Owner responsible for upkeep of land in front of house
Discussion
I'm looking at a small one bedroom house down on the Kent coast that comes with a garage. It's all I can afford 
It looks lovely and if I get rid of nearly everything I own, I could fit in there.
It's in a nice area 10 minutes walk from the town and it's been on the market since November with a couple of price reductions. Now up for less than it cost a few years ago.
Just talked to the agent and it seems that everyone that views it, loves it but there's an area to the front outside the actual 'boundary' of the house extending to the pavement with a big 35ft pine tree.
Seems that whoever owns the house has to be responsible for this land even though it looks public.
Thus you'll be landed with tree surgeon costs for maintenance and cutting the grass twice a week as it's a nice area and can't look tatty.
So all the inconvenience of a garden without me being able to sit there with a glass of beer whilst drying my smalls on a line.
Is this normal?
Obviously why the place hasn't sold.
ETA
Looking at that pic I'd say that the tree is a lot taller than 35ft.
It looks lovely and if I get rid of nearly everything I own, I could fit in there.
It's in a nice area 10 minutes walk from the town and it's been on the market since November with a couple of price reductions. Now up for less than it cost a few years ago.
Just talked to the agent and it seems that everyone that views it, loves it but there's an area to the front outside the actual 'boundary' of the house extending to the pavement with a big 35ft pine tree.
Seems that whoever owns the house has to be responsible for this land even though it looks public.
Thus you'll be landed with tree surgeon costs for maintenance and cutting the grass twice a week as it's a nice area and can't look tatty.
So all the inconvenience of a garden without me being able to sit there with a glass of beer whilst drying my smalls on a line.
Is this normal?
Obviously why the place hasn't sold.
ETA
Looking at that pic I'd say that the tree is a lot taller than 35ft.
Edited by croyde on Friday 8th May 16:17
[quote=Plus4Four#]Who actually owns that land? The house up for sale?
Covenants re maintenance?
How are adjacent properties affected?
Ask the agent for evidence rather than just comments.
[/quote]
Exactly this.
Things like this, I always find intriguing so looking forward to knowing the outcome.
No TPO?!?! Chop it down would be my idea, but guessing there isn't a reason others haven't followed that idea.
Covenants re maintenance?
How are adjacent properties affected?
Ask the agent for evidence rather than just comments.
[/quote]
Exactly this.
Things like this, I always find intriguing so looking forward to knowing the outcome.
No TPO?!?! Chop it down would be my idea, but guessing there isn't a reason others haven't followed that idea.
croyde said:
It has got a TPO. So planning needed even for just maintenance. I just checked with the local council.
The next question is 'Where does it say you're responsible for it'?Even if you are, which seems unlikely because you wouldn't own it, it's just a tree. It's also a very nice tree.
Sounds like a load of agro, especially if it has a TPO.
If its not easily sorted I think id walk away, unless you REALLY want the property.
Its a very strange set up tho.
Is the house youre looking at one of those in the picture? Just trying to gauge where it is in comparison to the house.
Maybe ask the current owner if you can see the deeds showing the property boundaries. Or knock on potential neighbours for their views?
If its not easily sorted I think id walk away, unless you REALLY want the property.
Its a very strange set up tho.
Is the house youre looking at one of those in the picture? Just trying to gauge where it is in comparison to the house.
Maybe ask the current owner if you can see the deeds showing the property boundaries. Or knock on potential neighbours for their views?
AW10 said:
Strikes me as worth spending a few quid to get the land registry docs to confirm the facts.
I would definitely be doing this op. The EA description seems fairly vague, although it could mean just the part of the bank that slopes up from the house towards the shared driveway and garage area. The location looks good - an easy walk to the store to taste the different products.
The above is taken from the Folkestone and Hythe map of TPOs.
You can see the 2 trees within the house's boundary.
The dotted boundary lines are where there are no physical signs of separation ie fences, hedges, walls etc.
I'm really intrigued by this as it would appear that in order to own the house you have to maintain what looks like a landscaped public area and keep it in a condition that matches the rest of the neighborhood.
I very much doubt that I'll bother with going to look at it, especially as you lot know exactly where it is
but more the fact that I'm buying a place so that my kids have something when I die, I don't want to land them something that is obviously difficult to sell. An odd one as it really appeals to people much older than me who are put off with having so much to maintain when the house itself has a front yard just big enough for the wheelie bins.
Edited by croyde on Saturday 9th May 07:51
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