Can You Sell a House With an Encroachment?

You’re trying to sell your house, but the surveyor report has revealed something troubling: Your neighbor’s property is encroaching onto yours (or perhaps it’s the other way around). Property encroachments can throw up a major roadblock in the selling process, so what’s the best way to deal with them? Can you sell a house with an encroachment?

Discover the answer below or contact Chattanooga Property Solutions to get an offer for your house now. We buy houses in Chattanooga in any condition for a fair price.

What Is Encroachment?

Encroachment is when a building or other structure extends past property boundaries into the neighboring land. For example, homeowners commonly build fences that extend past their property lines. Other types of encroachments include:

• Utility encroachments: This encroachment happens when utility lines, cables, or sewer pipes cross over into neighboring property without the owner’s permission.
• Landscaping encroachments: Vegetation’s foliage and roots can grow beyond the boundaries of a yard into a neighboring lawn.
• Structural encroachments: This type of encroachment occurs when a structure or part of a structure extends into neighboring land. Examples include foundations, roof overhangs, and decks.

It’s important to know that encroachments aren’t the same as easement agreements. With an easement, you agree to give a utility company access to your property as needed.

Options for Selling a Home With an Encroachment

Can you sell a house with an encroachment? Yes, but it’s more complicated than selling a home without one. That’s because if you accept the encroachment, you’ll have less land to sell. And if you ignore it, a buyer may offer less money or walk away from the deal entirely.

The easiest option is to talk with your neighbor and try to find a mutually agreeable solution without resorting to legal disputes. For example, if their fence extends past your property line, the neighbor might agree to move it.

Alternatively, you could agree to sell the encroached-upon land to your neighbor. Failing that, you may have to take them to court.

In some cases, encroachments can be legally allowed. For example, suppose you’ve run a title search, but neither you nor your neighbor can determine where the property line lies. You agree to choose a new property line and respect that agreement for years. This agreement may become legally binding.

If you’d rather not stress about property lines, the easiest option is to sell the home to Chattanooga Property Solutions. We buy houses from sellers in sticky situations just like yours. Instead of arguing with the neighbor and worrying you’ll have to take them to court, you could have a fair cash offer and close on your house in just seven days.

Struggling With Property Boundaries? Skip Those Neighbor Negotiations and Sell to Chattanooga Property Solutions

Can you sell a house with an encroachment? Yes, and Chattanooga Property Solutions makes the process headache-free. We’ll buy your house in any condition, with no repairs or cleaning required.

Call us at (423) 454-3070 to get a cash offer for your house, or keep reading to learn our expert house-selling tips.