Claiming a strip of land

princeofpounds

If you wanted to claim the land, you should never have contacted the council. 

Strips like this are quite common, against roads, train tracks, fences, verges etc. Policies amongst different councils vary. Many councils, rather than forcing homeowners to completely vacate the land (as the legal process is expensive and it will become overgrown) will often sell a long-term license to the land to the homeowner. This gives the homeowner the right to maintain the space but without establishing permanent rights over it. Sometimes they will sell the land outright, but that's rarer.

sheramber

A 2.5 metre bush makes your garden dark but you would replace it with a   fence? What height of fence?  
If they cannot maintain  the side of the fence in your garden because they would have to come into your garden,  how  do you propose to  maintain the side of your fence that would be  in the   school grounds?

Cut the  bush back to the fence and trim the height back to 2 metres. If you feel it necessary install your own fence inside the original fence.

eidand

so, the guy ( guessing here, of course ) is trying to do the right thing and make sure he doesn't get issues if he comes to sell later and all he gets is grief for it. I understand money saving but some people need to re-look at their life choices. Doing the right thing should definitely be the first thing we try and not advise against it.

OP, be very careful who you listen to. Some people here only see £ signs and seem to be doing things likely to get them in trouble.

princeofpounds

eidand said:

so, the guy ( guessing here, of course ) is trying to do the right thing and make sure he doesn't get issues if he comes to sell later and all he gets is grief for it. I understand money saving but some people need to re-look at their life choices. Doing the right thing should definitely be the first thing we try and not advise against it.

OP, be very careful who you listen to. Some people here only see £ signs and seem to be doing things likely to get them in trouble.

What on earth are you talking about?

Maggy82

eidand said:

so, the guy ( guessing here, of course ) is trying to do the right thing and make sure he doesn't get issues if he comes to sell later and all he gets is grief for it. I understand money saving but some people need to re-look at their life choices. Doing the right thing should definitely be the first thing we try and not advise against it.

OP, be very careful who you listen to. Some people here only see £ signs and seem to be doing things likely to get them in trouble.

Many thanks for the supportive response. I’ve just been ignoring the sarcastic and rude comments as it’s not worth my time.

Ive had issues with boundaries in the past which has led to a house sale falling through so sticking up a fence without checking it is done correctly is just not an option. I was hoping we were all going to be intelligent and respectful human beings who could offer a little help to someone with a genuine question. Oh well! 

wilfred30

Maggy82 said:

Is adverse possession an option? We’ve maintained it for 13 years as we believe it’s our land. 

Thanks 

No because it belongs to the Council and you have contacted them about it.

Maggy82

wilfred30 said:

Maggy82 said:

Is adverse possession an option? We’ve maintained it for 13 years as we believe it’s our land. 

Thanks 

No because it belongs to the Council and you have contacted them about it.

But I’m not sure if it does or not. All this time I have assumed it was mine..

Davesnave

Maggy82 said:

wilfred30 said:

Maggy82 said:

Is adverse possession an option? We’ve maintained it for 13 years as we believe it’s our land. 

Thanks 

No because it belongs to the Council and you have contacted them about it.

But I’m not sure if it does or not. All this time I have assumed it was mine..

Assuming something for a long time proves nothing. If you want to be sure, you may employ your own land surveyor to give a professional opinion as to where the boundary lies,but  the council will also have a surveyor and a legal department to call upon .

Boundary issues quickly become expensive if you go legal. The pragmatic approach would now be to accept the council's stance, cut the bushes back to the half way point and reduce their height considerably. I doubt if the council will care if you keep them low to allow maximum light into your property.