boundaries

[pamnez]

We have new neighbours at the back of us whose back garden joins our back garden. We have a little wall and behind that was a 20ft hawthorn hedge. We always presumed that this hedge belonged to the house at the back of us. These new neighbours have taken out the hedge and put a fence in but the fence has been put in at least a foot away from our wall. On our side of the fence, we now have unsightly short trunks with roots that they obviously couldn't get out. They have left our side of the fence an absolute mess. A couple of friends have remarked that they think the fence has been erected on the boundary line. If this is true, the hedge has been removed from our land without our permission. Where do we go to find out the exact boundary line between the two houses. Any help would be much appreciated.

[meltoadhall]

our boundary lines are marked on the copy of the deeds that our solicitor showed us when we bought our house

[pamnez]

Thankyou meltoadhall. We actually have our deeds so I will have a good look at them tonight. It just makes me so angry because we have lived in this house for 28 years and new neighbours come in and in one fell swoop, they pull out a pear tree, an apple tree, a couple of conifers, a large rhododendron and the 20ft hedge. Every bit of green has been taken away and our view now is a cheap fence that looks as if it has been made out of pallets.

[sandbach99]

I think there is a law which stops anyone removing hedges when birds are nesting ie at this time of year, check with the council they may even have to replant the hedge, but remember you have to live near them.

[buildersmate]

The Title Plan at the Land Registry will show you the approximate boundary as accurately as a Plan can and it may show ownership of the fences on a more modern development. The best place to advise you where to start is here at the Land Registry site. http://www.landreg.gov.uk/kb/Default.asp?ToDo=view&questId=307&catId=7

In particular have a look at Public Guide Number 6 which explains how to go about resolving these sorts of issues. What you want to avoid is involving lawyers. Post again if you want more help, but one way to look at it if the fence is now on what they neighbour consides is the 'boundary' is that you have gained some land!