From City to Country

Complex and rooted in a medieval system of land ownership — English property law can be hard to understand. So, the buying journey can seem daunting. Whether you’re looking to buy a luxury city apartment, country retreat, new build or a listed building – understanding the quirks, perks and legal peculiarities is essential.

Providing extensive expertise and experience of English property law, Forsters brings all the advice you need along the buying journey. We help you navigate the intricate legislation and quirky rules you may encounter. Some you may know, some may surprise you, and some may seem strange — but they are all important.

In the run up to our comprehensive guide launch, we will be sharing a selection of our favourite quirks - you can find the first below.

Watch this space for more…

Public rights of way can be an issue for those who live in a rural location. Enquiries should always be raised of the seller and the local authority to determine the existence of any public rights of way or any pending applications to create new rights of way. For a purchaser who wants a quiet life in the country, having the locals exercising a right of way along a footpath outside your front door may not be very appealing!

Public rights can be divided into four categories:

1. Footpaths (people on foot only)
2. Bridleways (people on foot, cyclists and horse riders)
3. Restricted byways (people on foot, cyclists, horse riders and any other transport without a motor)
4. Byways open to all traffic (people on foot, cyclists, horse riders, cars and any other transport with a motor).

There are measures to ensure the privacy of your home. Following a purchase, we always advise our clients to take active steps to ensure that no new rights of way are acquired which may include ensuring your boundaries are fenced, any gates specify that there is no public access, and you remain vigilant as to any members of the public gaining access to the property.