Many people often find themselves at their wit’s end when they are locked in a dispute with their neighbour. But one lawyer says there is an “extreme” option available for homeowners that could end the dispute.
However, barrister Daniel Barnett says it won’t always be an overnight solution. And you could even find yourself knocking thousands of pounds off of the value of your home. Daniel says people locked in a disagreement with those living nearby should first consider consulting their local council or even your landlord.
Daniel says your local authority can help with noise problems if they are reported on the Government website. He says this can then be assessed by the council, who can issue an abatement notice should the noise be considered a “statutory nuisance”.
The abatement notice can require your neighbour to stop making noise at a certain time or even make steps to reduce the noise, or they could be fined up to £5,000. Daniel explains councils often send a warning notice if they don’t believe the noise is a “statutory nuisance” right away.
He also recommends people speak to their neighbours before taking any action. However, should all else fail, Daniel says there is one extreme option – consulting a lawyer.
On his YouTube channel, Daniel said: “Hopefully your council will be able to solve your problem for you. They’ve several options for dealing with noise complaints but you might not be satisfied with the council’s option. What do you do then?
“You could pay a relatively small amount to bring in a mediator. A mediator isn’t necessarily a lawyer, in fact, very often they’re not but they’ll provide an unbiased perspective and will talk to you and your neighbour about the consequence of taking your dispute to court
“You can also reach an agreement with a mediator present, with your neighbour and sign a binding contract if you’re happy. Although a mediator can’t impose a solution, they can keep you and your neighbour out of the courtroom.
“The other and more extreme option is to engage a lawyer. You should think really carefully about this option because it is far more costly than a mediator and will not solve the problem overnight.
“Your lawyer will advise you on whether it’s actually worth taking your neighbour to court and if so, how you should prepare for court. They will often send a letter to your neighbour informing them of your intent, and the threat of a lawyer might be enough to make them stop.
“Remember, if you become embroiled in a neighbour dispute, you have to declare that dispute to all prospective purchasers if you are thinking of selling your house or flat. That can make it harder to sell.”
Daniel warns that becoming locked in an official dispute with your neighbour could “knock tens of thousands of pounds” off the value of your home. He also explained that while you may not want to sell your home anytime soon, your neighbour might end up moving, and a homeowner might not want to jeopardise any possible sale.
