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From noise and boundary disagreements to planning concerns, even a seemingly minor issue can escalate into a full-blown neighbour dispute if the right steps aren’t taken.
Below, we’ll give expert guidance on the most frequent areas of conflict and the practical, legal ways to address them before they turn into long-term rifts.
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Barking dogs, DIY, blaring music… if any of these are affecting your peaceful enjoyment at home, it could be classed as a noise problem. These can be particularly difficult to deal with if you’re at home a lot, for example if you’re retired or working from home.
According to research by property buying company Goodmove, more than 60% of people have had a dispute with their neighbours, with noise causing the most issues.
According to Sarah Walker, property expert and owner of Walker Hall estate agents in Richmond-upon-Thames: “People also have totally different lifestyles, so what feels like everyday life to one household can feel unbearable to another.”
Marion Walker, a surveyor and founder of Love Surveying, says: “Start by distinguishing between a one-off disruption and regular, unsociable noise. One-off issues are usually best handled informally.
“Calm, early communication works best,” she says. “Most people are not trying to be inconsiderate; they may simply be unaware of the impact. Asking what work is happening, how long it will last and when noisy tasks are planned can make a significant difference. If you know drilling will happen at a particular time, you may be able to plan around it.
“If the issue continues, keep a factual log of dates, times and the type of noise. There is no general requirement to notify neighbours about DIY, and homeowners are not required to upgrade sound insulation retrospectively because of noise, but persistent disturbance can still be addressed.
“Council involvement should be a last resort – Environmental Health can only act where noise reaches the level of a ‘statutory nuisance’.”
This area covers things such as fences and walls, and who owns them and should pay for repairs.
The problem with these issues is that there isn’t always a clear answer as to where a boundary is and who’s responsible. You can get an idea of the boundary of your property by looking for its ‘title plan’. Different areas of the country often follow different rules on boundaries, too, so don’t assume it’s the same across the country.
According to Sarah Walker: “Fences move over time, previous owners make changes without paperwork and Land Registry plans aren’t always detailed enough to settle an argument. It can also get personal very quickly because it’s tied to fairness – ‘my land, your land’ – and people feeling taken advantage of.”
Be sure to do your research first, before escalating the situation with your neighbour. Check title plans, transfer documents and any historic photographs. If this doesn’t answer the issue, Marion Walker suggests acknowledging the uncertainty of the boundary upfront as this often helps to lower tensions.
“Ask who can realistically access, maintain and afford the boundary,” she says. “Agree a sensible solution and record it in writing, even if it’s just by email. Legal action should be a last resort. Boundary disputes are costly, stressful and usually have to be declared on sale, affecting the future value of a property.”
Even if seemingly innocuous, a single tree or hedge can lead to the breakdown of a neighbourly relationship, whether the roots are causing issues, leaves are clogging gutters or branches are blocking light.
“People can get very emotionally attached to trees and don’t like being told what to do with them,” says Sarah Walker.
And, as Marion Walker says, “Many homeowners no longer have the tools, time or physical ability to manage mature trees and hedges.”
Start by chatting with your neighbour about the tree or hedge that is causing the issue. In most cases, you have the right to cut back branches that are overhanging your property. However, you can’t trespass on a neighbour’s property to cut back a tree or hedge, and you should offer the cuttings back to them.
“It can be worth getting a professional tree surgeon involved so the situation becomes objective rather than emotional,” advises Sarah Walker. “Check if there are conservation area restrictions or tree preservation orders because people do get caught out. If damage has been caused, especially to drains or foundations, the situation needs to be taken seriously because it can escalate into a much bigger and more expensive issue.”
Maybe you share a driveway, or have a neighbour who parks across your space. Cars can bring out inconsiderate behaviour in many people, igniting frustration. The survey by Goodmove found that 52% of those questioned had experienced an issue with parking or the blocking of cars.
Sarah Walker is very aware of how frustrating the issue can be. “Parking disputes aren’t usually one-off incidents – they tend to happen again and again. School streets are particularly bad because people are rushing and not thinking about the impact their actions can have.
“I know of one situation where a woman regularly had someone park on her driveway during the school run. She got so fed up that one morning she blocked the driver’s car in and refused to move until the following morning.”
To start, confirm who has access to spaces in your title deeds – don’t just make assumptions. If the issue persists, Sarah Walker suggests politely talking directly to the car owner, rather than leaving notes on the windscreens.
“If it’s a repeat issue, keep records and photos. And if it’s linked to schools, getting the school to put out reminders can help because it takes away the personal confrontation.”
