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Original poster

New neighbour wants to own the entry?

367 replies

danilyon · 28/04/2011 11:46

Hi,

A new neighbour bought the house next to us about 3 weeks ago. She knocked and introduced herself and said she wanted to pop around the following week to talk about the back gardens. She came round and spoke about putting a fence in the back garden between our house and hers, which is fine as it's something we've been meaning to do but not had the money for. She also asked about putting a gate on the entryway that runs between our house, which is also fine with us.

She then went on to say that she would sort all of this out and that she would like to legally own the entryway that runs between our houses and that she would maintain the entryway. Our house is a terraced house in a row of 4 and our house and the neighbours are in the middle. Above the entryway is one of her bedrooms and her bathroom I think. The entryway is shared between us both and as far as my hubby and I are aware the boundry line runs straight down the middle of entryway. It is the only access we both have to our back gardens. When she mentioned getting her solicitor to send us the paperwork to have a read through hubby made a few non-commital comments but I think she thinks it's a go from us.

We've had no paperwork from any solicitor as of yet, but after me and hubby have had a chat (obviously couldn't do it whilst she was here), we are wondering why would she want to have ownership of the entryway? Obviously a part of our problem would be if she fell out with us for whatever reason and denied access as it's our only access to the back garden? Also what would happen when we sold our house - we think this could hinder a sale if we agreed and told the new owners that actually the neighbour owns the entryway?

I'm worrying what to say to her now as we are not keen to sign anything to give her the entryway completely. We only use the entryway to take the wheelie bins from the back garden out to the front on collection day anyway so it's not like we have all kinds of people coming round the back to see us etc. Does anyone have any advice on what we could say to her? Obviously we don't want to 'sour' relations with her because we are refusing to give her the entryway legally.

Any advice would help. Thanks! :)

OP posts:
Original poster
danilyon · 14/05/2011 23:44

I agree - being polite but firm should be the key thing here. I'm just hoping that once a reply is with her solicitor that she doesn't try to then talk to us about it again :)

OP posts:
Vix1980 · 15/05/2011 08:28

Definatly stay calm when talking to her, but at the same time express to her that you have voiced your concerns over this matter, said a firm no and would appreciate if the matter was now dropped, then move onto harrassing your father (sorry but i personally wouldnt let her get away with that - as you say it could of been anyone).
Seriously though this story is more gripping than anything on tv at the moment, i cannot believe the cheek of someone doing that! just stay calm youve said your peace, shes obviously not all right in the brain dept to keep going on about it, have you asked her yet why shes so desperate to get it, if its a security issue then just tell her she shouldnt of really bought a house with that level of security needs before checking out if the entry is hers (I doubt at all there is a security issue, but she sounds like she will use anything), just keep thinking of all the smelly nappys your soon going to be able to hide in the entry soon - she wont want anything to do with it then, and the 6 yr old in me would even throw over some into her brambles!!

herhonesty · 15/05/2011 09:18

have you possibly thought about getting your own solicitor to write to hers. thats a pretty sure sign and if she raises it again you can just say "please write to our solicitor, he is dealing with all these maters.

also the cheek of saying you should move your bins out the front!!!

AmazingBouncingFerret · 15/05/2011 09:38

With each update I get more indignant on your behalf! It cant be good for my blood pressure!

Cannot believe she had the cheek to harrass your Dad about it.

StayFr0sty · 15/05/2011 10:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

supermarketworker · 15/05/2011 10:28

Shock jeez i have lured onhere but feel compelled to post now SHE IS A TWAT. Therei have done it, i have contributed and marked my spot.

clam · 15/05/2011 10:32

Only just found this thread. Am absolutely Shock Shock Shock at the sheer nerve of the woman. And what sneaky, manipulative behaviour! Thank goodness you've had the sense to realise that what she's angling for would be a REALLY bad idea for you.

Stay strong. Think this is going to get worse before it gets better because she doesn't sound like the type who easily takes no for an answer.

minibmw2010 · 15/05/2011 10:39

Clearly by saying she'll pay for you to "hardcore the front" she's making it very clear that she would not allow you to use the alley AT ALL ... what about access to your garden, how can she think that you'd allow that ?? Plus, what if you don't want to pave over your front garden for your wheelie bin, I know I wouldn't !! Also, it really has absolutely NOTHING to do with her if you allowed your front and rear garden to grow to 10ft high frankly. This woman is becoming very very intrusive indeed ....

ChippingIn · 15/05/2011 10:49

OMG she really is barking!!

I am so glad you are only young and not stupid Grin

supermarketworker · 15/05/2011 10:53

May i add that now she has mentioned your garden being a little unkept i actually forbid forbid forbid you to mow your lawn for the next 3 month and please instead of you wheelie bin now just pile all the rubbish up in your FRONT garden

MaggieW · 15/05/2011 11:00

Danilyon - I may have missed this in your (extremely interesting!) posts but have you established who actually owns the entryway - is it on your deeds or hers, or is it owned by a third party? I think this is crucial. You can check this online on the land registry website for a small fee (c£6). If it is owned by a third party (as our entryway was) then there is nothing stopping her offering to buy it from them, and them selling it to her, even though it sounds as if you have an established right of way over it. Again, deeds will show if the right of way is recorded, however, if she does buy the entryway and closes it off to you, you will then have to use legal (and expensive) means to get it reopened - so best to check the situation now. Our entryway was owned by a church organisation which had gone defunct so we were able to register our share of it with the land reg at a small cost and have it put on our deeds, as we too had a neighbour who had ulterior motives!

