Offering money on a neighbours land
Discussion
We have a nice place, reasonable garden but the garden is too small for the size of the house.
Behind us is a massive place - I think 9 or 10 bed rooms
It has an elderly lady of 90ish living there, her son is his 60s and some people in their 20s, all related.
I’d love to increase our garden but don’t want to come across as insensitive by asking, and I’m pretty certain if I was 90 I’d not be interested in selling up.. Also, I figure when she passes away, it will be too late to make an offer as I’m assuming it will be knocked down and built upon.
What’s the best way to go about it, any experience
Behind us is a massive place - I think 9 or 10 bed rooms
It has an elderly lady of 90ish living there, her son is his 60s and some people in their 20s, all related.
I’d love to increase our garden but don’t want to come across as insensitive by asking, and I’m pretty certain if I was 90 I’d not be interested in selling up.. Also, I figure when she passes away, it will be too late to make an offer as I’m assuming it will be knocked down and built upon.
What’s the best way to go about it, any experience
I guess the question is how does taking the piece of land you want affect their property? If it's just a sliver off the end of their garden I expect some cash at 90 years old might be useful, if it's a lump out the middle then the family may have more to say about it.
I would just go and knock on the door and talk to her about it. Given she's 90 I'd be very clear you aren't pushing anything, leave an offer with her and tell her to think about it. No doubt the children will tell her to ask for more money so I'd be very clear to how you have come to a valuation and stick with it.
I would just go and knock on the door and talk to her about it. Given she's 90 I'd be very clear you aren't pushing anything, leave an offer with her and tell her to think about it. No doubt the children will tell her to ask for more money so I'd be very clear to how you have come to a valuation and stick with it.
An interesting conundrum and something I am contemplating myself. A neighbor has a small padlock 1/4 acre maybe with a 2 stall stable on it. He uses the stable for storing junk (and I mean rusty metal and old bath tubs, proper junk that should go to the tip) the paddock gets cut for hay by the farmer next door the other way, makes about 4 bales, no money exchanged. Neighbor is minted has tried selling once already (for stupid money, was chancing it and has 3 other houses anyway). We have 2 Shetland pony's kept on a rented field a 10 minute walk away. I'd like to buy the paddock and put them on it next door.
My thoughts out loud on this subject are (and will be pretty similar to your garden situation):
- There is only one bit of land i'm interested in, that one. No other bit in the world will do.
- I am by far the most interested party and have obvious need and motive
- The person i am buying it from doesn't need the money and probably can't be arsed with the faff
This means that
- The person i am buying it from knows all the above and therefor knows they can demand top dollar or leave things as the status quo without batting an eye lid.
- Someone else may buy the property in future and put the land to their own use, in which case the chance to purchase is gone (and for you may negatively effect your outlook in future if built on).
- Buying this bit of land will decrease the value of their property.
- I have to make the process as pain free as possible for the other party. i.e. manage everything and pay all fees for both parties. Possibly in advance and at risk of a no deal scenario.
- The offer I will have to make will have to be above market rate and of an amount that grabs attention.
- I need to do it now.
My thoughts out loud on this subject are (and will be pretty similar to your garden situation):
- There is only one bit of land i'm interested in, that one. No other bit in the world will do.
- I am by far the most interested party and have obvious need and motive
- The person i am buying it from doesn't need the money and probably can't be arsed with the faff
This means that
- The person i am buying it from knows all the above and therefor knows they can demand top dollar or leave things as the status quo without batting an eye lid.
- Someone else may buy the property in future and put the land to their own use, in which case the chance to purchase is gone (and for you may negatively effect your outlook in future if built on).
- Buying this bit of land will decrease the value of their property.
- I have to make the process as pain free as possible for the other party. i.e. manage everything and pay all fees for both parties. Possibly in advance and at risk of a no deal scenario.
- The offer I will have to make will have to be above market rate and of an amount that grabs attention.
- I need to do it now.
Hobojim said:
An interesting conundrum and something I am contemplating myself. A neighbor has a small padlock 1/4 acre maybe with a 2 stall stable on it. He uses the stable for storing junk (and I mean rusty metal and old bath tubs, proper junk that should go to the tip) the paddock gets cut for hay by the farmer next door the other way, makes about 4 bales, no money exchanged. Neighbor is minted has tried selling once already (for stupid money, was chancing it and has 3 other houses anyway). We have 2 Shetland pony's kept on a rented field a 10 minute walk away. I'd like to buy the paddock and put them on it next door.
My thoughts out loud on this subject are (and will be pretty similar to your garden situation):
- There is only one bit of land i'm interested in, that one. No other bit in the world will do.
- I am by far the most interested party and have obvious need and motive
- The person i am buying it from doesn't need the money and probably can't be arsed with the faff
This means that
- The person i am buying it from knows all the above and therefor knows they can demand top dollar or leave things as the status quo without batting an eye lid.
