The Silver Brief | Property disputes and other practical legal guides

Property disputes: Practical guides to neighbour and boundary problems

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.

Neighbour disputes: Where to start

If you are unsure which area of law applies to your problem, begin with this general guide. It explains the practical first steps, which organisations may be able to help, when mediation is worthwhile and when legal action may become necessary.

Boundaries, fences and hedges

Guidance on boundary positions, fences, retaining walls, hedge disputes, encroachment, adverse possession and responsibility for repairs.

Neighbouring building work, extensions and party walls

Guidance on extensions, altered garden levels and other building work close to your property, including planning rules, boundary distances, damage caused by building work, party wall notices, excavation, overhanging structures and rights of light.

Rights of way and access

Practical guidance on access disputes, blocked rights of way, repair access, easements, rights acquired through long use and whether long-established rights can be changed or removed.

Restrictive covenants

Guidance on restrictive covenants affecting how property can be used or developed, including who can enforce an old covenant and whether it can be removed or changed.

Parking and driveways

Clear answers to common disputes involving blocked driveways, shared access, parking spaces, dropped kerbs, EV charging across pavements and parking outside your home.

Trees, roots and invasive plants

Guidance on overhanging branches, damaging roots, spreading bamboo and who may be responsible for resulting damage or removal costs.

Water, drainage and flooding

Water disputes depend first on identifying the source. These guides explain responsibility for rainwater flowing over neighbouring land, blocked ditches and culverts, overflowing drains and sewers, and shared private sewage systems.

Privacy, noise, light, smells and pests

Guidance on CCTV, overlooking, intrusive lighting and solar glare, noise, smoke, smells, bird feeding and pest problems that interfere with the use and enjoyment of your home.

Miscellaneous

Further practical guides covering shared property arrangements, misleading information given during a sale and the potential cost of property litigation.

 

 

Hello,

I’m Clare, the Silver Brief

Clare Lowes, creator of The Silver Brief

After almost 25 years practising law in England, I retired in 2025. Now a non-practising solicitor, I created this blog to share clear, jargon-free, and objective legal insights. I hope you find the content helpful.

Recent posts