Alanj

We have a village house connected to our garden by a staircase. Our French neighbours, recent arrivals from the north of France who purchased around the same time as ourselves, have a terrace which adjoins our staircase. They claim a right of way down our stairs and across our meadow to a nearby parking area. They have made two assignations before the Tribunal dInstance. Both have been dismissed. Now they are taking the dismissal to the court of appeal. Very fortunately we have protection juridique habitation coverage in our homeowners insurance policy the best advice we ever had! The insurance companys lawyer is defending our interests. In his opinion, the neighbours do not have this right of way. Not least because any such easement would have to be in our Acte. (At the time of purchase we investigated the issue of any possible right of way, and were assure by both notaires that no one had a right of way across our meadow). However, the appeal procedure could drag on for one to two more years. In the meantime the neighbours continue to walk across our meadow, even though they now have to clamber over a concrete-block wall we built to defend our interests! They also intimidate us. Once on our staircase, they are able to walk up to our terrace. A couple of days ago a prominent item on the terrace was missing; the following day it was returned. We are keeping a daily log of these events, and have photographed them crossing the meadow. What recourse might we have? The object would be to stop the harassment and intimidation, and to keep them off the right of way until the court of appeal has made its decision.