House sale lie cost £67,000

A couple who hid a history of neighbourhood disputes have had to pay £67,500 to the family who bought their house.

Ian and Julie Long agreed the out-of-court settlement after failing to declare a catalogue of problems on a conveyancing form.

Buyers Angus and Barbara McMeekin said they only realised there was a dispute related to rights of access after they moved into the house in Waterlooville, Hants, in July 1999.

The case was heard at Portsmouth County Court last October and the judge ruled that the Longs had fraudulently misrepresented that there were no neighbourhood disputes.

The Longs had misrepresented the sale of the £124,000 property when they completed the seller's property information form (SPIF), the court ruled.

The Longs argued in court that any dispute was over, as the legal situation - relating to access and parking - had been clarified by a solicitor.

They also claimed a secondary dispute over rubbish dumped between the properties had also been resolved.

They eventually agreed the out-of-court settlement to avoid the costs of a further court hearing, according to Mr McMeekin.