Skip to main content Skip to footer

Falling out with your neighbour can be fractious and make it hard for you to enjoy home life. It can also be awkward or even intimidating to pass your neighbour in the street.

If you think you might have a claim over a neighbour dispute, one of our expert Dispute Resolution solicitors can guide you through the process.

Email Enquiry Form

Types of Property Dispute

There are many types of neighbour disputes….

Boundary Disputes

Boundary disputes are some of the most common types of neighbour disputes.

This often happens when a neighbour;

  • Builds an extension
  • Installs a shed or outbuilding
  • Puts up a fence wall or hedge

Establishing the correct position of a boundary can be complex. While there is lots of land registry guidance and well-established legal principles, the law can be difficult to apply in practice.

In these cases, the aim is to agree on the property boundaries. With the boundaries, we can evaluate whether there is a case against you or your neighbour.

Nuisance Or Anti-Social Behaviour

There are several types of nuisances or anti-social behaviour, including;

  • Being drunk and disorderly
  • Drug taking and/or dealing
  • Intimidation
  • Physical or verbal abuse
  • Loud music or noise
  • Blocking access to your drive or gateways
  • Aggression or acts of harassment
  • Causing damage to your property
  • Intrusive use of CCTV
  • Car and burglar alarms going off constantly

If you’re living with nuisance neighbours, it can feel like there is no escape. Seeking legal advice will help you;

  1. Understand what options you have available to you and
  2. How you can bring the situation to an end

General Noise

Noise is also a common problem among neighbours.

Loud music, car and house alarms going off, slamming doors, parties and barking dogs can all make living at home less enjoyable.

If you live next to noisy neighbours, we can help.

Property Maintenance Disputes

If your neighbour is;

  1. causing damage to your property, or
  2. Is interfering with your enjoyment of it

By failing to maintain their own you might be able to claim for damages.

An example could be your neighbour’s failure to maintain their drains causing flooding on your property.

If your neighbour’s failure to maintain their property is affecting yours, we could help.

Right to Light

The Right to Light law gives a homeowner the right to receive light through their windows.

Issues can arise when submitting a planning application to develop a property. If you believe a neighbour’s property development could affect your right to light, we can help you submit an objection. If the work has already been completed, we could help you claim compensation.

Also, if you are considering an extension, you must make sure it doesn’t block neighbour’s light.

Tree and Hedge Disputes

Overgrown trees and hedges are often the cause of neighbour disputes.

There is no ‘right to a view’ under UK law that preserves the view from your home that existed when you bought it.

That said, if tall trees and hedges block light to your windows, you might have a case for a Right to Light dispute.

Right of Way

Rights of way are often at the centre of disputes between neighbours.

Disputes include;

  • Excessive use
  • Failure to repair or maintain
  • Blocking or changing access

If you’re in a dispute with your neighbour over a right of way, our expert solicitors can help.

Breach Of Covenant

A covenant is a written agreement contained within a deed and could relate to a variety of things, including;

  • Access rights
  • Building rights, or
  • Preventing the running of a business from a property

Covenants are often the cause of disputes between land and property owners.

If one party breaches the covenant, it could have a detrimental effect on other parties who agreed to it.

The consequences of a breach of covenant could include the removal or undoing of any work carried out.

If your neighbour has breached a covenant, it’s important to seek legal advice.

Adverse Possession

Also known as ‘Squatters Rights’. An adverse possession claim allows someone who occupies a property but isn’t the legal owner to become registered as such.

The rules around adverse possession are complex. If you want to make a claim or resist a claim for adverse possession, you’ll need legal advice.

Shared Amenities

Shared amenities cause contention between neighbours. If you share amenities with neighbours, you might experience disputes like;

  • Repair and maintenance of a share driveway
  • Upkeep of drainage systems
  • Maintenance and repair of share roofs
  • Repairs and maintenance to communal areas

Party Wall Disputes

If your neighbour is planning to make changes to a party wall (a wall you share with them), they must inform you.

