Land title issue with neighbour

[TheNoonBell]

My neighbour is attempting to get their the land registry entries sorted out as they moved in back in the 1960's and this predated the modern LR.

She has obtained the title plans and it appears we own about 30 square meters of her garden which is causing her a lot of distress. She just came round in tears thinking we will be given her garden. I reassured her I have no interest in that bit of land as to my mind it is her beautiful garden that gives her a lot of joy.

Can anyone tell me how we would go about sorting this out? I don't want the land or any money, just want to see my neighbour happy!

You will need to legally transfer it to her. There will be legal fees involved to transfer the land and register it in her name.

As above, this needs to be addressed but are you sure you're 1) happy for her to gain this land 2) not receive payment?

It will cost a few hundred to legally transfer and amend the title plan on the deeds. This should be at her cost.

Would you ever need any access? Do any water/waste pipes etc run underneath the land?

An alternative is to keep it as it is, but put in writing she has legal use of the land until X date.

That way, it's still yours, should you wish to claim it back.

Imagine she moves and another person then has 'free use' of the land and abuses it/is an annoyance - you may be glad you kept the boundary as it is.

What does your land registry entry say? When you bought the house?

Is your house mortgaged ? As potentially the mortgage company won't be very pleased if you just give away some garden.

Thanks all, I've had a chat with the neighbour, she is overjoyed and will ask her solicitor to arrange the paperwork. Offered to split the costs but she wants to pay for the legal side. No access is needed, no pipes/utilities.

I don't want any money as it is not my land, the boundary which hasn't moved has been in place for decades, it's just the paperwork doesn't reflect the reality.

This happened to me. It is just a digital anomaly that happened a lot when they digitised the LR. Apparently next door own two huge triangles of my land. They don't know, I never told them and it's been mine for over 12 years and they haven't had access. At some point I could claim adverse possession but I doubt that I will. Caused a right Hoo hah with the mortgage company though.

@GoogleWhacking How did you resolve it with the mortgage company?

Maybe add this agreement is for her ownly. If she /you sell up it could be misused by new ndn....

Indemnity insurance, but she wouldn't be able to get that as a condition is that you don't discuss it with the person who legally owns the property.

If it's definitely an anomaly from when digitalisation happened, get in touch with the LR to rectify it. Why would you need to claim adverse possession, much easier to get LR to correct it? It will cause issue should you or they ever want to sell up.

@TheNoonBell you sound like a really lovely, pragmatic neighbour