A UK businessman has become embroiled in a property nightmare after attempting to sell his three-bedroom flat – and discovering it’s actually owned by his next door neighbour.

It was only after Chris Meyer put his flat in Carlisle, in North West England, on the market that he learnt he actually owned the flat next to the one he had been living in for six years.

Of the 15 flat owners in the building on Carlisle’s Willow Holme Road, ten now face the same problem.

Mr Meyer first put his home on the market three years ago for £80,000 ($137,560).

“I had loads of interest and an offer of £76,000 ($130,680),” he told the Carlisle News & Star.

The man who thought he’d bought Number 7 actually owns my flat. It’s the same for 10 of the 15 flatsChris Meyer

“I’d chosen the new house, had the mortgage approved, a survey sorted out, and I was due to get the keys in a few weeks when the solicitor for the person buying my flat got in touch to say there was a problem.

“Basically, I live in number 8 and thought I had bought number 8. But Land Registry documents show that I actually own Number 9. The man who thought he’d bought Number 7 actually owns my flat. It’s the same for 10 of the 15 flats.

“It’s a complete mess. Not surprisingly, my buyer pulled out. We’re three years on and we seem to be no further forward.

Nick Gutteridge of Burnetts, the solicitors firm that conducting conveyancing on the original sale, told the News & Star: “We are very clear that responsibility for checking the title report was with Mr Meyer.

“Although this is not a situation of our making, we have gone above and beyond in helping Mr Meyer to rectify the issue, including liaising with other property owners and their lenders.

“Given the many hours which have been spent (at no charge) in trying to assist him, it is disappointing that Mr Meyer has chosen to raise a grievance via the newspaper.

“We have previously encouraged Mr Meyer to seek independent legal advice and do so again. In the meantime, we are willing to continue to help, if he wants us to do so.”

This story was originally published by the Telegraph, London.