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    adspray's Avatar
    adspray Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    May 25, 2011, 02:23 PM
    Working the Neighbors Land
    For the last 14 years I have been maintaining part of my neighbors land which surrounds us on three sides. He hasn't tried to mow around us so I decided to start doing that and now I maintain about 30 feet on each of the three sides of our property to just make it look nice. The neighbor never compains about what I have done. After a period, do I have the right to take over that land which I have maintained for 14 years?
    cdad's Avatar
    cdad Posts: 12,700, Reputation: 1438
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    #2

    May 25, 2011, 02:34 PM

    No you don't unless you have an agreement or if there had been a standing barrier in place for the 14 years. If you have no contract indicating payment of services then it's a gift in the eyes of the law.
    joypulv's Avatar
    joypulv Posts: 21,591, Reputation: 2941
    current pert
     
    #3

    May 25, 2011, 02:42 PM
    Adverse possession laws vary by state, but are often 15 - 20 years, and require open, hostile, and continuous use, etc - the wording is pretty similar across states. In Canada, it may be called adverse occupation in some provinces.

    Somehow I don't think a title will be granted to you for mowing 30 feet around 3 sides. Generally the 'adverse possession' implies structures and passageways, or possibly storage. You can try... but what does the neighbor say?
    Fr_Chuck's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
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    #4

    May 25, 2011, 07:44 PM

    If you put up a fence on the property, put a storage buidling on it, and use it for just yourself. You may,

    Merely mowing it, nope, you have just did him a favor,

    You would be better off, not mowing, calling code enforcement for it being too tall and making him mow.

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