05 Jul 2010 12:00 AM:
If you thought that the Land Grab is something that only happens in Spain think again, it appears it can happen in the UK to, even when you use what you think are competent solicitors. I read the following article today.
' I bought my home through ***** Estate Agents. They told me that I should use ***** Solicitors to handle the conveyancing. Indeed, I think it is fair to say that they pressured me into using the solicitors. The solicitor handling the matter, told me that all the required legal searches had been made, and that they were no problems: I would get clear title to the house. Then about a month after I moved in I got a letter from another firm of solicitors representing my next door neighbours. They claimed that because my neighbours had been using part of my garden for many years before I bought the land I would have to turn over about two-thirds of my garden to my neighbours, and that I would not get any money for that land! At first I thought it was a joke, I had never heard of such a thing. But as the months went by this nightmare became very real. I asked my solicitors why they had not caught this problem. Their response was meaningless drivel: Just fancy legal words and gobbledygook.I asked my solicitors what they would do to help me: They said that they would be happy to represent me at a rate £200 per hour for their time. I said that since they caused the problem it was only fair that they absorb the cost of fixing it. But they refused to give me any help for free. I have now paid them over £15,000 and still they failed to save my land. The court gave my land to my neighbour, and I will never get any compensation. To add insult to injury, I even had to pay my neighbour's costs that they incurred in stealing my land. As for the solicitors, they have made a handsome profit for their incompetence. But I wonder, was it just incompetence, or did they plan it to work out this way all along? I have since learned that the estate agents have a very cosy relationship with the solicitors, they send each other a lot of business.
18/01/2010 '
So it would seem it does not matter where you are, injustice can happen even though you think you have done everything right to protect your interests.
Thread:
Land Grab Only In Spain?
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