“Illness, financial stress, mobility issues or bereavement can all lead to properties falling into disrepair,” says Sarah Walker. “People can fall behind with maintenance very quickly. Neighbours tend to assume neglect is laziness, but often there’s more going on.”
For this reason, it pays to be empathetic when approaching these issues.
Marion Walker advises: “Raise concerns early and factually using photos and specific examples rather than assumptions. Focus on the impact rather than blame and, where possible, offer solutions, such as recommending a trusted local contractor and coordinating access.
“Leasehold properties add complexity, as responsibility may sit with a freeholder, managing agent or insurer. Keeping a record of communication is important if issues persist. Try to keep council enforcement as a last resort.”
Whether it’s minor cosmetic work or large extensions, planning issues and building work can cause large and permanent rifts with neighbours. “Many homeowners assume that planning permission automatically means neighbour approval – it doesn’t,” says Marion Walker. “Even lawful development can cause distress through loss of light, privacy or prolonged disruption.”
If the issue is with a planning application, arrange to speak to the neighbour who’s making the application before it is put to the council for approval. Marion Walker advises: “Check key details such as scale, height, window positions and boundary distances. The Planning Portal is a good starting point if you’re unsure.
“Party wall procedures apply to many building projects and are frequently overlooked. A party wall is one that stands across land owned by two or more people, such as the wall between a terraced or semi-detached house.”
The Party Wall Act 1996 applies in England and Wales, while common law applies in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Marion adds: “Raising concerns early – ideally before work starts – gives you far more influence than complaining once construction is complete. Once works are finished, remedies are much more limited.”
If you’re the one doing the works, using a surveyor and/or architect can help with the process. Their knowledge should ensure correct planning procedures are followed, and that neighbours are properly informed of building plans and timelines for work and likely disruption.
The research by Goodmove found that 49% of respondents saw a ‘questionable lifestyle and engaging in illegal activity’ as one of their top neighbour frustrations. And no surprise. It might overlap with the noise nuisances we mentioned earlier (loud music, shouting…), but could also be more serious – offensive behaviour, even threats or illegal and dangerous activity.
These matters must be dealt with cautiously. As Sarah Walker says: “I wouldn’t advise confronting someone who is already behaving irrationally. Document incidents and report to the appropriate channels, such as the council antisocial behaviour team and, if needed, the police.”
According to the Metropolitan Police website, “If the problems have escalated or you’ve been threatened, verbally abused or personally targeted, please report the crime to us. We would rather hear from you, and find ways to help, than find out that you were suffering in silence.”
Once a regular Sunday occurrence across the country, garden fires are now subject to strict rules, and ignoring these could result in a fine from your council.
Burninghousehold wasteis not allowed if it will cause pollution or harm people’s health. Councils must look into complaints about smoke if it could be a statutory nuisance.
For the smoke to count as a statutory nuisance it must either
On top of this, there are restrictions in smoke control areas that mean releasing smoke from a chimney is not allowed. Only specific fuels can be burned in authorised stoves. There are smoke control areas all over the UK, including most of London, Greater Manchester, Oxford, Newport, Swansea, Wrexham, and parts of West Yorkshire, Dorset and Flintshire. +
If talking to your neighbour hasn’t worked, you can contact your local council. They have an obligation to investigate ‘smoke and fumes that could be a “statutory nuisance”.’
The council should look at the amount; how often it happens and for how long; how unreasonable the activity is. If they agree that a statutory nuisance is happening, has happened or will happen in the future, councils must serve an abatement notice. This requires whoever’s responsible to stop or restrict the smoke. The notice will usually be served on the person responsible, but can also be served on the owner or occupier of the premises.
If it’s a smoke control area, the council should also investigate complaints and if appropriate can issue fines or even prosecute. However, data from a freedom of information request showed that there were 15,195 complaints about wood burning in England last year, leading to just 24 fines and no prosecutions.
To avoid a dispute escalating to a court case, which can be expensive, people are often encouraged to try mediation to find a solution before that happens.
According to the Civil Mediation Council: “Mediation helps those in dispute communicate about the issues of concern to them, and helps participants find solutions that are acceptable to everybody involved.
“Parties in dispute try to negotiate an agreeable settlement with the help of an impartial third person, who mediates between them. The mediator assists the parties through a discussion process with the objective of helping them find that settlement at the end.”
Sarah Walker says: “As an estate agent, I actually see my role as a kind of mediator, too. I’m often dealing with situations where neighbours have fallen out and tensions are high, and what usually helps most is having a calm third party involved who can keep things balanced, reasonable and focused on resolving the issue.
“Mediation is also far quicker, less stressful and less expensive than letting a dispute drag on or become legal, and it can help people agree clear boundaries and move forward, even if they never end up being the best of friends.”
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