This house I want to buy has a garage that looks like its partly in the neighbours yard. Do I need to worry?
If any buildings, fences, retaining walls, eaves or other structures are on someone else’s land, you’re “encroaching.” You’ll need to get the other property owner’s written permission. Otherwise, she could insist that you demolish whatever’s encroaching. Only a professional land surveyor can tell you whether the garage is an encroachment. He’ll take measurements on site, prepare a plan showing the lot’s boundaries, and make a sketch showing the locations of buildings, easements and rights of way. A professional survey for a house in Vancouver normally costs about $300 CDN. It may be well worth it.
