access I own for the house next door.

margi_g

I live next door to a house that is currently up for sale.
I have received a letter from a solicitor representing the people who are selling this a house to say the access to the property is owned by me. This is no surprise ,this is in the countryside.Boundaries cross and rights of access are nothing new .
I have been advised by their solicitor that I need to sign a deed to say the new owners will have right of access and asking me who my solicitor is to send the paperwork to . the buyers have agreed to pay the cost of my solicitor, no worries there
Naturally , I am not going just to sign it without finding what this means to a future sale of my own property and also liability of the new neighbours crossing my land etc.
The thing is ...I dont want this piece of land, it is at the edge of my land and is a natural pathway to the house anyway,so my question is What if instead of signing this deed, I offer to sell them the access? They are welcome to it, what would be a fair price ? it is only about 50 feet or so and wide enough to get a big vehicle down. Cant think it is worth much but I dont know what to suggest for a price .
Anyone got any ideas? I dont want to appear greedy as they will be our neighbours

PasturesNew

Without that piece of land.... if you just said "No"... would they be able to get to the house at all?

Or, do you now have them "hostage"?

If they can't get to the house at all without you signing.... then you hold them by the b4lls. However, that's "not a nice thing to do".... but it does mean "all the power" is in your hands.

You'd need a professional to "value" it really..... don't agree to anything until you've mulled this over for a day or so .... and read all the replies you'll get here... and thought about it.

If it were me .... I'd make sure I knew what was what - and if I had them "hostage" I'd just want a "fair" price for it.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Generally it's worth what ever two people can agree, you could offer it for free (and they pay costs) or you can offer it for 100K, all depends on what the two parties agree on.

Only consideration I can think of in terms of value, will this road ever provide access to anything else, i.e could houses be built behind and the drive be worth something to a developer?

margi_g

it cant be used for anything other than access to the one house,there is only room for one house on the land they do own(or will own if the sale goes through)

Mojisola

margi_g wrote: »

I live next door to a house that is currently up for sale.

I have received a letter from a solicitor representing the people who are selling this a house to say the access to the property is owned by me.

How do the current owners get to the house?

margi_g

the current owners have had this property left to them in a will

Mojisola

margi_g wrote: »

the current owners have had this property left to them in a will

So how did the people who used to live there get to the house?

If the access has been used for many years, there could be a de facto right of way.

Alter_ego

margi_g wrote: »

it cant be used for anything other than access to the one house,there is only room for one house on the land they do own(or will own if the sale goes through)

How about if the house was knocked down? Would that possibly open up access for development?

J_B

Do they have a legal 'right of way' over this land or not?


If yes, then it's worth little.


If they have no rights then in effect you hold the trump cards.
Their house without access is worthless if nobody can get to it to live there.
This way, you own a 'ransom strip'


Although you don't want to offend your neighbours, remember that they may not be your neighbours for ever!

Davesnave

Although it is 'wide enough to get a big vehicle down,' is that what usually happens, or do their rights in the deeds allow only access on foot?

The neighbour will have rights to pass over it anyway via what's called 'prescription' if the route's been used for 20 years or more, unopposed.


However, if there is no vehicular right at present and you grant one through a sale, that will improve the value of the house behind.

So there are two scenarios: one where ownership would confer very little extra benefit to the purchaser, and the other where they gain an important, unchallengeable right to bring vehicles onto their property and park on the access way.


Which would it be?

GDB2222

I suggest downloading the land registry title and plan for the house this is up for sale. Total cost is about a fiver.

That should show if they have right of way over your land already. If not, your little bit of land is a ransom strip. Whether you hold them to ransom is up to you.