To feel that neighbours have “had me”

[Apossibility84]

Single parent and no support network at all.

I have a lovely garden. Small but just suits us. It’s simple, very well looked and green. There’s a hedge that divides my garden with my neighbours. He says the hedge is his (the land registrars diagram would suggest otherwise but I can’t afford a solicitor to pursue this).
He says he is going to remove “whatever my thoughts” and replace with a fence leaving me with a wide empty space of soil.

Let’s assume the hedge is his. Can he unilaterally remove and replace irrespective of how it leaves neighbour’s plot?

I’m cross with myself as I just nodded and accepted everything. His sweet wife had offered £100 months ago during initial chat so that I could do something to fill the space, but when I mentioned that to him “I am not going to do that”.

Any guidance would be appreciated although if you can remove a hedge boundary that is yours and don’t have any responsibility to how leaves neighbour‘s garden, then I will just remove it from my never ending “to-do” list and move on (probably a good thing!) and just deal with the empty bedding as and when I have money spare in the future?

Many thanks

I'd have a think about the precedent this sets before you decide to 'roll over' OP, your neighbour sounds the 'give him an inch and he'll take a mile' type from what you've said and it will be harder to say no to other stuff down the line if he thinks you're a pushover.

If the land that the hedge is on is yours and you allow him to 'steal it, you may create problems for yourself when your property is sold. Potential buyers may not want to involved in a boundary dispute.that. I suggest you get it clarified now.

@Apossibility84

Ok thank you

A mixed but all helpful response.

Yes - I do suspect that it is on my land. Certainly my ex husband thinks so and is even prepared to pay for me to go to a solicitor (he’s a good guy but he’s made clear he will pay for one solicitor visit and one letter so if it rumbles on - I would have to pay and can’t afford). So I’m not going To pursue.

Ok so seems like if we assume hedge is his - then he can do anything he likes as long as doesn’t leave me in dangerous state? The hedge is very very thick - hence why it will leave me with a wide empty bed.

But there is a certain temptation just to roll over and let it wash over me!

Why aren't you taking him up on the offer? For all you know a letter from a solicitor pointing out that the hedge is yours (if it turns out to be) would solve the problem.

Why would you assume the neighbour would then go on to act illegally?

We've just had a couple of large bushes and a tree removed from our front garden, and there is no large empty bed, they raked soil over the top so it's flat, and it really doesn't look too bad at all, we grabbed a box of grass seed from home bargains for £1.99 and just water it with the hose every day

What do your title register and plan state/show in relation to the boundary and the location of the hedge? Is there any mention of boundary structures?

OP: "Help! Im a single mum with no support and neighbour wants to remove my own hedge from my own property? Any guidance would be appreciated."

MN: [Loads of different options to resolve or mitigate future property issues.]

OP: "Nah, think I'll do nothing. It's a nice fence. Won't return to this thread."

My stars. Must be a wind up surely. 😂

Take up your ex’s offer, one solicitor letter might be enough to see him off and it’s clearly bothering you or you wouldn’t have posted.

Assuming it's not your hedge, if it's on your land he can't do it, as other posters have said you may struggle to sell you house if you have lost some land compared to the land registry, speak with a solicitor and send him a letter as your ex-husband suggested

Go round and discuss with him, preferably when his nice wife is there.
Ask why he wants rid of your hedge. If it’s maintenance then are you willing to cut his side? You could grudgingly accept his removing the hedge if you must, but at the very least make it clear you’re doing him a huge favour!!!

Ask what type of fence he’s looking at. Go out into the garden, with a copy of your deeds (land registry) and his (also land registry) and point out that the hedge is actually on your side, Make it very clear to him that you known where the boundary is, and DO NOT let him put a fence on your side. You’ll regret it when you need to sell!

If you’re too scared then take someone with you for moral support. Can all be done outside at a social distance.

Don’t let this nasty bullying neighbour walk all over you.
What sort of example is that to set to your children? Kow tow to bullies and let them treat you like shit for an easy life?

Take up your ex’s offer and get that solicitors letter sent.

Look at the land registry see if there are any 'fixed points' to go from (eg corner of house, gateposts etc.
Can you tell whether the trunks/stems of the hedge are on your side or his? Whoever's side they are on owns the hedge.

Don't let him put up a fence without agreeing where the boundary is first. (eg with some white paint, or wire or something).

@Apossibility84 one legal consultation and letter could very well stop this all.

it is either on your land so a strongly worded letter should be enough to stop it (and give you ammunition if they decide to continue)

or it is on their land in which case you know and there isnt much you can do about it

I suspect you are a people pleaser

@Apossibility84

Thanks all Have to get on so won’t be returning But good advice

I’m going to let it go. Looks like nice fence

I know it's only an internet forum but honestly, what was the point of your post? What a waste of everyone's time in trying to help you.

