Buying the neighbors yard?

Has anybody bought their neighbor’s adjoining backyard, or a portion of it? Ours clearly have no interest in using or caring for it, to the point it’s now kind of a hazard. And yes it’s owner occupied. Wondering what the legalities are, how much money is involved, how to broach an offer. Just thinking for now.

AstralOil

in Real Estate - General 10 years and 10 months ago

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CGmodern | 10 years and 10 months ago

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ive often wondered the same thing…with so many yards being unused (which is mind boggling to me) why not rent it to someone who could actullay enjoy it (and the neighbors wont have to endure the ugliness).

zampano | 10 years and 10 months ago

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Boerumresider is about right. A lot of paperwork and trying to set a price seem to be the big issues if it is possible

tsarina | 10 years and 10 months ago

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we removed trees from neighbors yard that was threatening my house and opened up the fence to use my driveway to remove the debris. I asked if I could garden and keep the yard clean so I would have something pretty to look at (and so would his tenants) – and to prevent his tenants from partying out there after it got cleaned up. He even gave me a gate to put up. Then he sold the building and the new landlord gave me a ten year lease for $10\. Ya never know until you ask. – I doubt anyone would sell it to you but using it and having an amenity is good.

AstralOil | 10 years and 10 months ago

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It is a tangle of old appliances and a huge mound of construction and household debris that is now home to a family of rats. The only entities from the neighboring house to ever use it are the sick old dogs, who have used it as a toilet for years without it ever (ever) being cleaned. I guess it’s easements I’ve heard of, and wondered if that ever went further to just formally reshape the lots. I wonder how much clearance for light and air would be required.

Putnamdenizen | 10 years and 10 months ago

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Seems to me no one would (in the city) want/be able to sell part of their lot (for the zoning and resale issues). What you essentially suggesting is that you want to take over the gardneing of your neighbors yard. I’ve had similar thoughts myself. You could just leave a note asking if they would mind if you did so, but it is sort of like asking to repaint their house or dress their children. How is it a hazard?

Boerumresident | 10 years and 10 months ago

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You might be able to purchase a permanent easement that included rights of use, etc., but I cannot imagine anyone would burden the property that way. And I think you can divide lots (see Form RP-602 from the Dep’t of Finance: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dof/downloads/pdf/property/rp602.pdf), but there may be different issues involved if the apportionment would result in the neighbors’ house violating zoning laws for their new lot.

briank | 10 years and 10 months ago

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Hmmmm, never heard of such an issue-I don’t think subdivision will resolve this, you cannot legally take a rear yard from the neighbor’s building as it is a source of light and air-maybe just the opposite-combine the 2 lots or ask for an easement for use only-In any case you can’t do this without an attorney (land-use attorneys are the ones specializing in this matter) Good luck!

daveinbedstuy | 10 years and 10 months ago

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You can’t subdivide the lots. Maybe they’ll rent it to you.

AstralOil | 10 years and 10 months ago

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Way off, actually.

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