Neighbourly advice

LEGAL ADVICE

Everybody needs good neighbours!

Gurpreet Birdi from Emsleys solicitors has some helpful advice on neighbourly relations…

Usually, a friendly wave and a brief chat with the people living next door is sufficient to assure us that you all get on well. If you want to show slightly more initiative, you might even invite your neighbours to enjoy the odd slice of cake and cup of tea – this is guaranteed to further cement the said neighbourly relations and means you can tick the ‘I get on with my neighbours’ box – happy days!

Unfortunately, this brief and blissful thought must now be broken as we look at the sad reality of the situation for some of our more ‘unlucky’ neighbours.

Civil Litigation lawyers regularly work with clients who have found themselves embroiled in disputes with their neighbours. These disputes can range from a disagreement about the true position of a boundary to complaints about noise nuisance and everything in between.

Although the police have a range of powers to deal with situations where neighbour disputes involve antisocial behaviours, they are less likely to become involved in what would be termed as ‘civil neighbour disputes’. These can be extremely complex and require specialist legal knowledge to understand the issues and hopefully resolve them.

Disputes over the legal boundaries which divide properties are a good example of just how complicated the issues can be once raised between individuals. There can be inaccuracies between the documentation

held by parties or the replacement of an original feature and new building works can all give rise to a dispute. There are of course many other land issues which will keep civil lawyers busy ranging from access and parking issues to disputes over high hedges and trees.

Should these types of incidents occur, the first step should always be to talk! The power of sensible and meaningful discussion at this time cannot be underestimated. If it helps you to avoid potential or actual legal action and litigation, then you need to make the first move and encourage the spirit of compromise.

If all else has failed, it might be that legal action needs to be taken to resolve the situation. However, this should be the last resort as litigating these days can become expensive, time consuming and, in neighbour disputes, stressful. The advice should be to avoid it!

If legal action is required, Emsleys Solicitors can devise a plan of action to achieve your objectives while offering cost effective, pragmatic and sensible advice. Contact Gurpreet on 0113 232 1030 or email dispute.resolution@emsleys.co.uk

looking for expert legal advice? we can help.

There comes a time when everyone needs advice from an expert.

• Conveyancing & property

• Wills, trusts & probate

• Resolving disputes

• Family matters

• Employment law

• Personal injury

98 % OF CLIENTS would use us again & recommend us

“Very professional service, efficient and always very informative, keeping me updated throughout the whole process.

Thank you so much.” Victoria

Call us on 0113 232 1030 or visit www.emsleys.co.uk

FT Innovative Lawyers 2015: Stand Out I Law Society Excellence Awards 2014: Winner I Modern Law Awards 2014: Winner I The Legal 500: Recommended I Yorkshire Legal Awards 2017: Shortlisted

12 Families Leeds familiesonline.co.uk