Your home, your land, in plain words.
Boundary disagreements, rights of way, covenants, leasehold and neighbour problems. Buying a home? We'll keep track of the paperwork and flag anything that needs a second look.
BoundariesRights of wayCovenantsLeaseholdNeighbour problemsBuying a home
Example check
A disagreement over a fence
What we'd askExample answers
What's the problem?
Neighbour's new fenceRight of wayLease issueBuying a home
Do you have your title plan?
YesNot yet
Have you spoken to your neighbour?
Briefly, no agreement
Where you stand
Land Registry plans usually show general boundaries, not the exact line. The plan alone may not settle this, so older deeds, photos and surveys matter.
Your options
- AGet your title documentsDownload the register and plan from HM Land Registry for a small fee.
- BWrite to your neighbourA calm, factual letter. We'll help you draft it.
- CMediationA neutral person helps you agree. Usually far cheaper than court.
- DCourt, as a last resortCosts can easily exceed the value of the strip of land.
No reliable figureWe couldn't find published outcome data that matches disagreements like this one. We won't guess.
Buying a home
Keep track of every search and document.
Your checklist updates as things come in. When a search shows something unusual, we explain it in plain English and suggest a question to ask your conveyancer.
Example purchase · tap a box to tick it- DoneMortgage offer receivedKeep a copy. Note the expiry date.
- DoneTitle register and plan reviewedCheck the owner's name matches the seller.
- FlaggedLocal authority searchShows planning, roads and notices affecting the property.Flag: a road scheme is proposed nearby. Ask your conveyancer what it could mean for access or value.
- WaitingDrainage and water searchIs the property connected to mains water and drains?
- WaitingEnvironmental searchFlood risk, ground stability, past land use.
- WaitingSurveyChoose the level that fits the age and condition of the home.
- Not startedLeasehold information (if leasehold)Years left on the lease, ground rent and service charges.
Plain-English glossary
Words you'll meet, and what they mean.
- Covenant
- A rule attached to land, such as "no business use" or "keep the fence in good repair". It can bind later owners.
- Easement
- A right to use someone else's land in a set way, such as a path across it or a drain under it.
- Title plan
- The Land Registry map of your property. It usually shows the general boundary, not the exact line.
- Leasehold
- You own the home for a set number of years. Someone else owns the building or land.
- Ground rent
- A yearly charge a leaseholder may pay to the freeholder, as set out in the lease.
- Searches
- Checks on the property and area, such as planning, drainage and flood risk, done before you buy.
When to bring in a person
Bring in a qualified professional when:
- Your neighbour won't engage and building work is going ahead
- A search or survey shows something serious
- You want to extend a lease or buy the freehold
- You've received a letter threatening court action
Complex cases are always referred to a qualified legal professional. Your Legal Easy report goes with you, so you don't start from scratch. Referrals aren't available for criminal matters.