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Original poster

NEIGHBOUR CROSSED THE BOUNDARY BEFORE EXCHANGE

867 replies

MummyToBeAgain1 · 26/03/2025 09:29

Hi

I need some advice please.

We're buying a semi detached property and due to exchange and complete in a week or 2.

Over the weekend we drove past the property to find a fence being built between our garden and the property on the right. I suspected they had come in to our garden at a glance so drove past again yesterday.

The fence had fully been up and clearly it crossed in to our garden (to be). I've attached a quick drawing which shows what I mean. The red line is the fence the neighbour has put up.

Just for some context this is a auction property as the owner has died and the children wanted a quick sale. This means that we have a deadline for completition which makes things more stressful.

What do we do now?

Tia

Sensitive content
NEIGHBOUR CROSSED THE BOUNDARY BEFORE EXCHANGE
OP posts:
Fraaances · 27/03/2025 00:01

They might be doing this to extend or gain access another way. Regardless, it will add value to theirs and take from yours. They’re cheeky fuckers and need a cease and desist.

beenwhereyouare · 27/03/2025 00:02

AquaPeer · 26/03/2025 11:53

OP your solicitors are going to take forever to start looking at this so there is zero point in delaying asking them to start!

the only thing I would say is again to maybe not get too carried away with how awful they might be. I know loads of people who would take the opportunity of an empty property and having a new fence to steal a few inches. They would just do it as the opportunity arises and hope for the best. If they got caught out they’d just move it back

A few inches?

Few is defined as a small number, usually 3 - 5, not the 18 - 24 inches estimated by OP.

beenwhereyouare · 27/03/2025 00:06

Northernladdette · 26/03/2025 15:42

You might find he was actually reinstating the boundary where it should be, albeit a bit sneaky. I’ve had a couple of houses of that layout, where the fences jut out after the flank wall at the front and back, in line with the guttering overhang.
Obviously speak to your solicitor, and remember, it’s not your house until completion 😉

I think you've missed the proof obtained using Google Earth.

beenwhereyouare · 27/03/2025 00:10

Alicehatter · 26/03/2025 21:57

I hope the CF wife is on here reading all this, panicking about the big bill they're potentially about to receive to restore the wall!

Not just to restore the wall, but the landscaping they cut down. The new neighbors are outrageously cheeky; they are thieves and vandals in my view.

StarCourt · 27/03/2025 00:29

start as you mean to go on Op

HarLace1 · 27/03/2025 00:43

Op any update? I cant believe the cheeky bastards!

Northernladdette · 27/03/2025 07:45

beenwhereyouare · 27/03/2025 00:06

I think you've missed the proof obtained using Google Earth.

Show quote history

Well obviously that was posted after I posted this 🙄

godmum56 · 27/03/2025 08:08

AquaPeer · 26/03/2025 11:53

OP your solicitors are going to take forever to start looking at this so there is zero point in delaying asking them to start!

the only thing I would say is again to maybe not get too carried away with how awful they might be. I know loads of people who would take the opportunity of an empty property and having a new fence to steal a few inches. They would just do it as the opportunity arises and hope for the best. If they got caught out they’d just move it back

wow you must move in CHARMING circles!

Original poster
MummyToBeAgain1 · 27/03/2025 08:49

Morning All

No update yet but will have one once I've spoken to my sol later.

I'm surprisingly not stressed or panicking (yet) - maybe because we found out just in time so it's not really our direct issue. It could have been though.

A lesson for us all, when buying property - please view it again before exchange/completition just incase. It was a coincidence that we drove past and witnessed the change happening and have a chance of resolving this before exchange.

It's still fustrating because this will now delay the process depending on how long it takes to resolve.

As a pp said, how low can someone get to steal of a grieving family. A family who have already lost they parent and now will be bombarded with this unexpected dilemma. I honestly feel for them. </3

OP posts:
Goldengirl123 · 27/03/2025 09:00

You speak to your solicitor

Abouttoblow · 27/03/2025 09:06

Goldengirl123 · 27/03/2025 09:00

You speak to your solicitor

🙄

stayathomegardener · 27/03/2025 09:08

Hufdl · 26/03/2025 23:27

This happened to friends of ours. It was the house boardering them at the back.
It was a long garden, they took down the fence, build a wall taking 10ft and putting a shed on top of it.
My friends had family illness going on so the sale went through and their solicitor informed them they were aware of what they had done, but they didn't pursue it.

Come some years later they are selling and my friend views the house, takes lots of photos and then tells her solicitor to inform them that they have a boundary issue.

They informed them a couple of weeks in when bidding is brisk.
They come around furious with them that they were being messed about years later.
Bottom line they were told if they wanted to sell they better pay through the nose for it, or take it down and put a fence back up and restore the boundary.
That was the quickest thing to do, so they ended up doing it.
Hopefully it will cost them.
Land grabbing is surprisingly common when houses are going through probate.

This was a remarkably satisfying outcome.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/03/2025 10:32

As a pp said, how low can someone get to steal of a grieving family. A family who have already lost they parent and now will be bombarded with this unexpected dilemma

Unfortunately such people don't care, @MummyToBeAgain1; all that counts is what they want and they'll do whatever they can to get it

Like my late, exMIL, who every time we went on holiday had a visit from neighbours attempting to persuade her to sell some of her land for a pittance.
Luckily my ex had POA, and luckily MIL had come to believe this meant she could do nothing without his say so ... not true of course, but awfully convenient with matters like this

varden · 27/03/2025 10:39

I hope this gets resolved for OP and for the vendors.

