Boundary Dispute
Two neighbours that have squabbled over six-foot of front garden for years have finally had their case settled by the Court of Appeal, leaving one with a £160,000 legal bill.
Martin Charalambous fell out with his neighbour, Dr Robert Welding, after the doctor claimed the boundary between their adjacent homes should follow strict Land Registry plans, despite Mr Charalambous sharing the land for 18 years with previous owners.
In December 2008, a court ruled in favour of Dr Welding and ordered Mr Charalambous to pay both parties legal bills. But Mr Charalambous refused to accept the ruling, approaching the Court of Appeal to get his six-foot of shrub covered land back.
The court threw out his appeal and ordered him to pay both parties’ costs, thought to be around £160,000. But Mr Charalambous’ representative, Gary Baker, claimed he still refuses to accept the ruling.
Mr Baker told the court how an agreement about the plot had been made with Mr Charalambous’ previous neighbours many years before, and that shrubbery in the area was a recognition of boundary and ownership, citing land registry maps as justification.
But Dr Welding’s legal representative claims there is “no ambiguity” in respect of the boundary line, with all experts consulted for the trial and appeal hearing agreeing with his opinion.
Although Mr Charalambous refused to comment following the ruling, Dr Welding claimed he was “pleased with the result” and that he bears “no ill will” to his neighbour.