- Someone else may buy the property in future and put the land to their own use, in which case the chance to purchase is gone (and for you may negatively effect your outlook in future if built on).
- Buying this bit of land will decrease the value of their property.
- I have to make the process as pain free as possible for the other party. i.e. manage everything and pay all fees for both parties. Possibly in advance and at risk of a no deal scenario.
- The offer I will have to make will have to be above market rate and of an amount that grabs attention.
- I need to do it now.
Park a caravan on it, then tie the ponies up using washing line.My thoughts out loud on this subject are (and will be pretty similar to your garden situation):
- There is only one bit of land i'm interested in, that one. No other bit in the world will do.
- I am by far the most interested party and have obvious need and motive
- The person i am buying it from doesn't need the money and probably can't be arsed with the faff
This means that
- The person i am buying it from knows all the above and therefor knows they can demand top dollar or leave things as the status quo without batting an eye lid.
- Someone else may buy the property in future and put the land to their own use, in which case the chance to purchase is gone (and for you may negatively effect your outlook in future if built on).
- Buying this bit of land will decrease the value of their property.
- I have to make the process as pain free as possible for the other party. i.e. manage everything and pay all fees for both parties. Possibly in advance and at risk of a no deal scenario.
- The offer I will have to make will have to be above market rate and of an amount that grabs attention.
- I need to do it now.
Repeat after a 2 day break every 28 days. Job jobbed.
As she is a 90-year-old woman I would imagine that any kind of door-knocking, regardless of you being her neighbour, may come across as a bit forceful.
I would try to pop a letter through the door in the first instance and just let her know that you are open for a face-to-face conversation, with her family too, if she wants.
The last thing you want is an up-hill battle from a potentially awkward initial door knock. If you don’t get any response from the letter, you can then obviously go round afterwards and then at least you have an excuse to be knocking on the door.
I appreciate some may disagree with this plan, but in my experience, very old people can be very stuck in their ways.
I would try to pop a letter through the door in the first instance and just let her know that you are open for a face-to-face conversation, with her family too, if she wants.
The last thing you want is an up-hill battle from a potentially awkward initial door knock. If you don’t get any response from the letter, you can then obviously go round afterwards and then at least you have an excuse to be knocking on the door.
I appreciate some may disagree with this plan, but in my experience, very old people can be very stuck in their ways.
I would put something in writing to the owner and make it clear that you are writing to her because you expect that she will want to discuss it with her family.
I think you need also to acknowledge that the value to you is greater than the cost to the large house. If the land will add £100,000 to the value of your property and diminish the value of the large property by say £25,000 then perhaps an opening offer at £50,000 may get the conversation started. (You will need to adjust the numbers depending on the values).
If they are informed people they will probably respond better to a considered and sensible approach. If you try to "steal" the land for a couple of thousand then they probably don't need the money and they will think you are being a bit sharp.
Good luck
I think you need also to acknowledge that the value to you is greater than the cost to the large house. If the land will add £100,000 to the value of your property and diminish the value of the large property by say £25,000 then perhaps an opening offer at £50,000 may get the conversation started. (You will need to adjust the numbers depending on the values).
If they are informed people they will probably respond better to a considered and sensible approach. If you try to "steal" the land for a couple of thousand then they probably don't need the money and they will think you are being a bit sharp.
Good luck
How well do you know the family? If you know them well, then go and speak to them, if you don't, then writing a letter would probably be a better way. Don't take it personally if they refuse either. I wouldn't want to lose any part of our field or garden at any price; we don't need any extra money, even if it's a large sum. I wouldn't be surprised if others felt the same.
As part of any offer I would also suggest you state you would be erecting a fence which would become your responsibility to maintain.
I agree that including a plan with the suggested area would also be sensible.
Solicitors fees are likely to eat into any consideration you pay her, so I would be saying you would cover her fees as well as yours.
If the neighbour were say a 50-year-old neighbour then you could get away with being a bit more forward, but bearing in mind she is 90 you are going to have to play it gently
I agree that including a plan with the suggested area would also be sensible.
Solicitors fees are likely to eat into any consideration you pay her, so I would be saying you would cover her fees as well as yours.
If the neighbour were say a 50-year-old neighbour then you could get away with being a bit more forward, but bearing in mind she is 90 you are going to have to play it gently
I'd try and speak with the son rather than the old lady
I'd start with a very loose approach along the lines of We would like to make our garden a bit bigger. Would you be interested in talking about selling us a small piece of your land at the end of our garden
If you don't see him around enough to make that happen soon enough, just a short note through the door to start with.
I wouldn't, in the first instance, make any indication about the size of the piece of land you are interested in, or the ££ you think it might be worth
And go from there.
