Buying a new house - boundary dispute

Changingwiththetimes · 28/04/2021 19:33

Yes I'd insist it was dealt with before exchange.

parietal · 28/04/2021 21:14

insist the matter is resolved.

Also, if the vendors resolve the matter by moving the fence in favour of the neighbours (which is the quickest way to resolve it), would that matter to you? would you be losing 6 inches of garden or 6 ft?

BagORats · 28/04/2021 21:24

My parents have been through hell with a boundary dispute - have they only just been challenged by the neighbour or have they been hiding it?

I would probably be looking for another house personally

RhubarbCustardy · 28/04/2021 21:36

Sounds like the tail end and also the start of many neighbour problems which cause ongoing stress. It's just not worth it. They obviously haven't been able to resolve this face to face. I agree with above, I'd also be looking for another house. Legally, the vendor should have advised you of any disputes so would be liable for any costs incurred by you due to this. I'd get some legal advice if I were you.

Onandoff · 28/04/2021 21:48

We pulled out of a purchase for this. Legal interventions hadn’t resolved it. We found out after some digging that there was ongoing police involvement. These issues can escalate badly. Definitely do not inherit their problem.

Original poster

billyokey · 29/04/2021 09:26

@parietal

insist the matter is resolved.

Also, if the vendors resolve the matter by moving the fence in favour of the neighbours (which is the quickest way to resolve it), would that matter to you? would you be losing 6 inches of garden or 6 ft?

We're now trying to clarify which bit of fence is actually causing the issue, if it was a case of taking down the trellis on the side of the back neighbours garage (see pic) we wouldn't mind but any of the other fence panels....well we'd need to know how much of the garden the neighbours are suggesting belongs to them!

Is there such thing as indemnity insurance for this kind of thing during a purchase? I know you can get that when there's past building issues etc but don't know tons about it

OP posts:

MassDebate · 29/04/2021 12:02

You should ask for a copy of the letter, plus all other correspondence they have had on the issue. That should give you a clearer picture of what they are arguing about. I would be very, very wary of inheriting their dispute - it could well make you regret ever buying the property. Indemnity insurance wouldn’t cover a live dispute or fix the issue if you find your garden shrinks due to an adverse legal finding.

One option is for you knock on the door of the disputing neighbour (once you know more) for a friendly chat to get the measure of them. If they are less than open/willing to discuss the issue, it might make you think about whether you want them as neighbours...

postingpartum · 26/05/2025 20:12

billyokey · 28/04/2021 19:29

We are five months into a purchase. The vendors have now disclosed an ongoing boundary dispute with their neighbours!

My solicitor has forwarded a message from them today saying the following;

"Unfortunately neighbours with whom we have a boundary at the bottom of our back garden are arguing about the position of a fence which we put up about 18 months ago. They recently hand delivered a letter requesting the fence is moved and stating they will look to request a qualified surveyor to ascertain the property boundaries"

Solicitor wants to know our thoughts?! What do we need to do?? We obviously don't want to inherit a boundary dispute, or end up liable for costs if the neighbours insist on the fence being moved or demolished! Is there anything we can do to protect ourselves? Can we insist the vendors resolve this before the purchase completes?
Thanks for any advice

Hello,

I’m in a similar situation and just wondering what you decided to do. Did you buy it?

I hope whatever happened, you’re content!

Original poster

billyokey · 26/05/2025 20:53

postingpartum · 26/05/2025 20:12

Hello,

I’m in a similar situation and just wondering what you decided to do. Did you buy it?

I hope whatever happened, you’re content!

Show quote history

Hi,
We actually took the advice of the poster who said to speak to the neighbours - they explained the issue and it sounded like they were more than likely in the right, and the sellers of the house were the problem. The message about the dispute was the last we ever heard from them - we obviously asked for more information and what their proposed next steps were, and they ghosted us for weeks (after we'd broken the chain at their prior request and moved in with family, biggest mistake ever) - it eventually got to the point about 2 months after this that our solicitor just said he couldn't proceed as he couldn't get any contact from the sellers or their solicitor, so we moved on. They never sold the house according to our snooping in the years following, so we probably dodged a bullet

OP posts:

postingpartum · 27/05/2025 00:32

billyokey · 26/05/2025 20:53

Hi,
We actually took the advice of the poster who said to speak to the neighbours - they explained the issue and it sounded like they were more than likely in the right, and the sellers of the house were the problem. The message about the dispute was the last we ever heard from them - we obviously asked for more information and what their proposed next steps were, and they ghosted us for weeks (after we'd broken the chain at their prior request and moved in with family, biggest mistake ever) - it eventually got to the point about 2 months after this that our solicitor just said he couldn't proceed as he couldn't get any contact from the sellers or their solicitor, so we moved on. They never sold the house according to our snooping in the years following, so we probably dodged a bullet

Show quote history

Sorry to hear that but thanks so much for responding. Very kind of you to pass on your wisdom. Wish you all the best.