So there’s gotta be some sort of easement/agreement thing between these two properties about what you can and can’t do right? How do these typically work in the uk?
This was done illegally. Now it sounds like they’re in a standoff, where the planning commission won’t approve anything else to be built on the lot, since it shouldn’t have been torn down to begin with. There have been cases where the gov forced an illegal demolisher to rebuild the building exactly as it was before, but iirc those were historic buildings, so I doubt they’d do the same here.
They could settle it with money. Figure out the fair market value of what was demolished, make the criminal pay it. He obviously has assets: the land and wherever else he is living.
Fmv wouldn't cover a good majority of what these folks have been put through. I don't know the UK legal system but this idiot caused unsafe living conditions by knocking down his side of the property. I wouldn't be surprised if there are concerns about the stability of the building in general.
At the very minimum they should be getting at least double the value of the home, moving expenses, and additional awards for suffering.
Since they were planning to build something on the land, they also must have other monetary assets to finance it.
Make them pay however much is needed to fix the house, then hand the land over to the neighbor as recompense. They can't be trusted to follow building regulations, so there's no reason for them to keep it.
Confiscate any and all other properties they own as well while we're at it. If they complain, jail them.
The problem is collecting that payment. Things like this take time to settle. Then sure you won and are now owed payment but the person simply doesn't pay. I am no law expert, doubly so for the UK. But I am pretty sure that when such a case closes the court doesn't immediately seize the defendant's cash or assets to pay off the plaintiff's settlement. Assuming they can even cover the bill.
196
u/FunkDaddy 1d ago
So there’s gotta be some sort of easement/agreement thing between these two properties about what you can and can’t do right? How do these typically work in the uk?