Quote for empty land

ben_m_g

I have a small area of land behind my back fence (17ft by 9ft approx) council owned but I maintain it.

They quoted somewhere in the region of £4500! for a piece of grass that i would be doing them a favour by extending my fence arround.

This does seem steep to me especially considering the location, inacessable by road fenced on two sides and large bushes on one.

I did hear a rumour about owning the land if you maintain it for so long, but not sure if its true.
(have been doing so for 2years, and the previous owners since they brought it 20 odd years ago)

I need a new fence along one side and between the two plots, would it be a huge problem to just fence in both and move it back if there is a problem?

thanks..

fedupnow

Hi

We actually did this. No problems so far:D

The bit we 'adopted' is only about 10 x 20 but does make a difference to our pocket hanky sized garden. We have always said that if they ask they can have it back........... but nobody has ever asked, it's been about 11 years so far.

Don't know the legalities of it.

We have nice neighbours though............ I have heard that spiteful neighbours seem to be the biggest problem in such matters. They don't want it but don't want you to have it either and so report it and kick up all sorts of stink just because they can.

Good luck

ceridwen

I know this isnt what you want to hear Ben - but its your choice and your choice only to "maintain" that bit of land you want to have.

If you want it as an addition to your garden - that is understandable. I would buy it myself from the Council in your position. £4,500 is not unreasonable for such a decent size extension to your garden.

But do please stop telling us that you would be doing the Council a favour by taking a bit of land you want to have anyway for your garden. They would be doing you a favour by selling it to you.

So in your position - I would hand over the cheque and stop trying to steal the land.

That piece of land is not "rubbish" - it is always possible that if you bought that piece of land from the Council that you might then decide "Oh I can now extend my house into my existing garden - because I will still have a decent size bit of garden (courtesy of that bit of land I just bought)". With that - you would have actually bought a building plot from the Council in effect - so the Council would be quite within its rights to sell anyone going that bit of land for £4,500 (a possible mini-allotment after all for them) or sell it to you at a much higher price (in case you - indirectly speaking - used it as a building plot in that way). With that - one does have to wonder if you just want that land for the purpose of increasing the size of your garden - or if there is some other aim in view.

Regarding the other reply you have - it wouldnt be spitefulness that might make other neighbours complain - it would be the fear that the house concerned would then add an extension because of this (less light, less privacy in their garden and less green land to look out onto).

I can safely say I would buy that land myself - because I know I wouldnt be extending my house - that land really would be extra garden and I would be growing extra food in it.

ben_m_g

without trying to make assumptions on your blantant assumptions.

no i dont want to extend my property nor would it be possible to, nor has any of my neighbours who have obtained the land.

the land is in heavy clay if you wish to purchase it to grow crop you may feel free to.

The land is useless to just about everyone but me, there is thick bushes just beyond and a road after that both neighbours have no use for it because of obstructing my access (large gate) If i where to stop maintaining the land the council would then have to. they would have great dificulty doing so and at some considerable expence, someone would have to be payed to pick up the litter and a seperate person to cut the grass etc i have the only open space as the rest is bushes having someone come to my road just to cut grass seems stupid hence why i do it, and thats why would be helping them by owning the grassland as it would be perminantly under care a one time gift would save on maintenance for life on what is to them a useless bit of land.

the only person using the word "rubbish" was you and i am not trying to steal anything (how is it stealing if legal documents allow those who maintain land to own it stealing) nor do i like being called a thief

if you had asked i would of told you these things freely, but you chose to assume knowing little to none about the situation

i appreciate helpful advice unfortunatly your helpfull advice stopped abruptly after the fourth line

phill99

The only time you would ever own the land is when it is legally conveyed to you 'under seal' in the 'fee simple absolute in possession '. You may have a right to occupy in perpetuity but the land will never be yours. You are what they call a 'special interest purchaser' ie the location of that land in relation to yours means that you are most likely to benefit from it being sold to you as opposed to other land owners in the area. Therefore that can attract a premium. That addition to your garden is probably likely to add more than £4.5k to the value of the house. On the other side, if the Council are keen to sell, get an independent valuation form a local Chartered Surveyor and make an offer on this basis. Rememeber you will have solicitors fees. £3k might be a fair figure.

ben_m_g

thankyou for your informative responce.

I cannot see how the land will add that much value to the property as my house is already in the upper end of the bracket that anyone could get for the type of property, location etc.

but that is a small matter not concerning with here.

I will visit the council again to get an upto date figure as land prices fluctuate i may only be able to wait out a devaluation.

dander

I can't see how there could be any problem in just opening your land up to where the extra land is and incorporating it into the garden. As long as you stay aware it's there and are prepared to move it back if they ask, and declare where your actual boundary is if you ever sell. I knew some people who did pretty much exactly this (but it was a disused footpath rather than a piece of council land) and never had any problem.

phill99

"I will visit the council again to get an upto date figure as land prices fluctuate i may only be able to wait out a devaluation"

You don't need to wait for a devaluation in land prices. Land prices are determined by a willing seller and a willing buyer negotiating freely in an open market with full knowledge of all the factors surrounding the land.

Therefore you don't need to just accept the price offered by the council. Get an independent valuation and offer a sum that you think is appropriate.