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Buy house where there has been boundary dispute?

32 replies

Onandoff · 08/03/2021 14:37

Near to exchange we’ve received a copy of a solicitors letter about a boundary dispute 5 years ago with a NDN. They accused our vendor of trying to pinch a bit of their land with his fence, he asserted he hadn’t and that they’d destroyed his plants and some shared areas with sledgehammers doing work on their side. A surveyor was employed by the NDN, the solicitor on vendors side ended up proving the vendor was in the right. Apparently they then withdrew their assertion. There the trail goes cold and he is saying no further disputes or conflicts.
It’s a small road of a handful of houses, this is the attached side (one half of a semi).
We’ve driven past and pretty sure the vendor isn’t living there (his mail is also going to a different place) although he asserts he is.

He’s in his 70s and a professional and seems quite mild mannered, lived there 30 years. They are a big family, multiple cars and vans.
I’m nervous that such a big dispute might have left problems. And spidey senses that these might be nightmare neighbours.

What would you want to see? Or would you walk away.

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Hmmph · 08/03/2021 15:51

Big family with multiple cars and vans would ring alarm bells with me anyway. I assume you have checked that they are the same NDN as the dispute was with and that the neighbour’s house hasn’t been sold since?

But, very sadly for your vendor, I would run for the hills. At speed.

Onandoff · 08/03/2021 16:20

Yes they are the same neighbours as the letter gives their names and the van’s business is registered to that person. Every time we drive past it’s quiet. When we visited the vendor said they were quiet and always at work- then we saw the dispute on the form and the solicitors letter! DH is thinking of knocking and sounding them out?

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Hmmph · 08/03/2021 16:48

Have you tried searching for the on Google/Social Media? It should give a feel for what they are like.

You could knock and ask them about the dispute. At the worst they will lie or you’ll find out you don’t want them as neighbours.

Bunnyfuller · 08/03/2021 16:53

Run. Run now.

zzzebra · 08/03/2021 17:00

Either knock and ask them about the dispute, then from that gauge what they are like. Or run.

Having lived next to a nightmare neighbour I wouldn't buy without at least looking into it a bit more.

FlowerTink · 08/03/2021 17:01

I would run for the hills with this one. They may be ok to begin with, but you wouldn't want any trouble to come up after you've been settled a little while. I'd worry about being able to sell too.

Onandoff · 08/03/2021 17:22

It’s a difficult one. I don’t want to overreact but something that ended up with surveyors and a solicitor is a big deal- right?

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zzzebra · 08/03/2021 17:30

@Onandoff

It’s a difficult one. I don’t want to overreact but something that ended up with surveyors and a solicitor is a big deal- right?
It's either a big deal or your vendor just wanted to nip it in the bud before it became a big deal. So dealt with it legally rather than try and reason.
Donkeydonut · 08/03/2021 17:34

No I wouldn’t go there.

NuclearDH · 08/03/2021 17:37

I think knocking and sounding them out is a good idea.

Bee0808 · 08/03/2021 17:48

I would run for the hills
Sorry

okokok000 · 08/03/2021 17:51

I wouldn't proceed. Good chance they'll get their luck with whoever buys the house (I've seen this happen). Personally I wouldn't want to run the risk of the hassle / stress.

wandawombat · 08/03/2021 17:54

Yep, definitely proceed with caution.

They may have given up when he's wheeled out lawyers but may start up again.

Ask very explicitly for any recent issues. I'd not go there personally.

RestingPandaFace · 08/03/2021 17:56

There’s no harm in knocking. If they are arses you’ll know and can make a decision.

If you move in they will know that you know and might be less likely to try it on, if they are dicks at least you know what you are getting into.

Onandoff · 08/03/2021 18:44

I’m going to knock and sound them out. At least will be able to spot if agro

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Porridgeoat · 08/03/2021 18:51

Sounds good

Willgetbetter · 08/03/2021 18:56

Hmm if you love the house then I’d be reluctant to give it up... yes -some detective work may be in order...

Hmmph · 08/03/2021 19:42

It is possible that mild mannered 70 year old wasn’t at legal fault BUT was the cause of the issue - maybe by accusing them of destroying plants (could have done accidentally?) and getting a solicitor involved and the NDN “fought back” by getting a surveyor and accusing him of moving the fence?

Just because he won doesn’t necessarily mean that he didn’t stoke up the row. NDN could be perfectly nice normal people backed into a corner by an older professional man who had live there for 30 years and always had to be right.

I suspect that this isn’t the case and the NDN aren’t very nice, but it is possible so I’m glad you’re finding out! However, I hope it turns out that your vendor was the baddie and you can go ahead with your purchase.

Onandoff · 08/03/2021 21:25

We dodged a bullet!!

Went to neighbours house. Dispute ongoing in her eyes and said lawyers still involved. Says also police matter, accusing seller of throwing stones at her cars and watching them with binoculars. So either she’s crazy or he is, or both of them. Either way the legal dispute clearly ain’t over and he’s lied on the Seller’s forms. Walking away...

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NuclearDH · 08/03/2021 21:45

Wow. Well at least she was honest. If he’s crazy you’d think she’d be so desperate for him to go that she’d say everything was over!

Guess she still reckons the bit of land is hers not the neighbours?

But very dodgy that he’s lied on the form.

NuclearDH · 08/03/2021 21:47

Also odd that he isn’t living there although says he is.....maybe the neighbours are crazy and have driven him away?

Onandoff · 08/03/2021 22:59

Yeah difficult to know who is the crazy one (maybe both of them). Worst case we would have moved next to a litigious crazy and best case inherited a legal battle.

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Gazelda · 08/03/2021 23:25

Wow, so glad you've uncovered this before you got too far in the buying process.
I presume you'll withdraw your offer via your solicitors, and will explain why. I wonder whether the solicitor and estate agents are then obliged to tell future interested parties the litigious background?

BlueSoop · 08/03/2021 23:32

Sounds like they are problem neighbours. Clearly they think that bit of land is theirs. As soon as the house is empty they’ll probably move the fence over before you arrive, hoping you won’t know the difference.

zzzebra · 09/03/2021 07:07

Sorry to hear it.

But at least now you can walk away with a clear conscience, rather than forever wondering if it was nothing.

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