The case was first heard by a First-tier Tribunal, that ruled the couple had only clearly taken possession of the land from about 2018, falling short of the 10 years required for an adverse possession ruling.
But, following an appeal, that decision was overturned last week at an Upper Tribunal, which sits at the Royal Courts of Justice.
Taking into consideration the amount of care and attention shown to the land by Dobson and Pleming, Judge Elizabeth Cooke said: “It seems to me perfectly obvious that the appellants were in possession of the disputed land.”
She concluded the couple and their predecessors had been in possession of the strip since at least 2002, long before the Unsteds arrived.
The judge ordered that the couple’s application to register the land should now proceed as if their neighbours’ objection had never been made.