Joanne Ellis

Disputes between neighbours over parking can often lead to frustration and strained relationships. One of the frequent issues homeowners face involves neighbour parking on a right of way , creating inconvenience or even obstruction to access. ...

Boundary fences are an important feature in defining properties, maintaining privacy, and ensuring clear demarcations between neighbouring landowners. However, disputes concerning fences are relatively common , particularly when one neighbour decides to...

Living next door to prolonged construction work can significantly impact your quality of life. Unfortunately, cases where neighbours have ongoing building projects lasting several years are not uncommon in the UK. If your neighbour has been...

Experiencing property damage due to a neighbour's construction activities can leave you feeling stressed and uncertain about your legal rights. Homeowners across England and Wales frequently encounter issues when neighbouring renovation or...

Experiencing neighbour building work noise can severely disrupt your daily life, causing stress and discomfort. Whether it's a home renovation or more substantial construction projects, residents often find themselves unsure of their legal rights. ...

Many homeowners experience concern when a neighbour announces their intention of building a house in their garden. Such developments can significantly impact not only the visual appeal of the surrounding area but also property valuations, privacy and...

Boundary disputes between neighbours can be stressful, disruptive, and costly. It is therefore understandable that property owners may wonder whether they are under pressure from any legal timeframes. Often, individuals realise that boundary uncertainty...

Adverse possession , commonly known as 'squatters rights', is a legal principle under which a person may claim ownership of property belonging to someone else after continuously occupying that property for a set period of time. In England and...

When dealing with adverse possession matters in England and Wales, it is not uncommon for applicants to have questions regarding the timeline involved. Understanding the length of the adverse possession application process not only provides clarity but...

Japanese knotweed is a highly invasive species that has caused significant concern for homeowners throughout the United Kingdom. Its rapid spread and resilience in growth make it an urgent matter for any property owner considering selling their home. ...

When purchasing property or considering developing your existing land assets, it is imperative that you are aware of any restrictive covenants in place. Restrictive covenants are legally binding conditions written into a property's title deeds or Land...

Fence disputes are a common source of friction between neighbours, often escalating quickly into complicated legal matters. Whether it involves the position, ownership, maintenance or construction of fences, disagreements can become acrimonious and costly...

Restrictive covenants are legally binding conditions placed on land or property to control its use and protect surrounding properties. If a covenant is breached, the person or entity benefiting from it may have the right to enforce it. However, enforcing a...

A deed of easement right of way is a legal agreement granting an individual or organisation permission to access or pass across another person's property. Easements of this nature are regularly seen in residential, agricultural, and commercial contexts,...

Selling a property is often a challenging endeavour in itself, and when you factor in a boundary dispute, the process can become significantly more complex. A boundary disagreement with a neighbouring property owner can diminish your property value, delay a...

Dealing with domestic building works can be a challenging experience, especially when they disrupt your daily routine or peaceful weekend relaxation. Many homeowners in England and Wales are unsure of their rights and responsibilities regarding neighbours...

Boundary hedge disputes and tree boundary disputes are common occurrences among neighbours in the United Kingdom. These disagreements can quickly escalate, impacting property relationships and leading to potential legal ramifications. ...

If your neighbour has plans to build an extension, it is natural to have concerns regarding how this may impact your property and enjoyment of your home. It is important to understand that the process of challenging any proposed extension is governed by...

What constitutes a legal right of way? A 'right of way' is a type of legal easement that grants individuals or bodies the legal authority to pass across land belonging to someone else. It often arises through express permission,...

Boundary disputes can be challenging, stressful and financially burdensome. Whether you are dealing with a neighbour disputing the exact positioning of your property's fence, wall or hedge, understanding the typical costs involved in resolving these...

When legal agreements are entered into, covenants often play a pivotal role in ensuring that each party adheres to specific duties and obligations. However, circumstances can sometimes arise where covenants are breached, leading to disputes between involved...

Boundary disputes can frequently arise between neighbouring landowners, often causing considerable anxiety, stress, and expense for all involved. Determining whether engaging in a boundary dispute is truly worthwhile requires careful consideration of...

Adverse possession, sometimes referred to informally as "squatters' rights," represents a well-established legal principle allowing a person to gain ownership of land they have occupied without the registered owner's permission for a...

Boundary disagreements between property owners are a common source of confusion, tension, and potential disputes. Particularly problematic is the issue of determining responsibility and ownership for garden fences along shared property lines. ...

