Disputes with neighbours can make life at home deeply uncomfortable. A disagreement over a fence, driveway, tree, right of way or building project can quickly become confusing, expensive and personal.
These practical guides explain the law in England and Wales and the steps that may help resolve common property and neighbour disputes. Choose the subject closest to your problem below.
Boundaries, fences and hedges
Guidance on boundary positions, fence ownership, hedge disputes, encroachment and responsibility for repairs.
- Boundary fence rules UK: Ownership, height limits and neighbour disputes
- Hedge law UK: Neighbour rights, height rules and disputes
- Planning permission for a fence: The 1-metre and 2-metre rules
- Property boundaries in England and Wales: How to find the legal boundary
- Adverse possession of registered land: The 10 year rule explained
- Adverse possession of unregistered land: The 12 year rule explained
- My neighbour has ignored the Party Wall Act: What can I do?
- Party Wall Act explained: Notices, costs and neighbour rights
Rights of way and access
Practical guidance on access disputes, blocked rights of way, repair access, easements and whether long-established rights can be changed or removed.
- Can a neighbour refuse access for repairs? Your legal rights
- Neighbour blocking right of way: What can you do?
- Can a right of way be removed in England and Wales?
- Rights of light explained: The 20-year rule and disputes
Parking and driveways
Clear answers to common disputes involving blocked driveways, shared access, parking spaces, dropped kerbs and parking outside your home.
- Parking across a driveway without a dropped kerb: What does the law say?
- Neighbour saving a parking space with cones: Is it legal?
- Parking disputes with neighbours: Your legal rights
- Shared driveway problems: Rights, parking and repairs
Trees, roots and invasive plants
Guidance on overhanging branches, damaging roots, spreading bamboo and who may be responsible for resulting damage or removal costs.
- Compensation for tree-root damage: Who pays and how to claim
- Tree-root and branch liability: Your legal rights
- Neighbour’s bamboo spreading into my garden: Your rights
Water, drainage and flooding
Practical information on surface-water runoff, drainage problems and disputes where water from neighbouring land causes flooding or damage.
Privacy, noise and smells
Guidance on CCTV, overlooking, noisy equipment, troublesome neighbours and smells that interfere with the use and enjoyment of your home.
- Air source heat pump noise rules: 37 dB and 42 dB limits explained
- Can my neighbour point CCTV at my house? UK privacy law explained
- Neighbour’s trampoline overlooks my garden: What can I do?
- Noisy neighbours UK: How to complain and your legal rights
- Nuisance smells from neighbours: Legal rights and how to complain
Miscellaneous
Further practical guides covering shared property arrangements, misleading information given during a sale and the potential cost of property litigation.
- Shared septic tank responsibilities: Who pays for repairs?
- Property misrepresentation claims: What buyers can do
- Property litigation costs UK: What could a dispute cost?
