A judge in south London rules against a couple who tried to demolish a neighbour’s 40-year-old kitchen extension, after determining it infringes only a very small boundary area. The dispute focuses on a roughly 48cm “sliver” of land, which the plaintiffs say was overstepped by the extension.
According to reports, the disagreement escalates after new neighbours challenge the property line, despite the extension being in place for decades. The court hears that the boundary was not clearly observed for years, with thick vegetation at the back of the houses masking the dividing line. Outlets describe the decision as granting the neighbour “squatters’ rights” (prescriptive or adverse possession-type rights) in relation to the affected portion of land.
While coverage varies in tone and emphasis, all accounts agree the case turns on the long-standing presence of the kitchen extension, the near-minuscule scale of the breach, and the judge’s conclusion that the occupying neighbour’s claim succeeds after a long period without enforcement.
