Want to buy my neighbour’s shed

GDB2222

pokeynokes said:

Not asking for opinions on the value of a shed thanks. FYI the shed is built of granite, needs a new roof & probably measures 2 x 3 metres, adjoins mine and actually sticks out into my garden. I’ve had a rough estimate of £1,200 for legal, VAT & Land Reg fees which IMHO is a lot of money for a postage stamp. There is no other motive than to neaten the boundary of my garden. Please do not respond unless you have something helpful to say

I've only done something like this once before. Mother in Law enclosed some of the neighbour's land. After she died, we needed to regularise the position, and agreed a deal with the neighbour. We gave up a ROW across their land, and they gave us the land MIL had annexed. We actually had a ROW across their car park, which could theoretically have been very awkward for them. So, we paid nothing for the land, but then the costs started rolling in!

The neighbour was a large company and used a large West End firm of solicitors, which we paid for. They were very good about keeping the cost down, but at their charging rates it was bound to be expensive. They needed to apply for permission to the neighbour's lenders, which they got eventually. I commissioned some surveyors to produce a plan of the land being transferred. The solicitors acted for both parties in getting the transfer of land registered. The whole thing cost around £2k, despite us not being legally represented. The LR fees weren't much. The surveyor was about £400, and the rest was the neighbour's solicitor. 

theartfullodger

pokeynokes said:

Not asking for opinions on the value of a shed thanks. FYI the shed is built of granite, needs a new roof & probably measures 2 x 3 metres, adjoins mine and actually sticks out into my garden. I’ve had a rough estimate of £1,200 for legal, VAT & Land Reg fees which IMHO is a lot of money for a postage stamp. There is no other motive than to neaten the boundary of my garden. Please do not respond unless you have something helpful to say

Thanks so much for your reply:

& Do you have a mortgage? Are your deeds in sole name or joint?? Does anyone else have a beneficial interest in your place??

Who's drawing the plans, and who's arranging the revision to neighbours deeds, your deeds, and what will you do with your added new bit?? Do would want to leave it as a separate deed or combine it with what you currently have??

Who's arranging revised fences/hedges, and who will be responsible for this??

Will the combined new area be larger than an acre??

No offence but if this were me I'd get someone qualified to do stuff: The opportunity to royally ***** things up (I'm speaking of me , me doing the s****ing up..)  - clearly anyone else would do it all perfectly right...

Best wishes to all

pokeynokes

Before anyone else posts a reply, please read the question.... dil1976, it sticks out in my garden so I want to neaten the boundary & we all want more shed space.

pokeynokes

Fortunately there is no right of way issue. Would just involve moving a wood fence.

GDB2222

I'm not clear why the OP's mortgage would be affected. The transferred land can be held as a separate title, so the mortgage is unaffected. The neighbour may have a mortgage, of course. 

Why the acre question, and if it's held on a separate title does that help matters?

AdrianC

pokeynokes said:

FYI the shed is built of granite

Do you mean it's stone-blockwork-and-mortar, built like "proper" walls, like a small-scale barn...?

davidmcn

GDB2222 said:

I'm not clear why the OP's mortgage would be affected. The transferred land can be held as a separate title, so the mortgage is unaffected. 

It's frequently a condition that if you acquire neighbouring land you add it to the lender's charge. They won't want to repossess the OP's property minus the shed (which their disgruntled borrower might be living in!).

GDB2222

davidmcn said:

GDB2222 said:

I'm not clear why the OP's mortgage would be affected. The transferred land can be held as a separate title, so the mortgage is unaffected. 

It's frequently a condition that if you acquire neighbouring land you add it to the lender's charge. They won't want to repossess the OP's property minus the shed (which their disgruntled borrower might be living in!).

Good answer!

pokeynokes

Who knew a simple question about diy conveyancing would cause so much reaction. I am really disappointed with a lot of the responses, not reading the question & generally unhelpful snide remarks. If I can work out how, I am going to end the “discussion” or at the very least not bother looking any more. Sorry, but you’re letting yourselves down.

ProDave

Your NEIGHBOUR should be careful.

Cautionary tale from someone I knew.  He lived in a semi detached house with a 3M wide side garden. So did his neighbour.  One day the neighbour says the garden is too much for him, would you like to buy part of it.  So for £3000 he bought the neighbours side garden.  Thlis left him owning a 6M wide strip in between the two houses that he then got planning permission on and built another house.

The neighbour has not spoken to him since.