Boundary dispute

[Corono]

Posted here for traffic.

We have a shared drive, moved in recently and want to redo our part of the drive. However the current next doors drive extends up to the edge of our garage. The garages have a small gap between them and the land registry just shows a straight 50/50 split. So we've lost space. There is two different types of concrete their currently. The neighbour says that's the divide the split in the concrete.

It makes parking on our side drive very tight as we've lost c. 6 inches of space.

To redo the drive we would need to cut back the concrete belonging to the neighbour.

Is this allowed? Don't want to fall out with them but don't want to pay £000s for a drive that's going to be down years and not get the full benefit of what's rightly ours.

Not sure what you mean by "We've lost space". What you bought was what is on the deeds - whether you realised that at the time or not.

Not sure what you mean by "We've lost space". What you bought was what is on the deeds - whether you realised that at the time or not.

What's on the deeds is 50/50 of the drive, what's happens is we've got 48/52 split.

Cough (diagram!) cough.

I think I get what you mean - their concrete extends over the boundary which should go down between the garages- but in fact covers the gap and a brick width of your garage wall?

Just level up the drive and drive over it?

I think I get what you mean - their concrete extends over the boundary which should go down between the garages- but in fact covers the gap and a brick width of your garage wall?

*That's it!

Just level up the drive and drive over it?

We want block paving, she has reinforced concrete and a gap is needed between the two for drainage. So sadly that won't work.

Bold fail 🙄

Basically what the op is saying is the neighbours drive is in a different concrete to hers, so you can see it’s two drives.

The neighbours concrete extends to the edge of the ops garage, and it shouldn’t come that far over. It should be six inches less and midway between the two garages.

She wants to redo her drive, but it would mean smashing up their concrete to get her six inches back.

Which is clearly going to fuck them off forever and a day.

If you’re certain the concrete is on your land you’re in your rights to remove it.

Beware that it probably won’t go down well with your neighbours.

She wants to redo her drive, but it would mean smashing up their concrete to get her six inches back.

No our builder would run a wet saw done it, it would be cut back but absolutely not smashed!

Photo attached, this would be at our expense!

*down it

Ah ok, if they can do it without damaging it then go for it..

Explain to the neighbour how they are wrong by showing them the deeds with a clear dividing line; then let them know that your driveway contractors will ensure that the drainage gap is on your side of that line but that some concrete will need to be removed. Simply tell them.

Ah ok, if they can do it without damaging it then go for it..

That's my thinking but wanted to check that I'm not being unreasonable!

This is the deeds, we have to the outer edge of the red line, which is 50/50.

Just speak to your neighbour and tell them your plans, don’t ask permission to do it. Just say the concrete comes over on to your boundary and that the contractor will cut it down so no damage is done to their property

Of course it's allowed. It's your land. Send her a copy of the diagram, explains you will be cutting the concrete back to that point.

Yes DH uses big old circular saw to cut through concrete very neatly.

My advice would be to double check the deeds. Get a copy to hand over if necessary and go round and let the neighbors know what you're planning. I would adopt a ''i'm sure you're as surprised as we are to find out that your concrete goes over the boundary line, so we've got to chop it back 6 inches. Obviously we all want the landscaping to match the legal deeds ...'' approach. Gives them a way to back down without losing face, so to speak. Oh yes how surprising, sort of thing.

Of course it's allowed. It's your land. Send her a copy of the diagram, explains you will be cutting the concrete back to that point.

I did that and she came back that I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.

Go for it op.

Wrong? Wrong how? The boundary line must be clear?

What did she say?

@Laiste she said the boundary is where the existing concrete extends too and that had been the way since the properties were built in the 1950s.

"I can see why you've assumed that but it was just the way they laid it at the time, aesthetics don't overrule the deeds"

Explain to her the deeds are what matters and that if she doesn’t understand to seek legal advice

Then crack on. However I’ve one caveat. How long has she lived there and used it as hers. Could she have a right to it?

@RandomMess that's bloody brilliant! Thank you!

She's wrong. The deeds are clear. Carry on with your work and let her know that's what you'll be doing. Nicely but firmly. She may well believe what she's saying but even so, she's wrong.

She has form for this. The neighbour the other side erected a six foot fence between their two conservatory's. Totally legal and gave privacy to both. It was on their boundary.

She went to the council to complain, the council told her they don't deal in boundary disputes 🙄