The majority of people living in England have at least one neighbour. Whilst a lot of people have a good relationship with their neighbours, some even becoming friends, there are some people who unfortunately do have difficult neighbours. A “difficult” neighbour can take many forms. They may be noisy at unsociable hours, they could park incorrectly, perhaps they block a right of way or constantly trespass onto your land. These are just a few of the different issues that come to mind when one thinks of a “difficult” neighbour. But what can be done about this?
Depending on the circumstances, litigation might be appropriate. However, not everyone wishes to become engaged in a lengthy legal battle with people so close to home. So, what else can be done? Here are some top tips for dealing with difficult neighbours.
1. Talk to them. It may be that your neighbour simply is not aware that what they are doing is causing an annoyance or an issue for you. Try approaching your neighbour and having a friendly conversation about matters to see whether the issues can be resolved in an informal way.
2. Create a paper trail. If talking to your neighbour does not assist or the issues eventually start up again, try posting a note through their door or sending a text or email if you have their details. Whilst it is always good to have a chat and discuss matters first hand, sometimes things can get forgotten about or misunderstood in a quick conversation. A letter setting out the problem, why it is causing an issue and how you would like it to be resolved can be a helpful way of bringing any neighbourly issues to an end.
3. Keep a record of everything. This goes hand in hand with keeping a paper trail. As well as putting things in writing if an informal chat does not resolve issues, it can also be helpful to keep a diary and take photographs or videos where appropriate. This may assist with any future discussions in illustrating what the issue is and how this can be resolved.
4. Check your position. If the issues with your neighbour relate to things such as a boundary line or a right of way, it may be worth you obtaining a report from an expert surveyor or specialist legal advice to double check that you are correct. If you are on good terms with your neighbour maybe suggest splitting the costs of a report. This will provide you both with certainty and could help you to reach a resolution without the need for further costs to be expended by either party. If you take this option you do need to be certain that you have the right expert.
5 Speak to the council. Depending on what the matter involves; it may be worth seeing if the council’s environmental health department is able to assist. This is usually only relevant in relation to noise complaints and/or other issues which prose a threat to health. However, it is always worth making a quick enquiry to see whether there is anything that they can do to assist. Some local councils also run free neighbour dispute mediation schemes.
6. Seek legal advice. If all else fails, after trying to resolve matters informally with your neighbour, it may be that the only answer is legal action. A solicitor can confirm what your position is legally and assist with putting your case to your neighbour with a view to resolving the issues.
If you need legal advice, our consumer and dispute resolution team is here to help. Contact us today on 0161 696 6178.
Written by Alysia Leigh from our dispute resolution team.
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