Buying land from council?

[Ais]

Has anybody here bought some land from the council to become part of their garden? There are helpful guidelines on the Southwark website here including a PDF with associated costs, however the "valuation" element has absolutely no guidelines. It could be £500 or £50,000. You will already have spent £1000 on the process before finding out what they will charge you for the land - which would certainly be frustrating if it's not affordable for you.

The land in question is a tiny patch immediately attached to the front of my property, approx 4 meters wide x 1 meter long. Would like to put a fence there to separate from the pavement and allow some privacy, keep the bins more tidy. The land is of no value to anybody else and is neglected currently - the council seems to have to stopped maintaining this area between the pavement and the houses on our street.

[vladi]

I'd be tempted to put up some sort of fence  to delineate the area and see what happens. Probably nothing.

[teddyboy23]

Unless one of your neighbours gets the hump 🙂

Edited May 31 by teddyboy23

[Tbm91]

On 30/05/2025 at 20:37, Ais said:

Has anybody here bought some land from the council to become part of their garden? There are helpful guidelines on the Southwark website here including a PDF with associated costs, however the "valuation" element has absolutely no guidelines. It could be £500 or £50,000. You will already have spent £1000 on the process before finding out what they will charge you for the land - which would certainly be frustrating if it's not affordable for you.

The land in question is a tiny patch immediately attached to the front of my property, approx 4 meters wide x 1 meter long. Would like to put a fence there to separate from the pavement and allow some privacy, keep the bins more tidy. The land is of no value to anybody else and is neglected currently - the council seems to have to stopped maintaining this area between the pavement and the houses on our street.

Hello. Did you hear any further on this? Was there anyone at the council who was helpful to speak to? I am in a similar boat. 

[CPR Dave]

If you can use it exclusively for yourself for 12 years it might become yours by default under squatters rights? Maybe whack a bench on it and plant some flowers and then a little hedge around the perimeter to keep people out?

I'm not sure if any of this is legal but it might be fun finding out?

[Pugwash]

Many years ago, our neighbours were in a Southwark rented property. Both flats in house had access to a shared garden which was fenced off part way with each flat having their own piece of land. The front garden was shared and since both flats had young children, they put up a fence and gate between front door and pavement. Nothing was said by the council and even though those neighbours are now living else where, the fence and gate still remain and Southwark owns the freehold.

[Mabaker]

My advice is fence it off. No one is likely to complain. I think the law is that you can claim it after so many years. Maybe a lawyer on this platform can advise.