Rose Smith, 60, had envisioned her backyard as a peaceful retreat.
After spending £12,500 over five months revamping the end of her garden with decking and a hot tub, she looked forward to celebrating her 60th birthday surrounded by family in her brand-new outdoor haven.
But what should have been a joyful milestone quickly spiraled into a nightmare.
A Neighbour’s Alleged Encroachment
The retired teacher says her neighbour, Sandeep Singh, “stole” 1.1 metres of her garden.
According to Mrs. Smith, he tore down her fence, ripped up part of her decking around the hot tub, and erected his own fence in what she insists is her property.
Desperate, she called the police, only to be told they couldn’t intervene because it was a “civil matter.”
Left with few options, Mrs. Smith turned to the Land Registry for support.
Confirming the Boundaries
A professional boundary survey later confirmed that Mrs. Smith was in the right: her fence was correctly placed according to official records.
“What began as my dream garden has turned into a living nightmare,” she said.
Living in a three-bedroom terraced home in Hayes, West London, Mrs. Smith expressed frustration but also some sympathy for her neighbour.
“I understand he honestly believes it’s his land, but the way he’s gone about this is completely wrong.
I just want to be able to relax in my garden with my family.”
The Long Battle Begins
This feud has been brewing for nearly two years, starting with a letter from the Land Registry in April 2024.
The letter explained that her neighbour was attempting to claim ownership of the land behind her garden through adverse possession, also known as “squatter’s rights.”
“I didn’t even know the land was mine,” Mrs. Smith admitted.
“I’ve lived here 10 years! As soon as I found out, I disputed it immediately.”
After months of waiting, the Land Registry dismissed Mr. Singh’s claim, confirming that the unused patch of land truly belonged to Mrs. Smith.
Motivated by the good news, she decided to turn the neglected plot into part of her garden.
A Garden Comeback
Mrs. Smith built a new fence extending her garden by just over a metre, precisely following the Land Registry’s boundary plan.
She then installed a deck around her hot tub, working tirelessly from February to June, and by July, her dream garden was nearly complete—just in time for her milestone birthday celebration.
Encroachment Returns
Peace was short-lived.
In August 2025, Mrs. Smith says Mr. Singh tried to claim the land again, this time attempting to sell it by contacting her lawyer.
By September 22, she returned from work to discover her garden had been invaded.
“Mr. Singh had cut out a bit of our garden,” she said.
“I genuinely couldn’t believe it—who does that?”
According to Mrs. Smith, he sawed off a metre of her garden at a slope, removed five wooden planks from her decking, and replaced her fence with his own.
He allegedly parked two cars and a JCB dumper truck against the new boundary and even had a teenage relative guarding the land.
When confronted, the teenager claimed, “It’s my land” and insisted it was his “legal right,” waving a different boundary plan that contradicted Mrs. Smith’s official title.
Fighting Back
Mrs. Smith reported the damage to the police, who again refused to intervene, citing it as a civil matter, despite her claim of £2,000 in damages.
Two days later, her daughter and a friend removed the fence Mr. Singh had built, but he retaliated by constructing another fence on December 1, this time encroaching further onto her property.
A professional boundary survey eventually confirmed that Mrs. Smith’s title plan was correct, showing that the new fence was entirely on her land.
Looking Ahead
Now, Mrs. Smith is working closely with the Land Registry to determine the next steps.
“I just wanted a garden where my grandchildren could play safely,” she said.
“Instead, it’s been months of stress, damage, and constant worry.”
As the feud continues, Mrs. Smith remains determined: she won’t stop until her garden—and her peace of mind—are fully restored.
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