Hi everyone I am new to bigger pockets and to the rental investing world. I was hoping my first post would be reaching out to other investors for information on how to find a mentor and or classes in my area that can help me learn more and network with other people. However I am now faced with my first ever real possibly legal situation. And need some advice. I own a small 3 family home that I purchased 5 years ago, I have lived there myself since I purchased it and rent out the 2 other units.
Just before leaving for a weekend getaway on this past Thursday I had just gotten home from work and when I pulled into my driveway at the bottom where I have all 3 mailboxes within a nice landscaped bed of mulch, shrubs and flowers as well as a plaq for the address there was a big pile of brush thrown literally right ontop of it all. The mailboxes are rIght on the border of what I beleved to be my property and my neIghbors and It looIed like the owner had cleaned up a bunch of brush along her house and then just left It on my bed. Naturally I was upset about this and reached out to the owner whome I had never been in contact before. She does not reside there and has owned the property for 3 years now it is also a 3 unit rental and it has also been up for sale for probably the last 8 months.
I got her number from one of her tenants so I called her and left a very polite and professional voicemail I didn’t even mention the reason for calling just asked if she could call me back. She never did so I later sent her a text along with pictures and again I thought it to be a very professional text and just thought all this had been done on accident from whomever she had do the work. She eventually texted me back and was pretty hostile right off the bat and told me that the land the mailboxes was on was hers and that she and her agent had been trying to get a hold of me for a while to have me remove them. Long story short we went back and forth for a little while I was trying to stay as cool as possible but this woman was being so adamant and rude. I told her these mailboxes were where they were ever since I owned the property and long before. When I was making the beds and planting shrubs around it a few years back there was even a concrete Block with A Wood Post buried coming Out That Had been Cut Down. So I Know These mailboxes have been here for a long time. Also I have never been contacted by her or her agent wether by phone or mail and I told her that too.
So the first thing I’m gonna do when I get home is go to my town hall and find out where the exact markers are for the 2 pieces of land, And see if what she says is even true. I had asked her why all of a sudden this was an issue for her and she told me she was entitled to her land and she had “plans” for it and I understand she’s entitled to her land but I have no idea what her “plans” could be it’s such a small spot just big enough for there mailboxes and borders the 2 properties and she’s trying to sell the place so why does she care? And I’ve been taking care of this land ever since I owned it and have always been under the impression it was my land since it had my mailboxes on it. She told me I could rent the land from her which I didn’t even ask for how much because this whole thing has me really upset. And the last thing she had said to me was to remove them before she took action.
So what do I do?? I looked into this law called adverse possession and I didn’t know if That would help me in this situation? Do I hire an attorney? Please any advise would be so helpful and appreciated. Thank you.
Also in case it matters the property is located in Connecticut.
