Neighbour disputes

fixt

subjecttocontract said:

Well you have 3 choices.
* You accept it. Or
* You fight it. Or
* You ignore it.
Which option do you want ?

Well I certainly want to fight it but the legal option through a solicitor is potentially costly and my resources are tiny - I don't want to risk my financial future

fixt

TripleH said:

Do you know where the boundary line is?

Are you certain?

Thinking the boundary is one thing and legally it being one thing can be 2 different things (hence the dispute).

The neighbours might be 'correcting' an historical misjustice or they may be bullies.

This has descended into tit for tat so it might be worth easing off to let it calm down.

If you have your title deeds it might be worth checking them and if possible doing some measuring of your own preferablyvwhen the neighbours are out.

Check also that the neighbours aren't planning on building work (see lampposts near your property). It might be worth making a mark on your land on the boundary (in a subtle way) and monitor to check there isn't a land grab going on.

Seeming to go quiet but gathering evidence discreetly helps you if things reignite plus I suspect the council have you and your neighbour marked as trouble, so you going quiet can make your neighbours complaints look worse.

The history of my dispute began with a boundary line problem. We each had surveyors to ascertain where the boundary is but they could not agree on it and in the end came up with a compromise line - in between the two outcomes. However, our neighbours - who requested we pay for the line to be marked out with stakes which we did - refused the outcome and threw the stakes back at us. This is where the problem originates and normally speaking becomes a legal tussle. But we can't afford that route, knowing it can be ruinous financially.

fixt

Grumpy_chap said:

fixt said:

Our neighbour unlawfully removed our hedge two years ago in a boundary issue and although we protested they simply challenged us to sue them 'what you going to do about it' they said. We are OAP's and unable to pay the cost of solicitors' fees and they knew it. 

Over time our relationship with them has deteriorated dramatically and the further garden landscaping they are doing which is significant in scale, is impacting us badly to the point we are emotionally very distressed.

We have complained to the council therefore about these developments and in turn (of course) our neighbours have complained about us. The upsetting thing though is that the complaint of there's relates to a log store at the side of our garage which was previously concealed by our hedge but became exposed and visible only when the hedge was removed by them. This feels like a massive injustice to us and we would like to know how we can deal with this? Our council planning office is unsympathetic to domestic boundary matters which are classed as civil matters and we feel completely abandoned.

Was the hedge definitely on your land?

Did you reinstate a boundary marker, fence, hedge?

Grumpy_chap said:

fixt said:

Our neighbour unlawfully removed our hedge two years ago in a boundary issue and although we protested they simply challenged us to sue them 'what you going to do about it' they said. We are OAP's and unable to pay the cost of solicitors' fees and they knew it. 

Over time our relationship with them has deteriorated dramatically and the further garden landscaping they are doing which is significant in scale, is impacting us badly to the point we are emotionally very distressed.

We have complained to the council therefore about these developments and in turn (of course) our neighbours have complained about us. The upsetting thing though is that the complaint of there's relates to a log store at the side of our garage which was previously concealed by our hedge but became exposed and visible only when the hedge was removed by them. This feels like a massive injustice to us and we would like to know how we can deal with this? Our council planning office is unsympathetic to domestic boundary matters which are classed as civil matters and we feel completely abandoned.

Was the hedge definitely on your land?

Did you reinstate a boundary marker, fence, hedge?

The hedge was claimed by the neighbours to be there's - this was completely false and proven to be a joint hedge once we had a surveyor on board. To reinstate the markers when they were forcefully and arrogantly thrown back didn't seem an option.

fixt

sheramber said:

What landscaping are they doing and how is it impacting you.

Withlut knowing that no one can advise you.

They have moved ground and raised their garden in a way that now overlooks us - with no hedge all is exposed.

user1977

fixt said:

sheramber said:

What landscaping are they doing and how is it impacting you.

Withlut knowing that no one can advise you.

They have moved ground and raised their garden in a way that now overlooks us - with no hedge all is exposed.

And do you think they’re not allowed to?

fixt

Alderbank said:

I am intrigued by the 'log store at the side of our garage which was previously concealed by our hedge but became exposed and visible only when the hedge was removed by them. This feels like a massive injustice to us...'

What's the story there and why is it a massive injustice?

Before the hedge was removed unlawfully there was a logstore built by us on side of garage. This was situated behind the hedge which was removed and so became visible to the road side and the our neighbours (through a proxy) complained to the council.  The injustice is that we were unlawfully bullied by the neighbours by the hedge removal and then set upon with the council planning notice.

fixt

sheramber said:

It would help if the OP tod us what the neighbour complained about re the log store.

Is it unsightly?
Does the neighbour consider  it a potential danger to them?
Is it large and maybe should have had planing permission?

None of that - it's just tit-for-tat because we raised the landscaping objection so they raised this with the council. The logstore has been in place for two years already. 

ThisIsWeird

What do you expect folk to say, Fixt?
Had you added LP at any point, then any new issue - such as them ripping up the agreed boundary line - would most likely have been handled for you.
Currently it's a case of what - 'I want to take action but can't afford to?' 
What's happening about your log store? Has Planning been out to have a look? What is the 'complaint' about? 

elsien

So your neighbours complained to the council about the log store? So what? I thought you said the council weren’t interested in those sorts of disputes.
With regards to the landscaping, as someone else said, what makes you think that they can’t do what they are doing?
It feels like you’re hanging onto the boundary disputes, although you let it go at the time, and that’s now colouring everything else that happens whether that’s reasonable or not. 

I do sometimes wonder whether ThisIsWeird is on commission for recommending legal protection, but they can be quite choosy about what they take on if they deem the chances of success to be low, or the cost disproportionate. 

fixt

ThisIsWeird said:

What do you expect folk to say, Fixt?
Had you added LP at any point, then any new issue - such as them ripping up the agreed boundary line - would most  likely have been handled for you.
Currently it's a case of what - 'I want to take action but can't afford to?' 
What's happening about your log store? Has Planning been out to have a look? What is the 'complaint' about? 

Well when you mention LP I assume that is an insurance on house? Well I don't have it and not even sure it was available.
We have complained to the council about the landscaping developments of our neighbours and in turn (of course) our neighbours have complained about us and the log store at the side of our garage which was previously concealed by our hedge but became exposed and visible only when the hedge was removed by them. This feels like a massive injustice to us. Our council planning office is unsympathetic to domestic boundary matters and has said the log store is needing a planning approval.