Question:
My house and the house next door share the approach to our driveways which is also shared by a house in the canyon below us. We are aware that this situation was caused by a utility easement which the canyon house has used for many years. He is now trying to sell and is trying to get one or both of us to move our walls to give him a two lane driveway. He is a Real Estate attorney and is using scare tactics to try and convince us he has some right to our property. The Assessors map shows our lots meeting and does not display any information on this driveway. Does he have any right to make the easement area wider? Is there anywhere where this situation would have been documented when his house was built (approx 10 years after our houses)?
Answer:
Thank you for contacting the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works. The owner of the easement is the only entity that has the ability to modify it. Private property owners do not have the authority to over ride utility companies and their easements. For more information, you may contact our property management section and the L.A. County Assessor.
My house and the house next door share the approach to our driveways which is also shared by a house in the canyon below us. We are aware that this situation was caused by a utility easement which the canyon house has used for many years. He is now trying to sell and is trying to get one or both of us to move our walls to give him a two lane driveway. He is a Real Estate attorney and is using scare tactics to try and convince us he has some right to our property. The Assessors map shows our lots meeting and does not display any information on this driveway. Does he have any right to make the easement area wider? Is there anywhere where this situation would have been documented when his house was built (approx 10 years after our houses)?
Answer:
Thank you for contacting the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works. The owner of the easement is the only entity that has the ability to modify it. Private property owners do not have the authority to over ride utility companies and their easements. For more information, you may contact our property management section and the L.A. County Assessor.