How to be sure about exact plot dimensions of property | First time buyer

Muds1

Hi All


My overthinking mind brings me here again, I was just going through all the papers that my solicitor sent regarding my first property purchase, but I was not able to find out what are the dimensions of the property that am after ?


I am sure that there is no encroachment neither on this property nor by this property but isn't there a legal document that verifies the size of plot ? exact width and length ?


There is a HM Land registry plan but that only indicates which property we are talking about in the area. there are no dimensions mentioned.


Can I be sure about the boundaries of property that I am about to buy ?


Thanks
M.

eddddy

Here's a link that generally answers your questions: https://www.gov.uk/your-property-boundaries

Muds1

eddddy wrote: »

Here's a link that generally answers your questions: https://www.gov.uk/your-property-boundaries

Thanks bud!


It clears out - that I can not get exact boundary info (at-least not without paying )


thanks again!

Land_Registry

eddddy has posted the online guidance re boundaries already.

The key thing to remember with any deed/document/plan is that it is a representation only of the land/property concerned so even if it did state specific measurements you will still have to interpret these in some way, namely allow for changes in gradient whilst also having no idea of where they measurer actually measured from e.g. the inside or outside of a fence post

So in essence you will never be sure about exact plot dimensions

Land_Registry

muditmalhotra wrote: »

Thanks bud!

It clears out - that I can not get exact boundary info (at-least not without paying )

thanks again!

What are you likely to be paying for? - are you perhaps looking at another website rather than GOV.UK?

Muds1

Land_Registry_representative wrote: »

What are you likely to be paying for? - are you perhaps looking at another website rather than GOV.UK?

gov.uk says --


Get a surveyor to draw up a detailed plan and send this to Land Registry, with a completed application to determine the exact line of a boundary, £90 fee and any agreements with neighbours.

Land_Registry

Muds1 - that guidance relates specifically to an application to register a determined boundary, namely the preparation of a specific plan by a professional surveyor, completion of a form DB and invariably the agreement of your neighbour - things which you yourself would pay for and obtain before then trying to register

In essence you are determining your own boundary and then registering it rather than paying £90 to get exact boundary info.

Muds1

Land_Registry_representative wrote: »

Muds1 - that guidance relates specifically to an application to register a determined boundary, namely the preparation of a specific plan by a professional surveyor, completion of a form DB and invariably the agreement of your neighbour - things which you yourself would pay for and obtain before then trying to register

In essence you are determining your own boundary and then registering it rather than paying £90 to get exact boundary info.

ohh, that clears it! thanks !!

princeofpounds

Muds1, I think you are misunderstanding how boundaries are generally defined.


Most boundaries are NOT determined by measurements. As mentioned, that is called a 'determined boundary' and typically is only used in situations like a dispute or open ground with no boundary feature.


The title plan is a general indication of where the boundary is, but it can never be precise. For starters, even the thickness of the line can be a couple of feet either way in reality. Boundaries also move - rivers erode banks, hedgerows can move, replacement fences can be accidentally put an inch to the side of the original position, ditches can be dredged out more on one side than the other...


Indeed the legal position is generally that the features on the ground define the boundary, and the plan is merely an indication of where to find them. That's a very simplified and layman-style way of looking at it, but it helps to move away from the focus on the tape measure.


So you can make general measurements from a plan to locate your boundaries, but you must not fret if you are a foot or two out - it is likely to be legally meaningless. And instead of trying to scale up distances from the plan, the best thing to do is look at the boundaries in relation to fixed features, like the edge of a building or similar; that is actually more important.