I hope you are instilling some self confidence in your children.

It sounds as if you have the land registry diagram .

Take a careful look at your household insurance policy to see if it includes free legal advice.

I would send a formal typed signed letter , envelope and letter addressed by name to both him and his wife, stating that you believe from the land registry records that the ground the hedge grows on belongs to you, therefore you expressly forbid him to remove the hedge. In addition you refuse the placement of any new boundary fence or marker unless and until he provides legal evidence of the boundary of his property.

Keep your own copy , and post his by signed-for recorded delivery.

@Apossibility84

Thanks all I’m just going to suck it up.

I have a nice garden, the children love it, they’ve not been able to play where the thick hedge is anyway so if now an empty bed then no loss on that front. When I have the money - I’ll just turf seed.

I have a lot on, so it’s for the best.

Please don't just let it drop. Even by raising the suggestion of checking with land registry it will make him realise that if it is a land grab you are not going to be an easy target. And if you don't defend it, it may cause headaches later on down the line when any new owner/solicitor looking at the deeds considers that it is your land.

I know OP says she's not coming back, but on the off-chance that she does (or someone else is ever in a similar position)...

OP take your ex up on the offer of paying for a an hour of a solicitor's time to check the deeds/land registry plans and solicitor's letter. 9 times out of 10 I think this would be enough to dissuade chancers - if they're just trying it on, they'll probably back off at this stage. (Okay, the 10th won't but you don't thereby commit yourself to spending extra money on the solicitor - no-one signs a contract with a solicitor saying "and I will continue to pay you up to and including the Supreme Court if necessary...")

Also as PP have said, mucking around with the outline of the land in this way may affect your ability to sell in the future.

OP @2bazookas is giving you good advice. The onus will be on your neighbour to prove it’s his hedge which will cost him money not you.
If he is trying it on he’ll probably back off.
If he firmly believes it’s his hedge he’ll pay to prove it.
If you’re happy to have a fence then be sure to agree exactly where it will be placed.

I can see why you dont want the hassle but if they try and steal a bit of garden when they put up the new fence you might feel a bit gutted and it would be hard to reverse.

I would take up the one offer of an appointment and make your neighbours aware that you just want to check the boundaries of your garden. It's a simple thing to do.

In my experience you dont need lengthy legal appointments to sort these people out you just need to show people you're not going to be taken for a ride. I once solved a dispute with a landlord over a deposit by cc ing a lawyer friend into an email I sent requesting my money. Suddenly my deposit was repaid! I didnt even correctly copy the friends email so she never even got it but the the threat of me actually knowing I had rights seemed to do the trick!

I would get a free initial consultation with a solicitor who could advise you on what sort of case you have. Let your exh arrange it if you can't be asked.

It could save you a lot of money in the future when you sell the house because then you'll need to pay solicitors to sort out the incorrect boundary or you'll struggle to attract a buyer for a house where the owner has allowed the neighbour to claim part of their garden. There's certainly no harm in getting free legal advice.

This is your child's inheritance you're 'rolling over' over and giving away (if it isn't the neighbour's to take). What else will you willingly give away just because someone says 'boo' to you?

It could also make your house hard to sell, if the reality on the ground is different from the deeds. Conveyancing solicitors will spot this and it could be protracted and expensive to fix - it could easily lose you a sale. You're potentially causing yourself big, expensive, inconvenient problems, for the sake of not tackling a small, simple one now.

People can spot pushovers a mile off. Many people will home in on you and exploit that tendency.

You can get really good advice for free on the garden law forum. I successfully resolved quite a complex issue without even using a solicitor with advice from there.

I would be highly suspicious that it's a land grab. He's made you for a soft mark

This literally made me lol, it so typical over the top like the poster has been watching too many gangster movies,🤣

Op as others said if it’s his he can do as he wishes, the issue is you’re not sure either way. As you’re not too fussed, I’d also let him crack on. I don’t he’s trying to steal your garden,🤣

This is your child's inheritance you're 'rolling over' over and giving away (if it isn't the neighbour's to take). What else will you willingly give away just because someone says 'boo' to you?

I can only assume you’re having a laugh, 🤣

@Polyxena

Genuinely shocked that you are allowing yourself to be bullied by your neighbour about this just for an easy life. He is massively taking the piss.

Additionally my worry would be that he continue this bullying behaviour, something else will be next. It won't be an easy life then