Neighbour has built their wall half in our garden.

[Poppingmad123]

Thus the wall that is theirs is now a shared wall as its half on our house and half on theirs. Trouble is this now means if we want to make our driveway bigger, we have their wall in the way and can’t just build in our own grounds. Not sure if we can move their wall back to their side. Just don’t understand why they did this (other than greed for more space on their side) but they had plenty anyway.

I am so upset and angry about this. It doesn’t even match our other walls! It’s actually stressed me out so much that I can’t sleep and I’m thinking about this all the flipping time. I see it every time I step out my house so can’t just ignore it. I feel they have ruined the look of my house. I feel really resentful towards them now which I hate but just can’t help it! They never applied for a shared wall (party wall) or went through the process. They just acted as though they didn’t know what they were doing , didn’t seem to understand boundaries etc despite having professional builders. I can’t believe they wouldn’t have advised them. Also what kind of builders build walls not knowing where the boundary between houses is?

I just need some perspective as this is making me somewhat ill. Am I unreasonable for being so upset, is this normal that I’m letting it get to me this much or should I let it go? I know it’s just bricks and mortar but it’s my house! What would you do in my shoes?

By the way, we want to sell our house in the future so don’t want to be in dispute as that would put potential buyers off.

Diagram 😊

Did you not think to say something while it was being built ?

Surely that’s illegal. I would speak to neighbour first and if no luck get a solicitor.

They can’t just build on your land

Can you accidentally reverse your car into it

@RachelRavenR0th

If you plan on moving you cannot let it go.

As said above, any potential buyers solicitors would pick this up and it will impact your sale. You need to get legal advice asap and sort this out.

Have you been round to talk to them and ask them to knock it down and rebuild on their land yet? If not, do that first. HTH.

I have been through all this. It was soul destroying and depressing and expensive.

As the wall is now up all you can do is start legal proceedings to get them to take it down, which will be very very expensive. Even if you win, there is no guarantee that you will be awarded costs.

My solicitor said "is this worth £30,000to you? That could be your costs to get it removed".

The law on boundaries, hedges and party walls is unclear, complicated and judges seem to have the attitude that neighbours should be able to work it out between them.

I moved in the end, I couldn't bear being next door to my neighbour who had destroyed my 20 year old garden. I declared the dispute and told the whole story to the buyer. The wall was up by then so the buyer accepted that a dispute had taken place over that wall but the dispute was now over and the wall remained.

It was hell on earth.

Blimey I think I live in a different planet to most of mumsnet.

You can't 'move a wall'. You have to knock it down and rebuild it. If you're going to move in the near future, is it worth a dispute as you didn't speak up at the timr?

Sounds like you need to get some advice from a boundaries surveyor. I hear it is hard to prove where boundaries should be though so might not be worth the effort and expense.

A diagram is essential otherwise you’re wasting everyone’s time ☺️😂

Cf’s. I too can’t understand why you didn’t go out when they laid the first few bricks!

I’d go and talk to them and get them to demolish it. Then I’d contact local council. Failing that, check your house other car insurance to see if you’ve paid for legal cover - if so, contact them.

Why didn’t you say something???

Big girl pants on, deeds of the house in hand, go and knock on the front door and tell them they are encroaching on your land and it needs rectifying.

They are cheeky fuckers and knew exactly what they were doing. Don’t be worried about burning bridges they gave you and your home very little regard.

How much in your property is it?

I need a diagram of your neighbour's protruding erection.

I need a diagram of your neighbour's protruding erection.

I just choked on my drink laughing at this

We won’t be getting a reply.

@Mysterian

I need a diagram of your neighbour's protruding erection.

You win the internet today 😃

Did you not say anything whilst it was being built?

I don’t understand what you mean by half on our house.

Diagram!

Not really sure why you didn't say something when it was being built? The ILs had this happen and as soon as they started, MIL told her boss about it (she was a legal secretary for a firm of conveyance solicitors) and also the council. It was stopped.

Afraid it's a bit late for you but you'll have to declare it when you go to sell.

How did they manage to build a whole wall before you are intervening??

@Movinghouseatlast

I have been through all this. It was soul destroying and depressing and expensive.

As the wall is now up all you can do is start legal proceedings to get them to take it down, which will be very very expensive. Even if you win, there is no guarantee that you will be awarded costs.

My solicitor said "is this worth £30,000to you? That could be your costs to get it removed".

The law on boundaries, hedges and party walls is unclear, complicated and judges seem to have the attitude that neighbours should be able to work it out between them.

I moved in the end, I couldn't bear being next door to my neighbour who had destroyed my 20 year old garden. I declared the dispute and told the whole story to the buyer. The wall was up by then so the buyer accepted that a dispute had taken place over that wall but the dispute was now over and the wall remained.

It was hell on earth.

Did you start legal proceedings as soon as you saw them doing it?

Depends on how it effects the value of the house, but it always will as the boundaries are different.

Can you try to explain better op? What does its half on your house and half on theirs mean? That’s hard to picture. Was it a typo? Did you mean half of their drive and half on yours?