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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbour has built their wall half in our garden.

226 replies

Poppingmad123 · 25/04/2021 18:38

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.

OP posts:
fib88 · 27/04/2021 06:42

You need to get legal advice. as boundary lines are extremely hard to prove. I found this out recently when my neighbour decided to move back garden fencing over a foot and then decided to destroy my hedge dividing our front gardens. People will take liberties if allowed to get away with it. I’d start by going to your local council and getting the plans for the two properties to see if you can see a defined boundary line. The law is an ass where this is concerned. good luck

Pinkfluff76 · 27/04/2021 09:31

Can’t you contact the council as obviously they didn’t get permission. Then not paying for a solicitor.

Bluntness100 · 27/04/2021 09:33

@Pinkfluff76

Can’t you contact the council as obviously they didn’t get permission. Then not paying for a solicitor.
It’s very likely permitted development, she doesn’t need to contact the council or a solicitor. And I suspect the op isn’t coming bacl.
Pinotpleasure · 27/04/2021 09:36

Lots of information about boundaries or any garden issues here in the forums at:

www.gardenlaw.co.uk

samosamo · 27/04/2021 09:51

I had exactly this, only my neighbour knocked down our wall and built theirs around 80cm into ours! The front garden is only about 5 metres wide, so theur wall is under our window.

We involved solicitors when they refused to move it. Cost me £5k so far. Don't bother with that. Write to them directly, request they love it by such and such a date. If not, tell them you will have it removed and bill them.

Then talk to a solicitor for advice, but don't take them on.

Movinghouseatlast · 27/04/2021 10:46

People, the council are not interested, honestly, unless it needed planning.

You don't go to the council for the deeds of your house, you go to the Land Registry.

A garden wall can either be a party wall ( straddling the boundary) or it can be a boundary feature, like a fence in which case the face facing away from you is the boundary line, just like a fence.

Why why why do people just have a stab at an answer to a question when they don't have a clue?

Youmeandourthree · 27/04/2021 11:15

Try your local planning department for advice .

Ariela · 27/04/2021 11:27

Does your household insurance cover legal issues such as this? May be worth checking.

Tooshytoshine · 27/04/2021 11:34

You need to sort this out. We have a shitty piece of shared boundary wall with our neighbours. They treat it like it is part of the acropolis and must never be harmed so it has stopped us extending our house unless we are willing to blow thousands of pounds in a boundary wall dispute we will win...

Cheeky fucks.

PanamaPattie · 27/04/2021 11:39

My neighbour has knocked down my garage and is building an extension. Should I say something?

Blindstupid · 27/04/2021 11:49

.???

MissMaple82 · 27/04/2021 12:12

A diagram would solve half your problems

DrManhattan · 27/04/2021 13:19

@bluntness100
Yeah everyone should be walk overs

DynamoKev · 27/04/2021 13:54

@Ariela

Does your household insurance cover legal issues such as this? May be worth checking.
Congratulations you are only the 4th person on this thread to suggest that (including the hilarious one who suggested using legal cover from Car Insurance for a boundary dispute).
bridgetreilly · 27/04/2021 14:19

THE OP GAVE THEM PERMISSION.

There isn't a legal dispute to be had.

diddl · 27/04/2021 15:12

" Why would anyone built a wall to delineate a boundary all on their side? It wouldn't make sense.

Of course it can make sense!

It's what our neighbours have done.

Cookies2523 · 27/04/2021 15:21

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Blindstupid · 27/04/2021 17:26

dynamo ... well the joke’s on you then. Legal cover is what it says - legal cover. It covers ALL legal matters, not just relating to the product you buy it alongside 🤣

Blindstupid · 27/04/2021 17:29

The OP didn’t actually give permission ... I don’t know where this has come from. Read the OP’s only 2 posts ... doesn’t give permission in them.

Bluntness100 · 27/04/2021 17:43

@Blindstupid

The OP didn’t actually give permission ... I don’t know where this has come from. Read the OP’s only 2 posts ... doesn’t give permission in them.
She clearly did. Read her posts.

In hindsight we should have said no but we didn’t want to fall out, yes, more fool us!

Blindstupid · 27/04/2021 17:46

She also didn’t outright say, yes that’s fine start building. The groundwork was underway without any consultation. Of course she should have stopped them immediately, not just stood there like blundering fool - but she never gave actual consent.

Bluntness100 · 27/04/2021 17:52

@Blindstupid

She also didn’t outright say, yes that’s fine start building. The groundwork was underway without any consultation. Of course she should have stopped them immediately, not just stood there like blundering fool - but she never gave actual consent.
Lol, read it again.
Franacropan1 · 27/04/2021 18:01

When we put a low fence up between our garden and the neighbours, although it was exactly on our land etc and we had consulted them they didn’t like the look of it on their side. We paid for some trellis to be put over it on their side and they were happy and grew plants up it. Are you sure it's not a shared boundary anyway, even if it is they should have consulted you of course.

Blindstupid · 27/04/2021 18:04

As for not stopping them at the time, they didn’t tell us what they were doing until the day they starting cutting through our ground!
We had 5 minutes to take all this in. In hindsight we should have said no, but we didn’t want to fall out, yes, more fool us!

That’s not consent. That’s not knowing their plans.

me109f · 27/04/2021 22:51

Get out land registry plans. If they have built on your land, and the intrusion is significant even if it is only inches, you should ask them to remove their wall and rebuild it on their land only. Also if it is taller than 4 feet above ground (I think) they may have needed planning permission.
Write to them to record it as a complaint to make sure that they have a dated record.
They have been very cheeky. They should have at least discussed it with you before sending in the builders.

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