For example;

  • Removing a chimney breast
  • Making the wall taller or deeper
  • Contracting a building on the boundary
  • Converting a loft
  • Installing steel joists

This type of work could affect you and your property, so they’re obliged by law to tell you.

If not, you could seek legal advice to stop the work from happening or claim for damages.

 

Why Choose Rothera Bray Neighbour Dispute Solicitors?

At Rothera Bray, we have experience acting in a wide range of property disputes.

First, we will discuss the matter with you to establish how realistic your claim is.

If you have a claim, we’ll assign a solicitor from our Dispute Resolution team who specialises in property law. They will advise you on the best strategy to resolve your dispute.

Where possible, we use Alternative Dispute Resolution. However, if your case does go to court, we’ll be there to guide you through the whole process.

We will negotiate with relevant parties and keep you updated on any progress at all stages.

Contact our Dispute Resolution Team

Send us a message

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Richard Hammond

“We strive to make every matter as stress free as possible”

Richard Hammond
Head of Dispute Resolution

If you’re happy then we’re happy too.

4.8 358 reviews

Posted 27/01/2020

Rothera Sharp Solicitors’ ‘skilled’ team handles personal injury claims including public liability, accidents at work and road traffic accidents often involving – among others – children and foreign nationals. Recent work included settling a claim for a pedestrian involved in a road traffic accident, acting for a child claimant following a hand injury sustained at a playground and representing a claimant in a public liability claim pertaining to fractures sustained on a slippery floor. Elisabeth Halls combines ‘good judgement with the right amount of scepticism and has a proven ability to optimise outcomes for claimants.

Legal 500, 2017

Posted 27/01/2020

I cannot thank you enough for all you have done for me. I don't know whether you can truly appreciate how incredibly important the success of this matter is to me. I couldn't have done this without you, and there just aren't the words to express my gratitude to you for all this. You have enabled me to have a peace of mind and you just can't put a price on that. Please tell Rebecca how absolutely thrilled to bits I am with the work you have done for me, which is beyond priceless and for which I will be forever grateful

Mediation Client

Posted 27/01/2020

I want to say a massive thank you for all your hard work….I will never forget how you were prepared to believe in me….you energetically pursued my case to achieve the best possible outcome

J Wilson

Posted 27/01/2020

My previous dealings with Rothera Bray have always been excellent-total efficiency and professional. Jayne Smith previously and now Emily Weston. I would always use Rothera Bray as my solicitors. Thank you.

David Armstrong

Posted 12/08/2020

I would highly recommend James Briggs, solicitor at Rothera Bray. He has been extremely helpful, patient and thorough whilst helping me with affairs following the death of my husband. Even during lockdown (covid) he maintained communication and kept me informed of what was happening. He successfully achieved the outcome I needed and I would not hesitate to recommend him.

Yvonne Gold

Posted 30/09/2020

We are in the middle of launching our own packaging agency and contacted Rothera Bray for some professional legal advice with regards to contracts. After an initial call with Billy, he made it clear what we needed and asked plenty of questions to understand what it was we needed. He was very responsive to our questions, whether it be over the phone or via emails and made the process really simple. We had little experience in this area so it was fantastic to work with Billy, who explained everything concisely. We were also really pleased with the quick turnaround and great value offered. Would thoroughly recommend working with Rothera Bray.

Tom Burden, Director of Rightbox Ltd

Posted 30/09/2020

Billy understood our requirement from the get go and really nailed down on what we needed in our commercial agency agreement. Billy kept us informed every step of the way and showed great professionalism. We would recommend his services to any start-up business who is in need of legal advice and guidance with commercial contracts.

Axl Barber, Sales Director of Rightbox Ltd

Posted 11/02/2021

I was extremely pleased with the service that Kerry provided in order to sell my mothers house. Good, prompt communication and all questions dealt with or answered as requested. Consequently I would recommend yours services to others.

