Who owns my Garage?

plub_owner

I recently bought a 1960s purpose built flat. These flats were largely sold in the beginning with half a share of a double garage. The previous owner bought in 2000 the second half of the shared garage from the flat next door. I have deeds, lease and Land Registry certificates to prove that. The only thing that wasn't updated at the time was the Land Registry plans. However my solicitor made absolutely sure these were updated in the sale. So I now have this as well.

On my first meeting with my new neighbour she told me that half the garage is hers, says her deeds say it and that she did a search (didn't specify what search) and it came up showing that garage. Said she was originally told it was in another block but now her search has shown it's this one. She bought the flat after 2000 about 7 years ago she said. It confuses me that she hasn't brought this up with the previous owner if she's been there that long.
Of course I said I was more than happy to help her and showed her the documentation I have. She kept say "we will sort this out" and "its a legal matter" which I didn't like, implying that this was my problem as well as hers. Of course I don't want to be having a war with my neighbour and I'm more than happy to help where I can but in the end this is her problem.

So I guess my question is where do I stand legally. Is it possible her deeds and lease were never updated and if so what are the implications for me. How could this have happened?

Thanks for any help.

moneyistooshorttomention

Surely you both just compare whatever "bits of paper" you respectively have and then see whose has got the latest date on it and that is the one that shows the truth of the matter (ie who owns that half garage)??

plub_owner

Ok, well then that would be me. As I say I have only just moved in and I have all the relevant documentation.

moneyistooshorttomention

In that case I would send her an official letter, enclosing copies of relevant documentation, and with a covering letter stating that that half garage is yours = end of - suitably phrased.

Sounds like it WAS her garage, but got sold on before she bought the flat and her paperwork never got updated. Hence she has worked out that the garage obviously goes with her flat and is correct on that - BUT didn't realise it was sold on before she came on the scene and therefore is no longer part of the property she bought.

Mistermeaner

plub_owner wrote: »

Ok, well then that would be me. As I say I have only just moved in and I have all the relevant documentation.

Just be careful to check the dates on each document, I'm sure you're right but t h ere is a chance you got old revisions.

SailorSam

Is there no deviding wall down the middle, is it just one big space ?
I wouldn't safe leaving any expensive tools or things somewhere that someone else had access to.

plub_owner

Yes, absolutely, dates say April this year and the previous documents show from 2000 when the transfer took place. There's no doubting it.

It's good advice to write the letter and copy the documents. I don't really want to take a heavy handed approach just yet though as we have only discussed this once and it was amicable. I will get the copies and letter ready but see where it goes. If it is never mentioned again then I can assume she saw sense. If I do hear more about it though then I will do as suggested.

It's a terrible setup, they are classed as doubles but you would never fit 2 cars in there. I guess they are 1960s size double garages. It was precisely because of this that I mad damn sure it was all mine.

davidmcn

Since it's a recent purchase, why not just ask your solicitor to clarify?

G_M

Spend £12 at the Land registry here.

Download (£3 each)

* your Title document
* your Title Plan
* her Title document
* her Title Plan

As these are flats I assume you own the lease(s), so make sure you download the leasehold Titles, not the Freehold.

silvercar

It could be that the plans for your property were updated to include the other half garage, but that your neighbour's plans weren't.

Dr._Shoe

It sounds like she's trying it on.