Boundary and neighbour dispute solicitors in Leicester

Neighbour disputes can be the most bitter and expensive litigation there is, often over a strip of land worth very little. The best outcome is usually an early, practical agreement.

Common disputes

• Boundary lines: fences moved, extensions built over the line, or disagreements about who owns a hedge or strip of land.
• Rights of way and access: disputes over driveways, shared paths and access for maintenance.
• Trees and hedges: roots, overhanging branches and high hedges (which councils can deal with under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003).
• Party walls: building work on or near a shared wall.
• Nuisance: noise, smells, water or light.

Working out a boundary

A solicitor looks at the title deeds and plans, older conveyances, and physical evidence. A specialist boundary surveyor is often needed. Once the line is agreed, a boundary agreement can record it, and it can be registered.

Resolving it

Talk first if you can. Mediation works well for neighbour disputes because the parties will usually go on living next to each other. If a claim is needed, the Pre-Action Protocol and the court’s expectation of alternative dispute resolution apply. Some boundary questions can be referred to the Land Registration division of the First-tier Tribunal.

The costs question

Court costs in boundary disputes can easily exceed the value of the land. Ask early what the dispute is worth in practical terms, and what a sensible compromise might look like.

Common questions