Free legal with residential boundary dispute

[frankl]

I am stuck in a boundary dispute but cannot afford the legal fees to get help and advice - is there a way for free help?

[atticus]

Many university law departments operate legal advice clinics. Have you seen whether any universities in your area operate such a clinic?

[islandgirl]

You could also tell us a little about the situation - it may help to get the facts stright in your own head. No certainty we can help but you never know!

[frankl]

Our neighbour unlawfully removed our hedge two years ago in a boundary issue, claiming they had the right to do so because they wanted a fence. We complained but then they came into our land and said that it was rightfully theirs. However, when we employed a surveyor and discovered that not only was it untrue that they had that right to take the hedge (it is of course a joint hedge), they had trespassed as well.

Our surveyor did a survey at our expense and put out the markings with pegs but this finding they would not accept.

We then each had surveyors do their own calculations and they could not agree at first but did eventually come to a compromise.

Once again our surveyor laid out this line with pegs and again they refused to accept it, actually pulling the stakes out and throwing them back at us.

We protested that they were being arrogant in not accepting this outcome but they simply challenged us to sue them 'what you going to do about it' they said. Our surveyor said we need to have a solicitor on board but we are OAP's and unable to pay the cost of solicitors' fees and they knew it.

Over time our relationship with them has deteriorated dramatically and the boundary is open with no screen between them and us. They are doing garden landscaping which is significant in scale, because they are developers in fact, and this is impacting us badly emotionally. We are very distressed baring in mind this has been going for two years now and our health is suffering.

We have complained to the council about these landscaping developments and in turn (of course) our neighbours have complained about us and a log store at the side of our garage which was previously concealed by our hedge but became exposed and visible only when the hedge was removed by them. This feels like a massive injustice to us and we would like to know how we can deal with this? Our council planning office is unsympathetic to domestic boundary matters and we feel completely abandoned.

We do need legal help now but wonder if it is too late even if we can get it. All advice would be appreciated.

[islandgirl]

Thank you for explaining, What an awful situation for you. These kind of disputes can be long and very costly. The council won't get involved unless their deveopment work needs planning permission. You could contact your local councillor? I am not certain they can help but you never know. Perhaps someone here will have some knowledge of this area of the law. I hope so.

[atticus]

do you have legal expenses insurance with any home or motoring policy?

[frankl]

do you have legal expenses insurance with any home or motoring policy?

I'm afraid we do not.

[frankl]

Thank you for explaining, What an awful situation for you. These kind of disputes can be long and very costly. The council won't get involved unless their deveopment work needs planning permission. You could contact your local councillor? I am not certain they can help but you never know. Perhaps someone here will have some knowledge of this area of the law. I hope so.

Thanks for that. The council are now involved and our neighbours are needing to apply for permission for that development retrospectively. And as I said they have now complained about our log store also and it has become a tit-for-tat situation.