Friday 13 September 2013

"Millionaire neighbours at war over 10ft strip dividing their gardens"

From The Telegraph:

Gerald Mead, 71, a property developer, claims the row started when trees he had planted when he moved into his house in Kingswood, Surrey, 20 years ago were cut down by his neighbour, who said they were on his side of the boundary.

Neville Williams, 53, a company director who moved in seven years after Mr Mead, said he had a document from the Land Registry proving he owns the 9.8ft-wide patch of land...

However, Mr Mead, who lives with his wife Heather, objected, saying the plans would not be in keeping with the area, which is home to a number of sportsmen and celebrities and where house prices can reach up to £10  million.


Land value tax will sort them out.

There are no buildings on the strip of land, so its entire value is down to the location, and the value is decided by whoever is prepared to bid the higher/highest amount in a simple auction.

That value might be difficult for an outsider to establish*, but a simple auction will sort it out. Whether the LVT ends up at £1,000 a year or £50,000 is neither here nor there, once one of them has agreed to pay it, he gets the land and that is the end of the matter.

It doesn't matter who has the better position under current land law, he'd still have to pay the tax so if Mr Mead has the better title (having occupied the land for more than twelve years) but loses out the bidding war to Mr Williams, then so what? He has lost a bit of land and shaved down his LVT bill.

What's not to like?

* Maybe somebody across the road who has more cars than sense would like to tarmac it over and park a dozen cars on it, the value of a parking space in expensive areas is a couple of thousand pounds a year, so I'd be looking for something in the region of £10,000 - £20,000.

3 comments:

Lola said...

Very good. One point, you can never have more cars than sense....

Anonymous said...

L, fair point. Maybe I should have said "more cars than SPACE."

One of our traditional family discussions is "If we had a house with enough space in front for five cars/vehicles, what would you choose?"

Friend of mine in Germany has rented a massive shed/warehouse type thingy and has got two vintage coaches/buses, a military motorcycle with sidecar, a Trabbi, a BMW, a lorry which he uses for work and a couple of motorbikes plus bits and pieces.

And then two cars for him and wife for everyday use, but they are at home of course.

Bayard said...

My nephew has five cars already, and he's only 18, but OTOH, he does live on a farm.