How fence dispute sparked $200k neighbour battle

A neighbour dispute over a 3cm strip of land just has left one family with a huge bill.

A neighbour row over a strip of land just 3cm across has left a family facing “death threats” from locals.

Darren and Debbie White have been locked in a bitter dispute with the Alder family in Chelmsford, Essex, since 2016.

The court battle started when the White family demolished a boundary wall to make room for a garden home for their son.

They claimed the wall separating their properties was structurally unsafe and “wonky”.

The Whites built a replacement wall, which was described as “straight” by Mrs White.

However, it extended about one inch further than the original structure.

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The boundary line of the property has sparked a massive dispute.

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And unknown to the family, the previous owners of the two cottages had created a boundary agreement in 2005.

The Alders took legal action against the Whites in September 2020 as a result.

They said the Whites had damaged their property and built on their land.

The Court of Appeal upheld the boundary agreement this month.

The court found the boundary agreement created by the previous owners was valid.

It is also binding on the current owners of the houses – even without their knowledge of the agreement.

But Mrs White claimed they had received planning permission to build the outhouse in 2012.

The Whites are now facing more than AUD $200,000 in legal costs after losing their court case.

“I go to bed every night and I don’t want to wake up,” Mrs White told the Mail.

“I’ve just been signed off work for two weeks with severe stress. I’m on the maximum amount of antidepressants.”

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The Whites bought Willow Cottage (right) in 2005, around the same time the Alders bought The Old Stores (left). Picture: Google

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She also said they received death threats from unknown parties during the dispute, claiming that a male stranger came to her door and threatened to shoot her husband over the boundary row.

There is no indication the Alders were connected to this alleged incident.

“We had threats to our lives,” she added. “You shouldn’t be threatened with murder on your doorstep.”

Mrs White said the family will now be forced to sell their home to cover the legal costs.

Her husband is currently in hospital with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

The Alder family refused to comment when approached by media.