Next door neighbour stole the garden!

Jodie+Matt

I am interested in buying a property, which has quite a few negative 'features', but its still alot of house for the price. The main thing bothering me is that the next door neighbour has clearly stolen some of the garden. This would not bother me as the garden is still a good size, but its the fact that thay have fenced off about 5ft infront of the window, which doesnt make for a nice view. The house is double fronted, but from looking from the front it only looks like it has one downstairs window, oh and the property only has a garden at the front so this would be the one and only outside area, but like i said it is still a decent size to have a garage, space for childen play, patio area etc. The house has been empty for alot of years, and I'm guessing this garden stealing went on along time ago. Would I have a leg to stand on legally to try and claim it back?

shortchanged_2

I suppose the only way this could be sorted was by the solicitor carrying out searches to see who this piece of land actually belongs to. You never know it might well have been sold to next door some years ago.

G_M

Have you checked the current plans?

Mallotum_X

If its fenced off then dont you think that maybe the vendor noticed it previously?

In which case maybe they would have complained, or more likely the land wasnt stolen but sold?

Jodie+Matt

I know the man who owns next door and he would not have bought it, he is a sly currupt old b!!tard. also the current owner of the house has only bought it to do up and sell, so probably doesnt want the hassle of the procidings etc. I live directly opposite the house at the moment. There is a possibility that the garden could legally belong to the neighbour I know, but I think it's highly unlikely. But, if it doesn't, I'd want it lol.

BitterAndTwisted

In which case you need to scrutinise the deeds very, very closely indeed. I cannot understand why someone would buy a property to develop it and not sort out the garden-ownership before selling it on. It could be that sly-boots next door thinks they have established some kind of "adverse possession" thingy. This could get rather expensive to sort out.

G_M

the current owner of the house has only bought it to do up and sell,

So clearly an investor, looking for profit. Such a person would maximise profit by sorting legal issues and maximising garden space!

Have you checked the current plans yet?

ruggedtoast

Sounds great, I can see why you want to move there.

LandyAndy

Jodie+Matt wrote: »

I know the man who owns next door and he would not have bought it, he is a sly currupt old b!!tard. also the current owner of the house has only bought it to do up and sell, so probably doesnt want the hassle of the procidings etc. I live directly opposite the house at the moment. There is a possibility that the garden could legally belong to the neighbour I know, but I think it's highly unlikely. But, if it doesn't, I'd want it lol.

And you want to move next door to him and start a dispute?

PPPingu

have you considered highlighting your concerns to the vendor / their EA?

PasturesNew

I've seen houses before (even on the telly HutH and LLL programmes) where one window's on the neighbour's side of the fence, just like you describe, so it might be the 0ld b4st4rd's garden after all.