Neighbours making my life really difficult advice greatfully received

[ANTagony]

I had to sell my home after a long struggle to keep hold of it post my husband walking out, emptying the bank account. When I had it valued the agent suggested getting planning and selling the garden separately. I got planning and had both the house and land under offer separately.

The house sale went through with provision for access to the building plot and various easements. The house buyers were given copies of the plans and so were fully aware of the permission and proposal to build.

The sale on the land fell through - I don't fully know why but the solicitors handling the house sale did leave it three months to split the title of the house and land and the land buyers did get frustrated.

Since then there has been a lot of interest and its been under offer again - falling through again mysteriously.

Time has gone on and I'm remarried and we again have a roof over our heads. We've borrowed money on the expectation the land has a value so we're keen to get it sold.

So another viewing this weekend, a second viewing - the couple were excitedly talking numbers and had sorted their finances. Walk in next door neighbours who've brought my old house. They have said they will contest any development on the land (we have permission they new about when they brought it) and block access to the land, contest access even though its part of the contract of sale from when they brought the house. They have boasted how they've managed to scare of the other purchasers and will continue to do so. This has been fed back from the couple who wanted to warn me but politely have withdrawn interest.

They (the house buyers) have offered me half the asking price for the land. Its already very well priced. I feel like I'm being blackmailed and bullied. They have been in no way mislead, they got the house for a really good price.

The thing is if I were a buyer I would just walk away. I don't think they have any legal leg to stand on but you wouldn't want to buy a plot with neighbours who have promised to make your life hell

Any guidance on what I can legally do gratefully received.

God, what a nightmare! No advice except see a solicitor. But it still won't help if your neighbours are even just saying stuff like that regardless of whether or not they can actually do anything. What a horrible situation.

I would sell the land to a group of travellers....they are always in need of suitable land for living on. I'm sure you would get a reasonable price too.

Travelers - great idea. A group have just lost their appeal to stay on a plot about a mile away!

Only issue is the other neighbours are good people and they'd get caught up in it all. Still made me laugh and venting it might help make some sense of it all and find some practical path forward.

I would certainly speak to a solicitor about it all....they may be harassing you indirectly, although it will probably see off any buyers that can't face the hassle.

Perhaps you could readvertise to attract a larger developer point who will not be bothered or intimidated by this couple.

"point" is not meant to be in that sentence

Can you build on it yourself?

How awful for you Did they seem evil bastards when you sold them the house or is this entirely out of the blue?

scurryfunge has a good idea re developers.

And alternatively if your solicitor can't help then actually I don't think it would hurt you saying that you will sell to a group of travellers. Before you actually do that, tell all your other neighbours that the people who have bought your house have left you with no option - you need to realise a decent sum on the land and you can't afford to take the money they are offering because it's half its market value. Then your nice neighbours will hate them too.

Can I suggest you repost in Legal to see if any of the property lawyers can help?

I'd love to build on it but I really don't think I could raise the cash.

They did mess around when they brought the house. At the time I thought they were just out for themselves and what they could get - not evil. Now I think they have a really nasty manipulative streak which goes far beyond personal protection.

I have contacted a few developers direct - possible they're too big. They've been polite and a few have visited site with me but all say its a bit small for them as they like a minimum number of properties to make the overheads worthwhile.

I should be more proactive and try some smaller developers.

I didn't see a legal section when I scanned through - thanks for the suggestion I'll look harder this time and post their.

It's definitely worth having a look at smaller developers - where my parents live, they seem to buy any tiny plot of land they can get their hands on. It is also very difficult around there to get planning permission for large numbers of houses because of the infrastructure/access issues whereas a single house shouldn't have any issues.

God I really can't believe how horrible some people are - they clearly have planned this from the outset. Maybe they want to build on it themselves?

good grief don't sell to them!

I have no expertise but developers sound like a good idea.

I'd like to think they hadn't planned it from the outset but I'm really no longer sure.

I really don't want to sell to them and feel even if I accept their offer they'd probably reduce it again at the 11th hour when I've had even more solicitors fees.

I will see if I can get any advice from the solicitor re spurious reasons for putting people off. All the evidence I have is word of mouth. It is the third time that it has been reported to the estate agents that someone isn't proceeding because the neighbours have approached them.

Here's what I would do knock on the door tell them your are aware of what they are trying to do, then tell them that you've had interest from some travelers and if they scare off another buyer you'll sell up to them immediately.
Then start offering it to people to keep pets and small animals on it. Let them know you'll fight back.

If that doesn't work then I would seek planning permission for the land, the land will sell better if there is already PP on it. As you know they knew of your intention to sell the land I doubt they'll have a leg to stand on.

Speak to a solicitor ASAP.

three words: call the police.