Selling a Property with Easement Issues: A Complete Guide for UK Homeowners

Neighbours sometimes block shared driveways.

They park cars blocking the way or put up gates. This breaks the rules but causes big problems. Buyers won’t buy properties where access is blocked.

Arguments over paths kill sales quickly.

Your legal right to use a path doesn’t stop difficult neighbours from being awkward. Selling houses with access problems needs proof that the route is clear. Solicitors spot access fights straight away.

Underground pipes from other houses run under your garden.

These carry dirty water or rainwater across your land. You can’t build over them. Repair work means diggers might need to come into your garden. Buyers worry about future mess and repair costs.

Blocked drains become your problem too.

Even though pipes serve other houses, fixing blockages often means digging up your land. Rules say who pays for what. Complicated drainage rights put buyers off.

Electric, water, and gas companies can access bits of your property.

Power lines might cross your garden. Water pipes run underground. Companies have legal rights to fix their stuff on your land. This means workers turning up to do repairs.

You can’t build near utility things.

Extensions and sheds are to stay clear of cables and pipes. These rules limit what you can do. Buyers planning changes discover problems during surveys.

Your neighbours might have rights to light through their windows.

This stops you from building things that block their sun. Light rights are common in terraced houses and flats. Planning permission doesn’t beat these legal rights.

Big extensions get blocked by light rights.

You might get planning approval, but neighbours can still take you to court. Properties with right-of-way issues for sale face similar problems where legal rights limit what owners can do.

Old easement papers don’t show exact spots.

They say things like “along the western side” without exact measurements. New surveys show different positions than old papers suggest. Arguments start about where easements actually are.

Buyers want clear answers before buying.

Their solicitors want the exact boundary spots confirmed. Check RICS guidance on boundary disputes to understand what proper papers are needed. Vague easements cause sales to fall through.

Some easement deals force you to look after shared areas.

You might pay half the costs for fixing a shared driveway. Looking after drainage systems serving lots of properties costs thousands. These ongoing jobs worry buyers planning their money.

Maintenance jobs never end.

Future repairs to shared paths or drainage systems keep costing money. Buyers work out these costs when making offers. Heavy maintenance jobs push sale prices down loads.

Sales fall through when solicitors find easement problems.

Everything seems fine until legal work starts. Then solicitors discover access disputes, unclear boundaries, or complicated rights. Buyers panic and pull out immediately. You’ve wasted weeks and paid legal fees for nothing.

Most easement sales collapse during conveyancing.

Buyers don’t understand easements until their solicitor explains the risks. Arguments with neighbours, maintenance costs, and building restrictions all put people off. Understanding why your house isn’t selling often comes down to easement complications that surface late.

Banks refuse loans on properties with easement problems.

Lenders see unclear access rights or disputed boundaries as too risky. They won’t release money until the issues get sorted. This takes months or never happens at all.

Unclear title deeds cause automatic rejections.

If easement documents are vague or missing, mortgage companies say no straight away. Your buyer needs cash instead. This cuts your buyer pool by 95%.

Legal talks about easements add months to sales.

Normal house sales take 12-16 weeks. Easement problems push this to 6-12 months easily. Solicitors argue back and forth about rights and responsibilities. Nothing moves forward quickly.

Every delay risks the sale collapsing.

Buyers get fed up waiting and find other properties. Their circumstances change. Mortgage offers run out. What can hold up the exchange of contracts includes easement disputes that never get resolved.

Surveyors flag easement issues in their reports.

They note blocked access, drainage problems, or building restrictions. These warnings give buyers ammunition to demand lower prices. They use easement problems to knock thousands off your asking price.

Buyers renegotiate or walk away completely.

Survey reports make easement problems real and scary. Buyers who were keen suddenly get cold feet. They offer 10-20% less or disappear entirely.

Conveyancers tell their clients not to buy properties with easement problems.

They warn about future arguments, maintenance costs, and resale difficulties. Even buyers who love your house listen to their solicitor’s advice. Check the Law Society property guidance to understand how seriously solicitors take easement risks.

Legal professionals protect their clients from bad purchases.

Solicitors see easement problems go wrong constantly. They’ve dealt with court cases and neighbour disputes. They advise walking away rather than taking risks.

Many buyers won’t consider properties with legal complications.

First-time buyers get scared off immediately. Families don’t want the stress of easement disputes. Only experienced property investors or developers consider these purchases.

Your buyer pool drops by 80% or more.

The few interested buyers know you’re desperate. They make very low offers, expecting you to accept. Estate agents can’t overcome easement problems through better marketing or pricing.

Most house sales take months, but we can buy your property in as little as 7 days.

This quick process is perfect if you need to move soon or want to avoid being stuck in a long chain of buyers and sellers. We have the cash on hand so don’t need to wait for mortgages or a chain to collapse. 

Did you know 1 in 3 sales fall through on the open market?

We know how frustrating it is to get 6 months into a process and have a buyer pull out.

When we give you the final price for your house, that’s the amount you’ll get. Guaranteed!

You won’t face any costs with us.

We handle all the expenses involved in buying your property, including legal fees and surveys. You get cash in your bank when the sale is complete, and there are no surprise estate agent commissions to worry about.

Our team supports you through the whole selling process.

We keep you updated about what’s happening and answer any questions quickly. You’ll always understand what’s going on with your sale and what happens next.

Our property experts will value your house at no cost to you.

They look carefully at your property and check local market prices to give you an accurate figure. This professional service comes with no obligations.

Forget about cleaning and tidying for viewings.

We don’t need multiple visits or open houses to make our offer. This means no strangers walking through your home, and no disruption to your daily life.

Whether your house needs work or is in perfect condition, we’ll buy it.

We have experience with all types of properties and conditions. This means you can sell your house to us no matter what state it’s in.

Our expert team manages all the legal requirements for you.

We work with experienced property lawyers who make sure everything runs smoothly, and put your property at the top of their list. This gives you peace of mind that your sale is being handled properly from start to finish.