Garden, but no garden.

Davesquire

As a cash buying, no chain buyer, I have been attempting to purchase a particular vacant property since the beginning of July 2025. I understand the sellerto be a housing association.

Whilst an unusual property, in that it has been altered, it was advertised with a rear garden (albeit currently a paved slab area).

At the beginning of August, the estate agent emailed me to share plans he had been forwarded by the seller (a housing association). These plans show that the next door neighbour has ownership of the rear garden to the property. There are coflicting Land Registry plans.

I initially engaged an online conveyancer and didn't get anywhere. So I changed to a local legal firm, who still don't appear to be making any progress.

Having recently amicably divorced, I am still resident in the family home thanks to the generosity of my ex-wife. However, I am really concerned that her generosity can only last for so long. I am obviously suffering a great deal of stress and anxiety over the situation which is being compounded by having very recently lost my father. I really just want to move on in life.

Where do I now stand?

bobster2

You say there are conflicting Land Registry plans? Are you sure.

Have you downloaded the latest official title plans - for the property you want to buy - and for the neighbouring property that might own the "garden"?

It will only cost a few quid to get the title plans - make sure you use the official gov.uk site...

https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry

Then you can be sure and decide whether to proceed.

elsien

Probably with a very long wait until this gets resolved by the seller/housing association. It’s on them to confirm and be absolutely clear on what they are selling. So either it’s confusing and they need to sort out the confusion, or if it determines that the garden is not part of the property you negotiate a cheaper rate or you walk away. 

This might be one where you cut your losses and start to look elsewhere.

Albermarle

elsien said:

Probably with a very long wait until this gets resolved by the seller/housing association. It’s on them to confirm and be absolutely clear on what they are selling. So either it’s confusing and they need to sort out the confusion, or if it determines that the garden is not part of the property you negotiate a cheaper rate or you walk away. 

This might be one where you cut your losses and start to look elsewhere.

OP - There is nothing to stop you starting to have a look around for another property, whilst still being involved in the current stalled purchase.

Brie

Albermarle said:

elsien said:

Probably with a very long wait until this gets resolved by the seller/housing association. It’s on them to confirm and be absolutely clear on what they are selling. So either it’s confusing and they need to sort out the confusion, or if it determines that the garden is not part of the property you negotiate a cheaper rate or you walk away. 

This might be one where you cut your losses and start to look elsewhere.

OP - There is nothing to stop you starting to have a look around for another property, whilst still being involved in the current stalled purchase.

And I'd mention the issue to the estate agent to say you need to consider alternatives - that might make them push the HA for a definitive answer.  

Davesquire

bobster2 said:

You say there are conflicting Land Registry plans? Are you sure.

Have you downloaded the latest official title plans - for the property you want to buy - and for the neighbouring property that might own the "garden"?

It will only cost a few quid to get the title plans - make sure you use the official gov.uk site...

https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry

Then you can be sure and decide whether to proceed.

Thanks. Yes, these are downloaded plans provided by the conveyancer.

Davesquire

Albermarle said:

elsien said:

Probably with a very long wait until this gets resolved by the seller/housing association. It’s on them to confirm and be absolutely clear on what they are selling. So either it’s confusing and they need to sort out the confusion, or if it determines that the garden is not part of the property you negotiate a cheaper rate or you walk away. 

This might be one where you cut your losses and start to look elsewhere.

OP - There is nothing to stop you starting to have a look around for another property, whilst still being involved in the current stalled purchase.

I am still looking around. However, I am only interested in freehold and have a limited budget (which now narrows it down to 0.4% of the UK housing market).

bobster2

Davesquire said:

bobster2 said:

You say there are conflicting Land Registry plans? Are you sure.

Have you downloaded the latest official title plans - for the property you want to buy - and for the neighbouring property that might own the "garden"?

It will only cost a few quid to get the title plans - make sure you use the official gov.uk site...

https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry

Then you can be sure and decide whether to proceed.

Thanks. Yes, these are downloaded plans provided by the conveyancer.

By your conveyancer? You inititally said you have received plans sent by the Housing Association.

So what is the conflict? Each plan will show a boundary of the registered land in red. Do these two boundaries overlap - i.e. does the red boundary on your plan include the "garden"? Does the red boundary on the neighbour's plan also include the "garden"?

Sorry if these sound like silly questions - but some of the queries we get in the forum turn out to be about rights of way rather than ownership.

sheramber

How has it been altered?

Could the alteration have resulted in losing the garden area.?