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Neighbours from hell cut half a metre off my boundary whilst I was at work

4 replies

dogoncouch · 02/10/2025 19:48

So my garden was half the size of my neighbours garden. I didn't think anything much of it because you buy what you see. About 18 months ago I got a letter from Land registry saying that the then freeholder from next door (a property investment company) were claiming adverse possession on the land (about the size of my garden again) behind my garden. This went some way to explain why my garden was half the size! This land along with the land he owned (behind the cultivated the bit of land his tenants use) was overgrown and derelict. Nobody had done anything with it for years. I wrote to land registry stating that I wanted my land back and he couldn't claim adverse possession because effectively no one was looking after it. Last January I received an email from LR registry saying their application for adverse possession had been dismissed. I immediately fenced it off - using land registry plans that I bought off the land registry site - and spent money (about 10K+) on converting it into a patio garden with south facing decking, a hot tub and surround etc.

Meanwhile the next door freeholder decided to sell his portion of the land - he still owns most of the land and the freehold to the flats but sold his bit at the back. So some new people have bought it - builders. I saw that they had cleared it and had parked a car very close to my fence. When I came home last Monday, they had sliced about half a metre off the side of my garden that borders them. Honestly it was a chainsaw massacre. They even screwed their fence to the side of my hot tub surround battens. The hot tub surround which had been square now looks ridculous. I was beyond angry and much screaming at the ensued. They also parked a second car up against the new boundary to stop me taking it back. My daughter and her friend removed the fence they had erected the next day. I reported it to the police and have given a statement.

The thing is that they claim it is their land and have a land registry document to proove it and to be fair it does seem that way but my land registry document shows a different boundary line which I was working to. Effectively land registry shows we both own that half metre of land. My LR document shows 2 right angle at the end of my garden bu theirs shows a slope.

I honestly do not know what to do now. I cannot even look at him let alone speak civilly to him. We tried to talk but I just ended up getting really cross and upset about my decimated garden. He has told my friend who I asked to speak to them that he regrets doing it and will put it all back if I can prove it is mine. But this is going to cost thousands in solicitors and surveyors. Where do I go from here?

OP posts:
Woompund · 02/10/2025 19:55

So instead of talking to you with his copy of the deeds that shows he owns the land he just chopped into your garden? What a cock. I don't know how you prove who owns it though - how can they both say something different? Where did he get his plans from? Boundary disputes are expensive and difficult.

PrincessofWells · 02/10/2025 19:58

Land registry plans are notoriously inaccurate and shouldn't be used to determine boundaries. This is the sort of matter where you and your neighbour should discuss appointing a surveyor to determine the boundary. They will look at old Google maps, plans from the original builder if available etc. You should jointly pay for this and agree to follow his decision. Anything else is just going to be very expensive and best avoided.

They should not have attached their fence to anything of yours without first seeking permission.

Firstsuggestions · 03/10/2025 12:46

Im so sorry boundary disputes are horrific. A family member was involved in one. She was absolutely in the right and won but honestly it cost 10,000s of pounds and was such an ordeal. The person trying to steal from her was also a chancer and did unscrupulous things like yours and they both were so caught up in 'winning' it escalated more than it ever needed to.

What happened was awful but my honest advice if at all possible for your sanity and finances is to de-escalate. I know it's bad but I'd go for the nicely nicely approach even if you don't mean it. If it doesn't work you can change tack and go in guns blazing but if you go hard first you've no way back.

Say you know these things can get nasty and expensive and you don't want that. Say you appreciate what they said to your friend and you agree that you want it sorted fairly and clearly there is an error here somewhere. Lets get an independent surveyor, split the cost and we'll both go into it with good faith and abide by the outcome.

Maneattraction · 03/10/2025 17:50

Do you have legal cover on your home insurance? I’d start there if you do.

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