An angry father is embroiled in a bitter dispute with his neighbours, who he claims constructed a garden office pod on his own lawn. Justin Leech and his wife Julia moved into their £600,000 newly-built home only to discover the garden was 6ft (1.8m) smaller than anticipated.
Fence installed at wrong angle
Careless builders had installed the fence at the incorrect angle, creating a dog-leg in the property's boundary line. The blunder resulted in approximately 17.7 sqm (190 sq ft) of their land being incorrectly incorporated into the adjoining garden. The neighbours subsequently erected a garden office pod on the additional land shortly after Justin and Julia took up residence in November 2023.
The couple raised their concerns with Shropshire Homes — the developers behind the estate in Orleton, Herefordshire — yet the matter remains unresolved nearly three years on. In a desperate attempt to break the stalemate, the pair have threatened to tear down the fence in order to force the matter before a court.
Threat of legal action
Justin, 51, said: "We thought we were moving into our dream home but it's turned into our worst nightmare. There was clearly a mistake made when the fence was put up. You can clearly see where our boundary line should be on the plans. The neighbours clearly know they have land which is rightfully ours. We are so desperate we are seriously considering removing the fence so we get our day in court. We want a judge to decide."
The couple, who have two children aged eight and four, say they have attempted to address the matter directly with their neighbours, Craig and Nichola Fleetwood, but without success. Civil servant Justin said: "We have tried to talk to them about it over the years but they don't want to know. It is blindingly obvious that the fence was installed in the wrong place. The boundary line was measured from the wrong building. It was a simple mistake but it needs correcting. The fence even takes a right angle so it's not straight. None of the other fences do this. All our other neighbours agree that it's our land. It's madness."
Time pressure and developer response
The pair also worry they're racing against the clock to reclaim the plot, which could pass to their neighbours by default after a decade. Julia, who operates her own small enterprise, said: "The neighbours are just happy to wait because they know the land will automatically be there after ten years is up. From every window at the back of the house I can see the fence and it's a constant reminder that we have been denied the land which is rightfully ours. Seeing the office pod on land which is actually ours just adds insult to injury."
Shropshire Homes acknowledge the fence was positioned incorrectly but maintain they reduced the property's final asking price by £10,000. In correspondence to Justin and Julia, they additionally pledged to supply documentation to the Land Registry verifying the original boundary line. Managing director Richard Shackleton said: "We have satisfied our legal obligations which should really be an end of the issue. Mr Leech and his wife do not have any legal right over the land in dispute and whilst it remains in dispute we will not transfer the land to either party. They also have a legal obligation to maintain the current fence and therefore we do not condone any attempt to remove it."
Mr and Mrs Fleetwood have been contacted for a response.
