Retired couple loses £45,000 in neighbour fence dispute
Couple's life savings drained in prolonged fence dispute with former neighbour
A retired couple claims they have exhausted their life savings in a prolonged legal battle with a former neighbour over a fence along their shared driveway. Graham and Katherine Bateson revealed they spent £45,000 on legal fees after their late neighbour, Wendy Leedham, erected a fence beside their bungalow.
The couple sought an injunction to remove the fence, arguing it blocked access to their driveway since its installation in 2019. The Batesons stated that when they purchased their two-bedroom house for £29,500 in 1987, they were informed the driveway was shared with their neighbour.
They were told there was an unmarked boundary between the two properties that should remain undeveloped. Leedham, however, received legal advice indicating she could place the fence between the properties in Snettisham, Norfolk.
بسبب عناد زوجته رجل ينفق مدخرات حياتهما البالغه 45 الف جنيه استرليني في نزاع تافه
امرأة تدعى كاثرين باتيسون عمرها 76عام في عام 2019 قاموا جيرانها بوضع لوحين من الخشب كسياج في الممر المشترك بينهم
الأمر لم يعجب كاثرين وأصرت على أن الممتلكات لها وأنه عندما اشتروا المنزل عام 1987… pic.twitter.com/33ux9dz8hS
— مستر (@5_8fm) August 27, 2024
Mrs Bateson, 73, expressed frustration, noting they had no prior issues with previous neighbours and had always understood the drive to be shared. She said, “We bought it as a shared drive, that’s how it was explained to us and sold to us. I don’t understand how you can have all the checks done legally and 30 years later it comes back and bites you on the bum.”
The legal dispute continued for three years until November 2021, culminating in a mediation hearing. The mediation concluded with a decision to draft a new deed reflecting the boundary aligned with the fence, allowing it to remain.
Wendy Leedham did not witness the resolution. She passed away in May 2021 at the age of 74. Leedham’s three-bedroom former home is now listed for £375,000 with agents Sowerbys, whose brochure does not mention the fence or boundary dispute, causing the Batesons to worry that a new owner might reinstall it.
Mrs Bateson, a retired factory supervisor, fears the possibility of another fence being erected, despite the surveyor’s report confirming the shared drive and open boundary after the mediation.
In September 2022, Mr Bateson, a retired window cleaner, took matters into his own hands and dismantled the fence, leading to his arrest for criminal damage. He recounted being detained for 12 hours on a Sunday without food until midnight.
The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charge in December, deeming it not in the public interest to proceed. By that time, the Batesons had depleted their finances and could not continue their legal struggle. Mr Bateson reflected, “We saved and worked hard. It’s all gone now.”
Both parties were responsible for their own legal expenses. The fence remains dismantled, while the Land Registry has rejected the revised deed due to issues with the witnessing of the Batesons’ signatures.
What Other Media Are Saying
- The New York Post reports on a retired couple who have lost their life savings in a bitter feud with their former neighbor over a fence.(read more)
- GB News reports that a retired couple lost their entire life savings after a three-year legal battle over a fence with their neighbor, spending £45,000 on lawyers’ fees, and fearing a new owner could rebuild it.(read more)
- The Mirror reports that a couple, Graham and Katherine Bateson, spent £45,000 fighting their neighbour over a fence, leaving them penniless after 32 years of shared drive ownership.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why did the Batesons spend their life savings?
They spent £45,000 on legal fees over a dispute with their neighbor about a fence on their shared driveway.
What was the outcome of the mediation hearing?
The mediation ruled that the boundary should align with the fence, allowing it to stay.
Why was Graham Bateson arrested?
He was arrested for criminal damage after taking down the fence but the charges were later dropped.
What happened to Wendy Leedham?
Wendy Leedham passed away in May 2021, before the mediation hearing concluded.
What is the current status of the fence?
The fence has not been rebuilt, and the Land Registry rejected the revised deed due to witnessing issues.