I'm really concerned that if she's as devious and determined as she's demonstrated so far, that she might go down this route - and she can do it without any consideration to you as the transaction will be between her and the owner of the entryway.

In any case, you can phone the land registry for advice too.

rainbowinthesky · 15/05/2011 11:13

just marking my place here!

Original poster
danilyon · 15/05/2011 11:22

Thanks for the replies ladies! Supermarket you made me lol, sounds like a plan to leave the garden Grin Definately leaving it for the time being either way as we have so much to do in the house that I couldn't care if the gardens resembled jungles! Lol
Maggie - it actually says in the solicitors letter that the deeds say we own half and that she owns half of the entryway and as such she has right of way over our half and we have right of way over her half. I think that therefore she is screwed as she does have to go through us to get it Grin
Mini - I think she may want all of our front hard cored so it can be kept tidy LOL...seriously though, I don't know why she would think we would be happy to have our front with no grass o.o.

OP posts:
CoffeeIsMyFriend · 15/05/2011 11:28

Send a letter to her solicitor to say NO you are not selling/agreeing to anything.

That should be the end of it.

jimswifein1964 · 15/05/2011 11:47

Yep, send a solicitor's letter, and include the proof that you have equal shares, plus a phrase saying you wont ever be interested in giving/selling it to her.

Ponders · 15/05/2011 11:52

'I think she may want all of our front hard cored so it can be kept tidy LOL'

you're probably right, danilyon! Next news she'll be telling you to put nets up & paint your front door to match hers Grin

clam · 15/05/2011 11:56

Sounds like she has clearly had intentions to extend over this alleyway since she bought the house. But how on earth could she have just assumed that you would be willing to allow it - not to mention for free. She sounds naive but dangerously so. Those alleyways were built for a reason! How can she have thought that you would be willing to forgo access to your own garden so casually?
The woman's a nutter. But be ready for her to turn nasty once thwarted. Don't allow your desire for good neighbourly relations let you go along with this insane idea. Apart from anything else, it could seriously impede your ability to sell in the future.

TheCrackFox · 15/05/2011 12:09

She sounds like a manipulative cow. How dare she discuss this business with your Dad, for all she knows you might not have told your Dad about your FIL be a guarantor.

It would be madness to give up your right of way but why on Earth does she think anyone would give it away for free? It would knock thousands off the price of your house!

You need to send a letter (by registered delivery) stating that you have no intention of going along with her plans and that you do not wish to discuss the matter further.

QOD · 15/05/2011 12:19

worra cheeky mare!

DaftApeth · 15/05/2011 12:23

I agree with a registered letter to her solicitor stating that you have not and will not agreed to give or sell your half of the alley to your neighbour. You are not interested in giving her the alley either now or in the future.

Make sure that you keep a copy of the letter and all correspondence in this matter. I would also keep a note of all discussions you have had with her, dated.

Photograph her garden and yours to keep a record of the state of her gardens in relation to her comments about you tidying your gardens up.

I would also want to have a copy of the section of the deeds that state joint ownership. I would not take her solicitors word for it, you never know what may happen next if she finds out that you do not have a copy of this. Se is mad enough to try to talk a solicitor into telling you that you have no right of way, or something.

Also bear in mind that if this gets nasty, you will have to tell future purchasers about any neighbour disputes, which could put them off buying your property.

clam · 15/05/2011 12:26

You know, actually I remember a thread form a couple of years back, posted from your neighbour's point of view! No idea how to find it, but the poster was livid that her neighbours refused to let her extend her kitchen into the alleyway (effectively making their kitchens adjoin). Everyone on here, and the thread ran to hundreds, told her she WBVU but she wouldn't have it and was last heard of vowing she would get her way come what may.
Anyone else remember this? Or knows where the thread might be?

VivaLeBeaver · 15/05/2011 12:28

She's bonkers.

ShoutyHamster · 15/05/2011 12:37

Do you know, I understand what people are saying about keeping it friendly as you have to live with her, but with people like this I find the best way is to be utterly firm. Otherwise she'll be an ongoing pain in the butt. She's already totally twisted your normal, reasonable conversation to suit her and is clearly not going to listen to a word you say. She's a total bulldozer.

You'd probably be much better off long-term, once the letter is sent, by making it clear face to face that you don't want to fall out with her (big smile) but that it would be best for her to realise right now that neither of you are the kind of people who will let themselves feel pushed around. No, you didn't say you'd agreed in principle. You don't want her owning the alleyway, so sorry but it's not going to happen. You've sent a letter to the solicitor and you hope that that's the end of it. You don't really like the way she tried to handle this, so you thought it better to have a chat and wipe the slate clean. 'We're the kind of people that just like to get things straight, face to face, ok? So next time you have a problem, please approach us and not someone clearly visiting or doing work on the house' (big smile).

Remember that both sides have to declare neighbour disputes - she may want to sell sometime as well!

LRDTheFeministDragon · 15/05/2011 12:46

Nowt to say, but I am rooting for you. Smile

It's a good one, this thread.

trixymalixy · 15/05/2011 12:53

Clam, I remember that thread!!! The woman was totally bonkers, wonder if it's the same woman Grin.

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