Can I be forced to sell a ransom strip (piece of land)

Zebsy

Hi,

First post about houses so please be gentle!

We are thinking of buying a new build home at the end of a cul-de-sac, but the developer is keeping a small strip of land at the end of the road for possible further development.
The other side of this strip are back gardens of existing houses.
They are trying to buy part of these back gardens and would then extend the cul-de-sac in future.

If I bought one part of these back gardens (to create my own "ransom strip") then could the developer force me to sell this to them?
I would not want to sell it as we really like being at the very end of the road where it's quiet!

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer,

Zebsy

Browntoa

No, the land is yours to do with as you wish , same as their ransom strip

Zebsy

Thanks Browntoa, that sounds great.
May go and knock on a couple of doors.

PS Noticed your location - we're in Kent, too - the house/land in question is in Rainham in the Medway towns.

TonyMMM

If the developer is already trying to buy the garden strips, you may need deep pockets to stop them. Some of the houses may even be very keen to sell.

By approaching your neighbours and offering to buy a bit of garden (no doubt explaining why) one or two of the more financially aware ones may decide to go to the the developer to see if they want to make a better offer - you may force the developer's hand, kick off a bidding war for the land and accelerate the process you are trying to avoid.

Zebsy

Good point, Tony, thanks.

I know how much the developer has offered, and it's fairly low, but they could increase it as you say.
I only need to buy one piece of land, they need to buy at least 4.
But I do imagine they have more money than me .

We haven't signed up for the house yet, we're just trying to weigh up whether this issue is a deal breaker for us.

paddyrg

What's to stop you buying the strips to sell to the developer? Your neighbours might see you as being after a quick buck, so how about forming a partnership/each donating a small strip to a ltd holding company with a memorandum of association stating that any 'sell' decisions must be unanimous?

Zebsy

Thanks paddy, good suggestion.

I would certainly be up for that, but I dont know if the other neighbours would.
Sounds complicated and expensive...?

Richard_Webster

The back garden nearest to the existing ransom strip will be the most valuable and that furthest the least, because it only increases the size of the area available to the developer whereas the first one stops him doing anything!