A couple have been left fuming after their neighbour has taken to telling a lie about their garden in a desperate bid to sell their house and move elsewhere – and their estate agent is going along with it
The couple never had any issues with their neighbour until they put their house up for sale (stock image)(Image: Ian Stephenson via Getty Images)
A couple have voiced their frustration over a neighbour who has taken extreme measures to sell their house, including claiming part of their garden as their own. Selling a house can be an anxiety-inducing and drawn-out process, with many homeowners eager to make their properties appear as attractive as possible in order to attract a buyer.
However, one couple is under significant stress due to their neighbour’s desperation to sell their property and relocate. The neighbour’s estate agent has photographed the couple’s garden and, in the property listing, emphasised the “spacious” back garden on offer – but this is actually the couple’s land.
Their neighbour has carved about “50 feet” into the couple’s garden to make their own appear “bigger” – and their estate agent is complicit in this, even falsely advertising the house as providing lake access.
Another property on the estate, located across the road from the house that’s on the market, does provide access to the lake behind it, but the one being sold doesn’t have this selling point.
The neighbour’s house boasts a very spacious front garden as their house is positioned much further back, which explains why their back garden is significantly smaller than the couple’s.
One half of the couple shared the situation on Reddit, labelling it as a “vent/rant”. They detailed how the neighbour has “cut approximately 50 feet” into their garden in an “attempt to sell their house as [having a] ‘spacious backyard’.”
They’ve tried to thwart their efforts but every time they leave their home, their neighbour once again “cuts” their garden to try and pass it off as their own. This behaviour only started when the neighbour attempted to sell their home.
Taking to Reddit, the exasperated pair shared: “As the [neighbour] continues to cut further and further into our property, I have finally heard from a surveyor and should be having the property surveyed soon.
“Also learned from the surveyor that our neighbourhood has never had a survey done. Surveyor stated that’s the way they did things in our area when this development was planned out.
“[The] original land owner just put stakes out in a field designating lots. This should be interesting. I will update further after the survey is complete.”
In response to their post, many people were eager to share their thoughts. One person suggested: “Once you get a survey I would put up a temporary fence ASAP.
“Some wooden stakes and the back fabric used for erosion control (I can’t recall the name). Maybe affix some no trespassing signs to it.”
Another quipped: “Caution tape in a bright yellow is a festive colour.”
A third concurred: “THIS! And make the fence look terrible… eyesore! Ha ha ha. If you have to go through the effort you may as well make their sale harder.”
Many others proposed erecting an “ugly” fence to make a point, with people inventing elaborate stories and lies to explain to any potential buyers why the fence is there.
However, another person suggested: “Or just be honest. ‘It’s there so there aren’t any future arguments about the property lines based on how the realtor and homeowner attempt to market the property. I’ll take it down once someone is moved in’.”
And another advised: “Good call on getting a surveyor, nothing shuts down sneaky neighbours faster than legal boundaries on paper.”
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