Legal advice required please

[Wobblebox]

Looks like more to this than we all know???

No, nothing to do with covenant, thats been in place for years.
The main issue is the type of people they are, theyre not well liked locally and have the arrogence to think they can do what they like

 

[Still Farming]

No, nothing to do with covenant, thats been in place for years.
The main issue is the type of people they are, theyre not well liked locally and have the arrogence to think they can do what they like

Plenty like that.
Bollox to them then.

 

[David.]

Perhaps make a stand and let them know that they cannot do just as
they like then....

 

[Oliveau]

I think a simple recorded delivery letter saying 'No it won't be convenient due to cropping requirements'
Then if they try to access your land anyway call the police and tell them you have trespassers causing damage. With a bit of luck they will then be charged with criminal damage.
As you are not allowing access there's no point in engaging an agent as you will be left to pay the bill.

 

[som farmer]

site in a local village, was up for development. I have no idea, what was said to the owner of the paddock behind said development, and he is a perfectly reasonable chap, but he erected an 8ft, rusty galvanise fence, along his boundary, about 15 ft, from the new houses windows, and it wasn't a tidy fence either. 2 years later, when trying to sell those houses, with limited success, a substantial payment was made, along with a grovelling apology, and, much to the fences owner, relief, he hated it, and was removed.
Arrogance, and thinking they could ride roughshod over the owner, is the most likely reason, we had known/ dealt with him for years, perfectly sensible chap.

 

[puppet]

If you really don't want them then just say so. I can't see how they can access the field without your permission and if they did then just park something across the gate and shut them in.
When they bought it they should have thought about access. However, if they have converted the steading then there must be a separate access unless they have blocked it during the building?
You may not like them but you will have to live there and I find that I will stand by my principles until someone offers enough money.
Your field will be cultivated so damage will be less. Insist on a dry spell and proper machinery, no lorries needing towed out axle deep. Agent draws it up, timescales agreed, plenty compensation and they pay for it all.
They get the access and you get enough to sow your OSR for free

 

[betweenthelines]

As the OP says the neighbour is selling the building, there a a couple of other options if the dismantled building gets put in your field.

1 Take it away and keep it for yourself on the basis that you found it dumped in your field. Neighbour would have to prove it was his and will have lost the sale while you drag this process out.

2 Sell/give it away as scrap

3 My preferred option would be to take a gas axe to it while the barsteward he is watching, (just put a hole in each sheet and chop an foot or two off the purlins and beams so it can't be re erected)then chuck the bits back over the hedge. He losses his sale and ends up with a garden full of scrap!

If you go for option three, please post a video of him watching you

 

[Dry Rot]

I refused my neighbour access to take electricity over my land, but I was always under the impression that the power company could take it to court to enforce access. I think they can certainly do that with existing services when they want to do maintenance. It seems I might be wrong! In fact, he took his power lines over a second neighbour's property, going around me, but it did cost him. Incidentally, I refused for exactly the same reasons as the OP.

 

[David.]

Utility companies have the advantage of being able to force their way across if needs be.
Private individuals acting for their convenience, less so.

 

[br jones]

No, nothing to do with covenant, thats been in place for years.
The main issue is the type of people they are, theyre not well liked locally and have the arrogence to think they can do what they like

tell them to go swivel ,but do it politely

 

[Part timer farmer]

If they approach you again, I'd refer them to your Agent. You need to put some distance between you and these people and your Agent can string this is along as slowly as you want. It could cost them quite a lot in crop loss/ remediation. Its nothing personal its just the way it is the countryside and we all know most of us use agents. Legal letters are all very well but where do you after sending one and they contacting you. If this neighbour was any good they would have an agent contact you early days, they are a bit naive/ chancers if they can expect to access your land and pay nothing.

 

[Flatlander]

Sounds like you have a cheap building coming to your yard. Lol. Nothing digs feet in the ground like pushy people trying to take advantage of you. i had a utility wanting to bury a fibre optic cable along the side of some fields for about a mile and a half. Agent for them said they were informing me out of curtesy and if I had concerns they would be only to pleased to address them. Didn’t offer to buy a wayleave or compensation fir crop damage as it was going to be for the good of the community. When I asked why they couldn’t go the opposite side of the road the reply was it would cost too much to compensate the home owners fir their inconvenience. Oddly enough after three visits from the agent they finally cut thru a sh!t load of gardens laying the cable rather than the open fields. Guess his client had more money than wat his pride was worth. I’d be damned if I’d be bent over and forced into giving them acces. They asked you said no. End of story. Unfortunately the trespass laws are pee poor and even if they just drove in and did their thing the police would be hard pressed to achieve an eviction after which claiming damages is up hill. Go offer to buy the building and see what’s in it fir them.

 

[Nearly]

Solicitors' letter and fit a couple of trail cameras.

 

[steveR]

Beef up gate security would be my first thought. How did they access the site to build the shed in the first place ?

Big chains with locks around gates and posts will prevent easy removal or of lifting gates, as others have said, camera/video covering the area. Removal of the barriers/obstacles, would then be criminal damage.

Sounds as if the other party wants the building gone for more development purposes...? So make them pay!

 

[Nearly]

Sometimes it's not about the money.
(Yes, I did write that)

 

[Kidds]

Big chains with locks around gates and posts will prevent easy removal or of lifting gates

Haven't come across a chain my battery angle grinder can't remove within minute. The chain gives a phycological barrier but not much more.

It is a poor show when you feel you can't just say no and that be the end of it. I get the impression the man is a bit of a bully and I don't like that kind of behaviour.

 

[som farmer]

blocked of some access to a 'scrub' area, at the end of a no through road, for my neighbour, used a 'chimney breast', from a house rebuild. Never been moved in the 18 yrs been there, hell of job moving it, weight made everything seriously grunt !

 

[Oliveau]

I'm sorry, but I can't agree with the advice of others:
'Get an agent.'
'Put up big gates.'
'Install cameras.'

Why on earth should you need to have expense and hassle to deal with a third party who wants to do something that is not acceptable to you?

Just a simple, 'No, it's not convenient.'

If they then take entry to your land without your consent the law is on your side by which time any professional fees incurred should be recoverable from the offending party.

 

[Nearly]

In an ideal world yes.
England is no longer that ideal world.
I presume that is why you left?
Move over.

 

[Oliveau]

No, I'm just being pragnatic. Why go to uneccessary expense?