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.

This is a gem OP - I like @EnterFunnyNameHere's suggestion - I would say you're willing to sell the land for £10M, when they say it's too much, respond "I think you'll find you're legally obliged to buy it"...

Are their solicitor's emails actually done on a typewriter? Or with letters cut out of newspapers? Its hilarious for us to read but I appreciate not so much if you have the Batshitters on your doorstep (which they want to buy).

They sound like chances, have no more to do with them. Theres no way an actual solicitor wrote that.

That email is golden 🤣

Also big lols at Pond and OVienna

Are their solicitor's emails actually done on a typewriter? Or with letters cut out of newspapers?

Crayons by the sound of things @DishingOutDone

I can only assume the company quoted is different from the one you sent the reply to?

Have bought and sold several times in Scotland and England and no solicitor has ever used jargon at me. Yes, in contracts and wills but even then, most of it is plain english. And all emails are in plain English, not with bits of Latin chucked in randomly.

However, this is not your problem! You have the proof you did not agree to sell the land. You just need to keep reiterating that they should take up up with their solicitor.

OMG that is amazing (the crappy "solicitor" email I mean!)

In my head I hear it in the same self-righteous tone as those MNers who come onto threads about (e.g.) mis-delivered mail and primly and portentously announce that the OP is Breaking The Law *

It delightfully illustrates how a little bit of knowledge (or Latin) is a dangerous thing!

( * yes technically there is a potential offence but nobody has ever been clapped in irons for opening a bit of junk mail to see what's what)

Put a good strong fence round the disputed land with the only gate opening onto your property.

Even if the e mail were genuine (and I very much doubt it is) the e mail does not say that you would sell the land, just that you would consider doing so. After consideration your answer is no. Nothing further for you to add.

Is there a phone number?

Wow that solicitor email is something else! Good luck to them, I’d be checking the rest of my paperwork if I’d used them as my solicitor!

That email is hilarious!

But surely the email should have come from the same person/firm to whom you sent your email saying you wouldn't sell? So you'll be able to see the email address it's come from? Plus you would also get a sense for if it's in the same unique 'style'.

Perhaps the genuine solicitor would be interested to know they have an imposter!

Why would their solicitor lie? And if they are going to lie, why make up a fake email that doesn't say you are going to sell it to them, only "in potentia". It makes no sense.

You still have to live next to them though so on the tiny possibility that the email is real, I would still send them your email to show that there were no discussions and you declined to sell. I would also give them the translation of the email so they understand that it doesn't say that you were willing to sell, as they believe, only that you might potentially agree. Then point out that that is a lie as you had declined to sell so they need make a complaint against their solicitor but as far as you concerned the matter is closed as you will not be selling the land.

You have nothing to lose in doing that but it might help neighbourly relations if they are genuine or shut them up if they are lying CF.

Buy one of these for YOUR garden op..

How on earth did their solicitors know the land was left to you in a Will and how did they assume you had leased it on a peppercorn rent?

HMLR do not show if a property has to left to someone in a Will merely who owns the property through title absolute.

Sorry op, your neighbours are bonkers and have compounded this by their hilarious email. I would tell them you do not want to discuss it further, end of.

So does the so called solicitor think that anyone who inherits a house should sell it for next to nothing, coz you know, it was a gift?
If they mention it again reiterate that you don't intend to sell, that you informed their solicitors of that when you were approached and that it is not your problem. Once you have stated your position again refuse to enter into any further discussion regarding the land with them.

Yep. I'd be checking that it was the same solicitor that you replied to. Something's very odd here.

Nobody who does conveyancing would use latin terms like that in an email to a Client! The whole ethos of Conveyancing has been to make the process clearer and more easily understandable. We occasionally use latin terms between ourselves where it is easier to do so but certainly wouldn't write to a Client like that. Well not anyone I've come across in the 30 years I have been doing this job anyway!

I have never seen a solicitors letter look like that. I wouldn't show them anything. They are absolute chancers!

I'd get a fence round that land double quick and dont sell.

Utterly bizarre!!!

I'm a solicitor in Scotland, albeit family, I've never seen such a silly email, even from our senior partner who can write in circles.

Made up words, makes no sense.

Is the solicitor on the email the same as the one you wrote to.

after discussions we are thinking about selling potentially
Firstly I’m doubtful the email is real. No solicitor writes like that to a layperson. It sounds more like someone has made up a fake email in the style they think a solicitor would use.

Secondly even if the email is real, the solicitor has lied because you never said you might sell.

Thirdly even if you had said you might sell, it’s not legally binding and you don’t have to. The email says “potentially” not “definitely”. So I doubt they would even have any recourse with the solicitor.

I would just tell them sorry but you never said that to their solicitor, you’re not required to sell, and the matter is between them and the solicitor.

They are so trying it on! I don't for a minute believe that a solicitor would send something like that. They've used Google translate and cobbled the (fake) Latin together themselves. I was a legal clerk in the dark ages when Latin was merely terminal rather than dead, and even then they didn't use it in letters to clients.

I like the idea of the sympathetic approach OP. You can keep asking how they're getting on with their case against their solicitor and have they reported him to the Law Society etc yet. And pointing out that solicitors have massive indemnity cover and they should be able to get compensation for the solicitor's cock-up.

Imagine how they'll feel when you offer them your full support when they sue the arse of them.

I love a cheeky fucker story, I really do, and this is a great one.

Tell them you'd like to invite the solicitor around for tea to discuss it - then see who/if anyone turns up. They're clearly mad and they've made up a ridiculous email. You could make up your own imaginary solicitor and write an equally bonkers email back.