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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

unreasonable neighbour - boundary lines

188 replies

Anonuser21 · 23/07/2022 13:51

Hi all not sure if this is right the topic but could use the advice

Some background
I brought a semi-detached house which belonged to my neighbour's mother who passed. Once everything was finalised I decided to rent out the property. Neighbour became very disappointed. We got along great up until that point, Not spoken to them since then. Without them, I never would have been able to purchase the property.

Issue
I have had to install a new boiler on the property which I moved from the airing cupboard to the garage to make the bathroom slightly bigger. The piping work comes out to my external wall, there is an alleyway separating both our houses - I have attached a photo to make it easier to understand.

Once the new boiler was installed neighbour sent me an email and was furious stating I exceeded boundary limits, have piping work removed as they encroach his property, and threatened legal action. I did consider this and looking at the map I had from my solicitor and as the alleyway is shared access I did not think it would cause any issues

I have yet to receive title deeds but solicitors confirmed the right of passage but no mention of any right to overhang onto the passage which I find ridiculous but did say the neighbour was being very unreasonable!!!

Anyone else had similar experiences with awkward neighbours?

in hindsight, I probably should have consulted with them before doing this work. I'm hoping to speak with him this week before this blows out of proportion.

thanks

unreasonable neighbour - boundary lines
OP posts:
Walkden · 23/07/2022 14:59

Not only is it encroaching on his land it is against building regulations.

These state that flues should be 600mm from the boundary (or 300mm) if discharging parallel to the boundary.

Quite a few houses have similar arrangements but this is because they were built prior to these regulations being in place and owners are used to it. Did you or the heating engineer speak to him about this before you did it?

This isn't really a boundary dispute either as it's not a question over where the boundary is.

Fladdermus · 23/07/2022 15:00

I thought from your OP that it was a mistake, that not having seen the deeds but knowing it was 'shared access', you'd incorrectly assumed it was ok to do this. But from your updates it's clear that you knew full well it was his land and that you had no right to dothis, but went ahead and did it anyway. You are indeed a CF.

SoupDragon · 23/07/2022 15:00

He owns the alley so yes, you need to move the pipes.

SirChenjins · 23/07/2022 15:01

Anonuser21 · 23/07/2022 14:52

Then why on earth did you put your pipes out into his alleyway without checking with him?

Did you lead him to believe you were going to live in the property yourself?

My error, considering how we just stopped talking I felt this would make it more uncomfortable

In a way yes, but buying this property and paying over asking price int he end I couldn't afford to stay in it. It was always a short term let.

You didn’t just ‘in the end’ realise you couldn’t afford to stay in it - you knew your financial situation when you applied for the mortgage. So you let him think you were moving into it when you had no intentions of living there - this was always going to be a rental income for you.

Given your rather two fingered salute to the fact you shouldn’t be putting your (hatchet-looking-job) pipes on his property he’s probably a bit concerned that you’re not exactly going to be the sort of landlord who’s bothered by the behaviour of their tenants, so as long as you’re getting the income in.

TrashyPanda · 23/07/2022 15:06

Your neighbour is not unreasonable - you are

you have a right of passage over his land. And that’s all you have,

time to apologise and move the pipes

it’s not a boundary dispute - you acknowledge he owns the alley.

You agreed to pay the price for the house - he didn’t force you.

you owe him a big apology. He’s done nothing wrong. You are 100% in the wrong

StepAwayFromGoogling · 23/07/2022 15:09

Anonuser21 · 23/07/2022 14:58

I clearly haven't thought this through properly - lesson learnt. Had I spoken to him maybe I wouldn't be in this position.

Thanks all

I'm going to guess that 'speaking to him' wouldn't have made the tiniest bit of difference here. Most people would not want someone else's pipework encroaching and discharging onto their property. I cannot believe the brass neck of you that you thought that would be OK. I really like both of my neighbours but it would be a firm no from me if they'd suggested something similar.

Letsnotargue · 23/07/2022 15:10

We have this arrangement where the wall of our house forms the boundary between our property and our neighbours. She has an alleyway at the edge of her property and we have right of access for maintenance - when we moved our TV aerial and had cavity wall insulation put in. It’s definitely her land and we don’t (and wouldn’t) have anything from our house protruding into her property.

I think you’ll have to talk to your neighbour and apologise, and get the pipes rerouted.

Eatthecake80 · 23/07/2022 15:10

I wouldn’t be happy with that either.

Darkstar4855 · 23/07/2022 15:12

YABU and your pipes may affect him selling his property in future so he is totally in the right to tell you move them, sorry.

