Buying a tiny bit of land off a neighbour
Discussion
I wonder if anyone can help..?
We live on the inside of a circular road, so our 1930s house has a back garden that officially (on the plans anyway) ends at a point. About five years ago, before we moved in, the previous owners were very sneaky and nicked about 12 sq ft of land at the bottom of the garden to put a shed on it. The neighbours never ever use their garden and it doesn't seem that they kicked up much of a fuss.
We, however, would like to approach the neighbours and ask whether we could buy an additional 16 sq ft, pay for that and the stuff our predecessors nicked and change the land registry plans properly. We think they'd jump at the chance to sell.
A couple of questions - how do I find out a price (we're near in Caerphilly, South Wales) and what do I have to do to get this done properly? Is this going to be pricey with regards to fees?
Thanks, peeps!
We live on the inside of a circular road, so our 1930s house has a back garden that officially (on the plans anyway) ends at a point. About five years ago, before we moved in, the previous owners were very sneaky and nicked about 12 sq ft of land at the bottom of the garden to put a shed on it. The neighbours never ever use their garden and it doesn't seem that they kicked up much of a fuss.
We, however, would like to approach the neighbours and ask whether we could buy an additional 16 sq ft, pay for that and the stuff our predecessors nicked and change the land registry plans properly. We think they'd jump at the chance to sell.
A couple of questions - how do I find out a price (we're near in Caerphilly, South Wales) and what do I have to do to get this done properly? Is this going to be pricey with regards to fees?
Thanks, peeps!
If you're on good terms with your neighbours, then approach them now to see if they're willing to sell the land and agree a price between yourselves - an amount that you both feel is appropriate/affordable.
You could ask an estate agent to give a valuation, but this would incur a fee which might not be modest. Also, you would really want to get at least two valuations to be sure. Doing this first might simply incur an expense for no reason if the neighbours are not willing to sell.
If you can sort it out over a nice bottle of wine, then so much the better.
Once you do agree terms, whip straight round to your local solicitor and have a contract drawn up. He'll also sort out the registration or searches (can't remember when you said you bought the house?) but just get a price for the service prior to instructing.
Good luck.
You could ask an estate agent to give a valuation, but this would incur a fee which might not be modest. Also, you would really want to get at least two valuations to be sure. Doing this first might simply incur an expense for no reason if the neighbours are not willing to sell.
If you can sort it out over a nice bottle of wine, then so much the better.
Once you do agree terms, whip straight round to your local solicitor and have a contract drawn up. He'll also sort out the registration or searches (can't remember when you said you bought the house?) but just get a price for the service prior to instructing.
Good luck.
I sold my neighbour to the rear, a 500 sq ft strip of garden.
He called the local Estate agent, whom we both knew casualy. He valued it £10k - £20k, a little difference.!
The neighbour and I sat down with a coffee and negotiated, he started at £12k and we ended up at £15k.
Building land in this area I believe runs at about 1 million an acre, but this is only garden so it is not pro rata..!
Graham
He called the local Estate agent, whom we both knew casualy. He valued it £10k - £20k, a little difference.!
The neighbour and I sat down with a coffee and negotiated, he started at £12k and we ended up at £15k.
Building land in this area I believe runs at about 1 million an acre, but this is only garden so it is not pro rata..!
Graham
A small amount of garden land is worth absolutely nothing. The value to you is in the difference of the value of your house and garden before you bought it, and the value after you have bought it. To the vendor the same obviously applies.
These values are going to depend on the original sizes of the respective gardens but 12 sq ft is hardly likely to pay a difference!
However you will need to pay the neighour something, and of course pay his legal costs as this will need lawyers to ensure the deeds are correct etc. You might run into problems with any mortgage company as well!
Residential conveyancers might know of a way round all the legailities particularly if your neighbours house is owned under a mortage!
These values are going to depend on the original sizes of the respective gardens but 12 sq ft is hardly likely to pay a difference!
However you will need to pay the neighour something, and of course pay his legal costs as this will need lawyers to ensure the deeds are correct etc. You might run into problems with any mortgage company as well!
Residential conveyancers might know of a way round all the legailities particularly if your neighbours house is owned under a mortage!
I bought a strip of land that squared off my garden and filled the gap between the garden and the fotpah. It was local authority land but i paid their costs and £1 a sq meter at that time.
The house I subsequently bought had acquired a piece about 10ft x 20 foot to make a rear garden and they had paid £1500 for it. I think had they known the value it added to have a bit of privacyy and somewhere safe for the kids to play it could have been ten times that.
Worth what you are prepared to pay for it.
The house I subsequently bought had acquired a piece about 10ft x 20 foot to make a rear garden and they had paid £1500 for it. I think had they known the value it added to have a bit of privacyy and somewhere safe for the kids to play it could have been ten times that.
Worth what you are prepared to pay for it.
The total amount we want to buy really is about 28 sq. ft. - it's essentially to remove the points that both our gardens end in and give us both a flat bit to put a shed on. I worked out it's probably less than 0.5% of the total land area of both properties - the plots aren't that big.
Their end of the garden is a mess of weeds and nettles - nice. They haven't touched it since they moved in ten years ago!
Edited to correct awful grammar; my typing and english on PH is the worst I ever do...!
>> Edited by wanty1974 on Wednesday 12th April 13:19
Their end of the garden is a mess of weeds and nettles - nice. They haven't touched it since they moved in ten years ago!
Edited to correct awful grammar; my typing and english on PH is the worst I ever do...!
>> Edited by wanty1974 on Wednesday 12th April 13:19
Legal fees will depend on the complexity but you're probably looking at £500(ish) for your own and a few hundred for your neighbours fees. If theres no mortgage companies involved its easier and you dont need a solicitor but you must make sure you get accurate plans for the bit being sold i.e. ordanance survey or it could lead to future problems.
I'm a conveyancing solicitor so if i can help give me a shout.
Andrew
I'm a conveyancing solicitor so if i can help give me a shout.
Andrew
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