be able to buy it without discussing price etc. She's just trying it on

EnidsCrochetCorner · 10/06/2020 14:32

First and foremost you should never complete on a house sale unless all the legalities of anything associated with the purchase has been sorted out. That would include land purchases, planning consent, everything.

Secondly, take photos now of how it all looks today in terms of fencing, access everything in case you come home one day and find it altered.

You do not need to prove anything. Their argument is with their solicitor, they need to sort it out with them. If they have been misinformed by him/her then they need to deal with them. You do not need to provide nor should you provide any proof that you were not willing to sell the land.

At no stage did you offer it up for sale, the estate agents may have said something misleading, the solicitor may have but you haven't.

AgathaX · 10/06/2020 14:33

I suspect they're just trying it on. I very much doubt their solicitor lied to them about you selling, and even if they did, there's nothing in writing to say you will sell.

Enjoy your lovely new piece of garden. Hopefully your cheeky neighbours will calm down and see sense.

sueelleker · 10/06/2020 14:36

As your neighbour if he's been to Mexico in the last few years on holiday. It sounds like Mexican Holiday Home lady's neighbour moved next door to you. Good for her, bad luck to you.
Or the couple who tried to knock a patio door into their neighbour's garden. (Although I had seen that it might be a troll)

Vinosaurus · 10/06/2020 14:36

Just trying it on - I don't think you have anything at all to worry about ... other than having to live next door to a couple of CFs.

There was a thread on here a while back where someone was 'tending' the poster's land and trying to gain rights to it based on that (which reminds me, i must look up how that ended).

Was that the one about the woodland? I'd love to know how that ended, think the last I read was that something more pressing in their lives had taken priority for the time being, but this was a while back now.

AriadnesFilament · 10/06/2020 14:38

It’s your land, it doesn’t matter that you didn’t buy it, it’s yours. You’re under no obligation to sell it, so don’t.

Their problems with their solicitor are just that: their own. Don’t get involved in their problem and muddy the waters.

SunbathingDragon · 10/06/2020 14:39

@2020canfuckoff

You need a solicitor not mumsnet aibu Hmm
Why? The OP owns the land and isn’t selling. What agreement may or may not have been agreed between people without the authority to agree a sale is irrelevant.
MaggieFS · 10/06/2020 14:40

Wow, what a charming way to introduce themselves!

Clearly, it's between them and their solicitor. I've seen you've said you won't sell, enjoy the extra space! Probably wise in case they did try and build another house on the plot.

Plannergirl9 · 10/06/2020 14:45

So female neighbours has emailed several emails from their solicitor to them about the land.

The solicitor has said 'following deep and wide disputationibus the incumbent proprietor has informed me they are considerabam to sale of the aforementioned land in potentia. As this land is considered to be donatus the sale would be considered peppercorn in nature in potentia'.

The neighbours emailed back asking does this mean they have agreed to sell? If so for how much? The solicitor replied 'Yes, in potentia'. Any price would be confirmed post purchase of the house.

I've had to Google translate some of the Latin. Essentially he said after discussions we are thinking about selling potentially and is the land was a gift it would be sold for a nominal amount potentially.

Christ I think they have been done by their solicitor.

OP posts:
Amberfest · 10/06/2020 14:45

They are lying and trying it on. No solicitor would promise them land owned by a third party, much less one where price has not even been discussed.

Amberfest · 10/06/2020 14:48

Sorry, cross posted. I really doubt the email is genuine and if it is, I really doubt their solicitor is a real solicitor! All that cod latin seems wildly improbable.

reallifegetsintheway2 · 10/06/2020 14:48

Tell them to jog on and sue their solicitor. S/he obviously lied. Heavens know why though - if you said no and the land is in your name.

Molocosh · 10/06/2020 14:49

CFs. How did they think they were going to arrange a sale when they hadn’t agreed a price? Just say no and ignore. The problem is between them, their solicitor and the seller.

WendyHoused · 10/06/2020 14:49

Then their solicitor is a crook.

InspectorCludo · 10/06/2020 14:49

OP are you 100% sure your email say you would not sell?

Plannergirl9 · 10/06/2020 14:49

Actually I think they might just be at it. I can't find their solicitor on the law society of scotland's website. Twats.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 10/06/2020 14:50

I'd be very surprised if your neighbour made up that cod Latin - seems more likely they asked in straight forward English "does that mean etc.."

They have properly been done, no wonder they're mad.

justanotherneighinparadise · 10/06/2020 14:50

Bloody hell thats bonkers!! Did you say that you have emails between you and the solicitor saying you had no plans to sell? It sounds like they’ve totally fucked up.

AuntImmortelle · 10/06/2020 14:51

I'd email your neighbours the original correspondence you had, plainly stating you were not going to sell. It no doubt predates his email to the neighbours (in shit legal-ese) Then they can go armed with this info back to their solicitor and open up a dispute between them and him. It has nothing to do with you from that point forwards but you have helped out the new neighbours if they want recompense from the solicitor for being a shit misleading them.

LaurieFairyCake · 10/06/2020 14:51

They might have used a conveyancer?

Can you google them?

TinnedPearsForPudding · 10/06/2020 14:51

Surely no solicitor would send such a ridiculous email to a non- legal person? Fine, they may use that language between themselves (or in exams) but surely when communicating with Joe Public, "normal" English would be used

Plannergirl9 · 10/06/2020 14:52

It definitely said not sell. We included a for the avoidance of doubt sentence.

I've told DH they are at it and no more trying to be nice. Just ignore.

OP posts: