I bought a place as a second home thinking about retiring there in a decade or so, but certainly chose an area with a community I can join in with immediately and WFH mostly.
In the first call from neighbour, ostensibly about a smoke alarm beeping, I was told that the deeds were adjusted many years ago and I do not have a right of access over their land. (BTW both front and back access is over other's land, it's common here.) I asked for a copy.
At my first excited visit to my lovely property I see they have removed the gate and installed a new fence panel. Lengthy texts and emails continued about conversations with hundreds of former neighbours going back thousands of years. I asked for evidence. I was told that I should, of course, be going along with arrangements that go back decades and lots of "I wouldn't want to upset the neighbours would I?"!
It is now perfectly clear to me that they are just "trying it on". They have taken the advantage of the property being empty to change the fence and make a land grab.
These are my new neighbours though - the ones I might retire next to! This lovely community that I have bought in to, and before I have a new sofa, my dreams are melting in the flames of their manipulation, actual lies and emotional blackmail.
When I need to do my roof and other urgent works, they can make my life a misery - builders walking every single tile over their land to glowers and stares.
AIBU (or wise) to simply take out the new fence panel, and wait for them to re-instate my gate? Or do I sue for the removal of my gate (even though it wasn’t mine at the time) and for the absence of scones and smiles when I moved in!