Excellent experience start to finish – always very responsive to any queries and the turnaround on the property I was buying was very quick, even in the busy time leading up to stamp duty deadline. Jenny was always very helpful and went above and beyond to close on a short timescale.
Disputes between neighbours are common and can have a severe impact on your home life. Many people in a dispute with their neighbour don’t feel comfortable at home and stop using their garden so as not to risk a disagreement with their neighbour.
It is therefore important to try and resolve any neighbour disputes early on before the relationship between you and your neighbour deteriorates any further.
What is classed as a dispute with neighbours?
Neighbour disputes can take many different forms, including: boundary disputes; noise nuisance; right of access disputes; physical damage caused to property by tree roots; interference with parking rights; and interference with rights to light.
While neighbour disputes are often not high value, the issues in dispute are important to the parties as most people want the full use and enjoyment of their home. For this reason, neighbour disputes can often be very expensive as parties are unwilling to compromise.
How to deal with neighbour disputes
In any neighbour dispute, the first step should be to try and reach an agreement or compromise with your neighbour. The longer the dispute trundles on, the more likely it is that (a) the relationship between the parties will deteriorate and (b) parties will be unwilling to compromise from their position.
How to deal with neighbour dispute over boundaries
In connection with boundary disputes, the Court of Appeal have said that professional advisors have a duty to warn clients of the “potentially catastrophic costs” and consequences of boundary disputes and should urge their clients to consider dispute resolution procedures (as an alternative to issuing court proceedings).
In the circumstances, it is important to seek legal advice at an early stage to make sure that you understand your legal position. It is often the case that parties are able to reach a resolution at a site meeting with dispute resolution solicitors present.
How to address neighbour disputes when selling
It should be noted that disputes with neighbours will likely need to be disclosed to a potential buyer when you come to sell the property. Your neighbour will also need to disclose the dispute if they intend to sell their property.
A buyer is likely to be put off buying a property where there is an on-going dispute with a neighbour, so it is in everyone’s interests that when a dispute arises, it is resolved as quickly as possible.
Contact Davis Blank Furniss for help with your neighbour dispute
If you have a dispute with your neighbour and require advice, please call our offices on 0161 832 3304 and ask to speak to Rebecca Taylor, Senior Associate Solicitor. Alternatively, you can contact Davis Blank Furniss online.
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