Is it OK to accept an incentive to sign an affidavit?

[user143677499]

A third party wants me to sign an affidavit about the use of some land so they can acquire it.

I am able, in full honesty, to attest to the use of the land, and to back it up with documentation.

But I don’t want to because the actions of the third party caused me a financial loss.

So I want to be compensated for the loss in exchange for signing the affidavit.

Is that OK? Or is there anything saying that you can’t be incentivised to sign?

No one can compel you to swear an affidavit to help them.

It would be wise to keep the dispute separate though. Do they actually owe you compensation for the other thing? If so, why have you not issued proceedings?

If they don't actually owe you compensation then I wouldn't offer to swear the affidavit if they paid you. It just sounds like bribery.

Thanks.

I’m certainly not being compelled.

There is no dispute and they don’t owe me compensation. Their actions caused me a loss, through no fault of theirs.

However they would benefit considerably (£30k+) by me signing the affidavit, so I would like to at least be compensated for my loss (£10k).

If it's along the lines of eg you've rented & used the land as equestrian for the past 20 year, erected stables, and fenced it all in so it has established change of use from agricultural but they've turfed you off so you've had to leave behind your lovely fencing etc, just so they can sell it as equestrian which has a higher value than bog standard agricultural, then yes I think perhaps they should pay.