Boundary wall disputes are among the most frequent disagreements encountered between neighbours. Such disputes often arise from misunderstandings, unclear property boundaries, or disagreements concerning maintenance responsibilities. Addressing these...

Adverse possession , commonly referred to as 'squatters' rights', is a complex area of property law in England and Wales. Essentially, adverse possession refers to situations where an individual who is not the registered owner occupies land or...

If you own property or land, encountering a boundary dispute can be distressing. One common area of conflict homeowners face is adverse possession, often referred to colloquially as "squatters' rights". Adverse possession occurs when an...

In the UK, it's not illegal for your neighbour to install CCTV cameras around their property; however, if their cameras capture footage beyond the boundaries of their home, such as your garden or windows, they must comply with the UK General Data...

The acquisition of rights of way through long-term use is a notable aspect of property law within the United Kingdom. The concept of the '20 year rule right of way' is significant, particularly for homeowners, property developers, and landowners, as...

Navigating property misrepresentation claims in the UK: a comprehensive guide Buying a property is often one of the most significant investments that individuals make in their lifetime. However, what happens when the dream home you thought...

The Christmas and New Year period is meant to be the season of peace and goodwill, but for many warring neighbours, it can be anything but. Data from 2022 suggests that 60% of people have experienced a dispute with a neighbour or felt negatively towards...

The much debated topic of Japanese knotweed has been in the news again after a vendor did not disclose that the property he was selling had the plant growing on it. Japanese knotweed is an invasive plant that can cause problems to...

As we are forced to spend more time at home, we are discovering more about our own properties, and more about our neighbours. For many, our relationships with neighbours have improved, as we set out to help those that we can to brighten up the lonely...

The annual possession statistics have been published and once again it is said that possession cases are going down. Whilst the amount of possession cases started at court have fallen (hardly a surprise given a hike in the issue fee), the number of...

Statistics show that 42 per cent of possession orders made in the first quarter of the year were suspended. That means that a court was convinced to give the tenant an opportunity to prove they could turn the situation around. In our experience...

On 14th May the Supreme Court made a huge decision which is set to have a significant impact on homeless people. In order for a local authority to accept a duty to provide accommodation to anyone a vulnerability test has to be met. Until now, that test...

We still await the introduction of the new Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions which can be granted by the County Court under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014. The word was they were expected to come into effect in January 2015,...

It is quite easy to get carried away when you’re having a house party and many of us may not think twice about turning up the volume of our music as it gets into full swing. However, persistent and intrusive noise can have a negative impact on a...

The new Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions which can be granted by the County Court under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 are expected to come into effect in January 2015. The injunctions can be made against individuals where...

A new law has been passed which allows injunctions to be obtained by housing providers, amongst others, against children as young as 10. The civil injunctions will replace ‘ASBOs’ which are currently dealt with in the criminal courts. Housing...

At present there is no housing legislation in place to protect private renting tenants facing eviction from vengeful landlords. The term ‘Retaliatory Eviction’ has often been used to describe a situation where a tenant raises a complaint to...

BBC News has recently reported, after receiving information requested through the Freedom of Information request from 331 social housing providers, only 6% of those households who have been affected by the bedroom tax have actually moved homes. For those of...

The bedroom tax was introduced in April 2013 with promises from the Government that it would save the taxpayer £1 million per day and increase the availability of larger properties to families that need them. However, the BBC has reported that 28% of...

The results of the second round of Real Life Reforms study were published in December deepening concern for those in social housing accommodation. The study aims to track the impact of welfare reform across 70-100 representative social housing households...

The Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) introduced sweeping cuts to legal aid from April 2013. As a result, the social welfare law category (consisting of welfare benefits, debt, employment/discrimination, community care and housing)...

The bedroom tax’s spiralling consequences have plunged over half of those affected by the new charges into arrears. The bedroom tax which was introduced in April 2013 applies a 14% deduction in housing benefit where the claimant lives in social housing...

National Housing Federation figures published this month suggest that a quarter of tenants hit by the bedroom tax are unable to pay their rent for the first time ever. It is estimated that over 50,000 families are in rent arrears and facing eviction as...

The first-tier tribunal in Scotland has allowed an appeal against the bedroom tax cut for a tenant. Fife Council decided to cut Annie Harrower-Gray’s housing benefit in accordance with the bedroom tax. Annie appealed the decision on the...

In 2012 there were over 150,000 possession orders granted by the courts. This number is expected to increase this year following the introduction of the ‘bedroom tax’ in April 2013. However, is enough being done to help people who find...