Was just wondering how a land grabber registers full ownership of the "grabbed" land? Surely the original deeds (of the house where the land was taken from) would remain the same as before incursion? And how does the land grabber register ownership of the bit of land taken?

There must be a way, probably illegal I bet. Adverse possession maybe?

Highfivemum · 27/03/2025 10:45

Appaling behaviour but it doesn’t surprise me. We bought a house that was empty and viewed it three or four times. Just after exchange and before we completed we went around with a builder and all the garden items ( benches/ potted plants/bins and a small summer house were gone. We were confused as they were included on the fixtures and fittings. No idea where they went until we went upstairs and saw them in the neighbours garden ! Summer house all painted and looking new.

anyolddinosaur · 27/03/2025 10:53

Adverse possession is now a LOT more difficult than it used to be. You could get away with fencing it, using it for 10? years and then register it. The time period has increased and I believe the owner is now notified and can still object.

godmum56 · 27/03/2025 10:54

Highfivemum · 27/03/2025 10:45

Appaling behaviour but it doesn’t surprise me. We bought a house that was empty and viewed it three or four times. Just after exchange and before we completed we went around with a builder and all the garden items ( benches/ potted plants/bins and a small summer house were gone. We were confused as they were included on the fixtures and fittings. No idea where they went until we went upstairs and saw them in the neighbours garden ! Summer house all painted and looking new.

what did you do?

ButterCrackers · 27/03/2025 10:55

Highfivemum · 27/03/2025 10:45

Appaling behaviour but it doesn’t surprise me. We bought a house that was empty and viewed it three or four times. Just after exchange and before we completed we went around with a builder and all the garden items ( benches/ potted plants/bins and a small summer house were gone. We were confused as they were included on the fixtures and fittings. No idea where they went until we went upstairs and saw them in the neighbours garden ! Summer house all painted and looking new.

My goodness. What did you do about this?

annoyedbyroofer · 27/03/2025 11:14

@MummyToBeAgain1 contact the auction platform and speak to the neighbour. do not waste time with your solicitor. i bought my house in auction as well. you need to inform the auction platform of the violation by neighbour and you can and should also contact the neighbour directly.

You have put down the 10% deposit already. which legally means you are on the hook for the property. btw if you havent already done so, your building insurance has to start from the moment yoy pay the deposit. your legal position is different from a traditional sale.

Go speak to the neighbour. And follow up with a letter, with diagram from title deeds, any photos from the auction platform and other evidence you have.

You have to take the matter in your own hand. You can of course speak to your solicitor but do not count on them doing anything proactive. They will probably just notify the seller's solicitor, who will notify the seller, who may not do anything at all as you are legally obligated to complete.

SuperTrooper14 · 27/03/2025 11:15

Highfivemum · 27/03/2025 10:45

Appaling behaviour but it doesn’t surprise me. We bought a house that was empty and viewed it three or four times. Just after exchange and before we completed we went around with a builder and all the garden items ( benches/ potted plants/bins and a small summer house were gone. We were confused as they were included on the fixtures and fittings. No idea where they went until we went upstairs and saw them in the neighbours garden ! Summer house all painted and looking new.

Bloody hell! What did you do?

Highfivemum · 27/03/2025 11:21

SuperTrooper14 · 27/03/2025 11:15

Bloody hell! What did you do?

Show quote history

I wanted to run round and confront them but DH said no we will do it properly. So we contacted the solicitor and said what had happened. He contacted the sellers brother ( seller was deceased and brother selling. ). He confirmed that what we said was true and so his solicitor wrote to the neighbours saying that they understood they had stolen the stuff and if it was not returned action would be taken. When we completed in the garden was all the stuff and a newly painted summer house. Thing is the neighbour had no idea we had informed the sellers and was all nice to us. We saw right through them though and took a wide berth until we moved the following year.

Original poster
MummyToBeAgain1 · 27/03/2025 11:38

@Highfivemum
That is so bad! I would be mortified if I was them. Empty houses are easy targets for theft I guess esp by the neighbours!

I'm glad yours was sorted though.
Saying that there was a specific and only garden item that the seller said they would be leaving and when we viewed the property yesterday it wasn't there. DH and I have decided to let that go but I bet on anything the neighbours took that.

OP posts:
Highfivemum · 27/03/2025 11:40

MummyToBeAgain1 · 27/03/2025 11:38

@Highfivemum
That is so bad! I would be mortified if I was them. Empty houses are easy targets for theft I guess esp by the neighbours!

I'm glad yours was sorted though.
Saying that there was a specific and only garden item that the seller said they would be leaving and when we viewed the property yesterday it wasn't there. DH and I have decided to let that go but I bet on anything the neighbours took that.

Yes I am sure it will be with them. Our solicitor said it happens quite a lot with unoccupied properties

Original poster
MummyToBeAgain1 · 27/03/2025 11:41

@annoyedbyroofer
I can see what you're saying but the thing is there's no point in going direct to the neighbour because it could further escalate the issue.
For someone to openly steal someones land, it's not likely that they the type of person to react with 'I'll get that wall back up straight away'. I can't make this situation worse.
Regarding the auction company - yes, they'll have to be told.

OP posts:
Lilith666 · 27/03/2025 11:53

I think you are taking the correct action @MummyToBeAgain1 , let the legal people sort it out and keep the neighbours at a distance, albeit being cordial.