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HOUSE ABOUT THAT

My neighbours sued me claiming I built extension 3ins into their garden but I sold their entire £575,000 HOUSE

A DAD has told how he sold his neighbours' HOUSE after they sued him over an extension.

Sardar Ali won an eight-year legal battle with the Constantines after they claimed he and his wife built an add-on three inches into their garden.

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The eight-year legal battle was over an extension said to have encroached on the Constantines' gardenCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
Sardar Ali pictured speaking with a reporter at his home in 2017Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
Herman Constantine pictured by part of the wall at the heart of the rowCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

The Constantines, who lived at the seven-bedroom house in East Ham, London, for over 30 years, took the case to court in 2012.

But years later a judge ruled in the Alis favour - demanding the Constantines hand over their home so they could sell it for legal fees.

The family was formally evicted in September 2018 and the Alis sold their home for £575,000 in February last year.

But although Mr Ali has no idea where his next door neighbours went next, he is happy to finally live in peace.

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Speaking to The Sun, Mr Ali said: “I’m happy. 

“I had an eight year difficulty with so much stress. 

“I just want to forget it now.”

Yvette and Herman Constantine had lived in the home since 1986.

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They had accused the Alis of knocking down a fence and building an extension three inches into their garden while they were on a three-week cruise in the Caribbean in 2009.

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But after an eight-year legal battle, a judge ordered ex-council worker Yvette, then 57, and Herman, then 66, to hand over the keys to Mr Ali and his family so they could recoup the legal fees.

Yvette said at the time: "We were told they have to sell our house. Can you imagine that?

"We tried to appeal but they didn't give us permission to appeal despite our overwhelming efforts.

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"It's been the most stressful point of our lives."

Herman added: "I don’t have any kind of money now, everything is in my house.

";It’s giving me a headache and I don’t want my blood pressure to go up.

"Who wants to live here? My house is in a bad area, a bad spot now.

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"It’s really, really painful."

After the initial 2009 complaint a civil court case began in 2012 which ended with a judge ruling the extension was not trespass.

Yvette and Herman lost an appeal in May 2017 and were ordered to pay the Ali family's costs.

A judge issued a final ruling on December 1 2017 due to non-payment.

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The order gave Sardar Ali, his wife Haliman and son Tajammul, the right to sell their house in East Ham for at least £500,000.

It stated £132,544 from the sale would pay the Alis' legal fees. The remainder was to be given to the Constantines.

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