I'd start with a very loose approach along the lines of We would like to make our garden a bit bigger. Would you be interested in talking about selling us a small piece of your land at the end of our garden
If you don't see him around enough to make that happen soon enough, just a short note through the door to start with.
I wouldn't, in the first instance, make any indication about the size of the piece of land you are interested in, or the ££ you think it might be worth
And go from there.
I would knock on the door, or try to bump into the son to break the ice. Don’t just post a letter, that just puts the onus in them to make contact with you, which will put some off. I have a bit of land that a few people have expressed an interest in either buying or using. I don’t know why, but slipping a letter through and scurrying away winds me up. If someone just had a nice chat with me about it I’d certainly hear them out even if it didn’t appeal in the end.
blueST said:
I don’t know why, but slipping a letter through and scurrying away winds me up.
You're obviously entitled to feel any way you want but this does make you sound somewhat unhinged. 
A friendly knock on the door of your neighbour to discuss trivial issues is obviously fine. But I think knocking on the door of a 90yo woman asking to buy some of her land must be done very, very carefully.
It does also depend on the OP’s relationship with the lady (and family). If they often chit-chat then my position on the matter might be different.
But if they’ve never spoken, then a letter is the most sensible and considerate action. Regardless of if the OP hears back, then there’s no issue with going round there and knocking the door and asking if they got the letter and if there’s a better time to discuss it. There’s nothing to lose at that point.
Hobojim said:
An interesting conundrum and something I am contemplating myself. A neighbor has a small padlock 1/4 acre maybe with a 2 stall stable on it. He uses the stable for storing junk (and I mean rusty metal and old bath tubs, proper junk that should go to the tip) the paddock gets cut for hay by the farmer next door the other way, makes about 4 bales, no money exchanged. Neighbor is minted has tried selling once already (for stupid money, was chancing it and has 3 other houses anyway). We have 2 Shetland pony's kept on a rented field a 10 minute walk away. I'd like to buy the paddock and put them on it next door.
My thoughts out loud on this subject are (and will be pretty similar to your garden situation):
- There is only one bit of land i'm interested in, that one. No other bit in the world will do.
- I am by far the most interested party and have obvious need and motive
- The person i am buying it from doesn't need the money and probably can't be arsed with the faff
This means that
- The person i am buying it from knows all the above and therefor knows they can demand top dollar or leave things as the status quo without batting an eye lid.
- Someone else may buy the property in future and put the land to their own use, in which case the chance to purchase is gone (and for you may negatively effect your outlook in future if built on).
- Buying this bit of land will decrease the value of their property.
- I have to make the process as pain free as possible for the other party. i.e. manage everything and pay all fees for both parties. Possibly in advance and at risk of a no deal scenario.
- The offer I will have to make will have to be above market rate and of an amount that grabs attention.
- I need to do it now.
Indeed, I'm currently buying 0.1 of an acre in the middle of nowhere for £30k. Just so happens that middle of nowhere is around my house which is fantastic, except for its total lack of a garden. I am having to pay for all fees and solicitor costs.My thoughts out loud on this subject are (and will be pretty similar to your garden situation):
- There is only one bit of land i'm interested in, that one. No other bit in the world will do.
- I am by far the most interested party and have obvious need and motive
- The person i am buying it from doesn't need the money and probably can't be arsed with the faff
This means that
- The person i am buying it from knows all the above and therefor knows they can demand top dollar or leave things as the status quo without batting an eye lid.
- Someone else may buy the property in future and put the land to their own use, in which case the chance to purchase is gone (and for you may negatively effect your outlook in future if built on).
- Buying this bit of land will decrease the value of their property.
- I have to make the process as pain free as possible for the other party. i.e. manage everything and pay all fees for both parties. Possibly in advance and at risk of a no deal scenario.
- The offer I will have to make will have to be above market rate and of an amount that grabs attention.
- I need to do it now.
I think the proposed letter is a good idea, although I wouldn't discuss any figures or draw out any plans. Just say you would like to increase your garden size, and if that's your genuine plan you could even agree to a restrictive covenant saying the land can't be built on. Have a face to face conversation with the family and see how you get on.
I'd try and warm up your relationship if possible before jumping in. The younger people maybe a better bet too, use them to get to her(nicely) ie ask them if you think its something that she / they might entertain - explain the benefits to you(if you have small kids make it all about how much nicer their life would be growing up with more space!), dont talk money.
If it were me, I’d engineer a reason to speak to the old lady and ask her direct, but obviously not aggressive or pushy.
Explain that you want the additional land for your kids to play in/expanding family/whatever and you’d love to have the chance to discuss it with her and her family.
Explain that you want the additional land for your kids to play in/expanding family/whatever and you’d love to have the chance to discuss it with her and her family.
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