"Kristiansand99" wrote in message
...

Hi,
We have recently moved house and we have an area between our house and
our neighbour's house which you would think would be shared between the
properties. Our back garden is partly behind this area, so you would
think that that border would continue forward between the houses and
through to the front garden and the up to the road. However our
neighbour tell us they own this entire area between the houses and have
placed five large plant pots there, one virtualy touching our house.
This is their only side access but we also have access on the other
side of our house. We currently can only get to this area by walking
down their drive but we suspect they have made changes whilst the house
was empty before we moved in.
A friend tells us that there must be an area next to the outside wall
of a house that belongs to that house, then an area of no-man's land,
then the neighbour's property. If this is true it would prove the pots
have to be moved as they are on our own land. Please can you advise if
this is the case and whether the border between the houses at the back
would reasonably continue forward between the houses as we suspect. Our
neighbours seem to be telling us that the border curves around our house
and the chimney breast giving them the whole area between the houses.
Please advise.
Cheers,
Andrew


--
Kristiansand99

It is extremely unlikely that the neighbor's property line comes right up to
your wall (unless you are in a townhouse). Most, if not all commmunities
require a certain amount of space (owned by you) on all sides of a property.
The no-man's land area may be what is known as an easement, but it is not
usually required betweeen neighbors. Easements are usually in the deed, and
are between the property owner and utility companies or governments. There
are situations when it may be between two property owners. I live in a
subdivision that has such an easement with a neighboring property owner.
Bottom line is I think your neighbor is trying a land grab. Your deed should
specify what you own. Get a surveyor if you need to. Adverse posession
usually occurs after seven years.