Adam Stevens

Posted 07/06/2021

Dear Sally, I can’t thank you enough for today! You took the pressure off me and I felt so looked after and understood everything that was happening. Thank you so much!

Kelly Neave

Posted 07/06/2021

My experience with Rothera Bray was an easy and smooth process, regarding a settlement agreement with a previous employer. They helped me understand all the legal jargon and details and made it very clear what the agreement was asking of me and what they would provide in return without it seeming complicated. They were prompt and resolved any issues or queries I had and I found them to be friendly and professional. I would definitely recommend Rothera Bray to anyone seeking legal advice, even if you've had no experience with a solicitor before, as they're very welcoming and help you to understand everything.

E. Jackson

Posted 06/07/2021

Thank you for all your hard work, which paid off in the end. As well, thank you for your amazing service and support you provided for me all the way through. It was pleasure to work with you and I wish you all the best.

Patrik Fresko

Posted 27/09/2021

I recently had the good fortune to engage Rothera Bray for a company sale. From start to finish, Sandeesh Samra and the team were on hand to give practical and professional advice.

Alison Purchas

Contact our Dispute Resolution Team
Dispute Resolution Team
Richard Bates

Richard Bates

r.bates@rotherabray.co.uk

Richard Bates leads the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team at Rothera Bray. Richard is a litigation specialist and can provide a wide range of services to both commercial and private clients.

Caroline Bowler

c.bowler@rotherabray.co.uk

Caroline Bowler is a partner in our Dispute Resolution team and an equine law specialist at Rothera Bray, which is the Official Legal Partner to British Dressage and The British Show Pony Society. She works from our Lace Market office and has been described as “one of the best equine lawyers” in the Legal 500.

Richard Hammond

Richard Hammond

r.hammond@rotherabray.co.uk

Richard Hammond is a Dispute Resolution specialist and mediator at our Lace Market office. Richard is also a notary public, processing client documents for international use.

Grant Benskin

Grant Benskin

g.benskin@rotherabray.co.uk

Grant Benskin is a Senior Associate Solicitor Advocate in Rothera Bray’s Dispute Resolution team and is based at our Lace Market office in the heart of Nottingham city centre.

Richard Woodward

r.woodward@rotherabray.co.uk

Richard is a Dispute Resolution solicitor and has worked for a variety of different clients, including individuals involved in land and probate type disputes as well as multi-national and SMEs in contractual and debt claims.

Paige Regardsoe

Paige Gajic

p.gajic@rotherabray.co.uk

Paige Gajic is an Associate Solicitor in our Dispute Resolution department and is based at our Lace Market office.

Amie Hardy

Amie Hardy

a.hardy@rotherabray.co.uk

Amie Hardy is a Trainee Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Dispute Resolution department and is based at our Lace Market office.

Millie Moreton

Millie Moreton

m.moreton@rotherabray.co.uk

Millie Moreton is a Trainee Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Dispute Resolution team and is based at our Lace Market office.

Krupa Sodha

k.sodha@rotherabray.co.uk

Krupa is a Trainee Solicitor at our Leicester Office. She is currently working with our Dispute Resolution team after completing seats in our Personal Injury and Corporate departments.

Eleanor Kivneen

e.kivneen@rotherabray.co.uk

Eleanor is a Paralegal in our Dispute Resolution department and is based at our Lace Market office.

News

Care Quality Commission Maternity Survey

The Care Quality Commission (“CQC”) have released the results into a survey they conducted relating to the experience of women and other pregnant people who had a live birth in early 2023. The survey had national reach and responses were received from over 25,000, a response rate of 41%.

Animal penalty notices act

New penalty notices introduced for animal health and welfare offences

The Animals (Penalty Notices) Act 2022 is a new piece of secondary legislation which came into force from 1 January 2024. The act was passed following an 8 week consultation with various different parties with interest in animal welfare such as veterinarians, the National Farmers Union, the British Veterinary Association and the RSPCA.

Find out how Rothera Bray can help you