Ask a solicitor: I was promised the farm, but it was left to someone else

When a person has committed years of their life to caring for property in reliance on assurances given to them, it feels deeply unjust to be left without security, writes rural solicitor Karen Walsh

When a person has committed years of their life to caring for property in reliance on assurances given to them, it feels deeply unjust to be left without security, writes rural solicitor Karen Walsh.

Dear Karen,

My aunt passed away some months ago. She owned a small holding outside town. I lived with her for nearly 10 years after finishing school, and during that time, I helped her maintain the land, repaired buildings, paid for materials, and took on most of the physical work because she was no longer able for it. She often told me that the place would be mine someday and asked me to stay on to keep it going.