StridTheKiller · 23/07/2022 15:17

@KingOfRockAndRoll Will you marry me? 💍

Emotionalsupportviper · 23/07/2022 15:18

Freeasabird76 · 23/07/2022 14:32

Tell him to stop being ridiculous as he has pipes too.

It's the neighbour's alley. As long as he doesn't prevent OP's access he can put what he likes in there.

QuillBill · 23/07/2022 15:20

  1. it's not a boundary dispute.

  2. you did not 'have' to move the boiler to make your bathroom bigger. You made a decision to move the boiler because you wanted a bigger bathroom

  3. he isn't being unreasonable. Or awkward.

  4. shared access is for access. Not for you to keep your pipes in.

  5. your solicitor is barmy for saying that 'your neighbour sounds ridiculous' when they had no idea who owned the path.

  6. I can't understand why you left out the most important fact 'the alleyway is his' from your op!

RainbowsMoonbeams · 23/07/2022 15:23

YABU to say you brought the house.

WeAreBob · 23/07/2022 15:26

So, the alleyway is not shared. It is his land. You only have a right to passage over it.

It isn't yours. You don't have the right to put anything in it or have anything overhanging it. You'll need to move the pipes.

Scepticalwotsits · 23/07/2022 15:27

They on on his land, the job looks to be cheap and not well done either and just out a lot. I’m guessing you opted for this because it was cheaper than running the flu up the inside of your property and out the roof, and then having to cap it properly.

Londonrach1 · 23/07/2022 15:30

If alleyway is his you have no right to put the pipes there. Yanvvvvu. I can see why neighbour be upset with you expect he take this further.

Weefreetiffany · 23/07/2022 15:30

I think you’re the unreasonable neighbour based on what you’ve described!

radaradaradar · 23/07/2022 15:32

Move your flue & pipework.
Your property is clearly extended right up to the boundary. You've probably only got the right to access the passageway to maintain the exterior of your property; definitely not to place flues and pipework in the airspace above his property.
Very cheeky of you OP.

Scoobyblue · 23/07/2022 15:37

You're completely unreasonable and should remove the pipes straightaway.

Eddielizzard · 23/07/2022 15:39

I think you should move the pipes, and go round and have a chat with him. Explain the whole thing. If you had a good relationship before, you may be able to salvage it and that's def worth fighting for.

Lineala · 23/07/2022 15:43

Op you are trespassing on your neighbours land. Trying to reach agreement at this stage might be possible but your attitude is wrong. A profuse apology is in order and I would then get quotes to see how much it will cost to move the pipes. You could then try reaching an agreement by negotiating but you need to be good at negotiating and understand your neighbours perspective. I would be very pissed off with you.

AHamSandwich · 23/07/2022 15:45

Your solicitor told you your neighbour was being very unreasonable for not being happy that you chose to put your pipes over his property? You've paid a solicitor to tell you tell his options rather than the actual law? I hope he's given you the correct info over the mortgage then. Don't you have to have consent from your mortgage provider if you plan to let without a buy to let mortgage? Am I mistaken with that? But you're saying you only decided after the sale was complete to let it out?

Like a pp said, do your pipes meet building regulations, I have close family in construction and agree with the people saying it looks like a bit of a cheap job, did your workmen/women not check if you owned that land or if you had permission.

Lineala · 23/07/2022 15:48

oviraptor21 · 23/07/2022 14:01

Looks like quite a big overhang and may be an issue - but you'll need a legal opinion for that. Neighbour also has overhanging pipes though not quite so much as yours. Can you take yours back to an equal measurement to neighbour's?

It's the neighbours land. Of course they can have pipes on their own land 🙄

Wotaloadofshit · 23/07/2022 15:50

Cherrysoup · 23/07/2022 14:42

But it looks like he has pipes protruding top right and head height also on the right? Plus a massive light?

Has he actually removed your pipe work, as that would’ve criminal damage!

It's always wise to read all of OPs posts before commenting, as she has been very misleading in her OP.
It's is NOT a shared alleyway. It is OWNED by the neighbour and she has right of passage/access in it only.
Therefore he can have whatever pipes he has and legally the OP needs to remove her piping.

PoseyFlump · 23/07/2022 15:52

Given your rather two fingered salute to the fact you shouldn’t be putting your (hatchet-looking-job) pipes on his property he’s probably a bit concerned that you’re not exactly going to be the sort of landlord who’s bothered by the behaviour of their tenants, so as long as you’re getting the income in.

This is exactly why he's upset. And with good reason. How well do you know your tenants? If you no longer even speak with your neighbour he probably feels very helpless.