NEIGHBOUR disputes are common and can be tricky to resolve, but it’s possible to come to an agreement.
One homeowner was left devastated when the builder working on an extension next door ended up destroying their garden.
Posting on an online forum, they said workers had ripped out the fence and ruined four plants and bushes.
The damage also included a trench dug across the property line, and their garden furniture was also moved.
The disgruntled resident found pieces of wood with “rusty nails” poking out discarded around the garden.
“This was all done without telling us or asking permission to access our garden,” they said on their post on the Single Track World forum.
“For want of a better expression, I think the builder is a cowboy,” they added.
“Our neighbour has attempted to placate my concerns, but what he has done up to this point means I cannot simply accept any verbal reassurances,” the post said.
The post was made seven years ago, but the problem of neighbour disputes is one that has not gone away.
Rows have been caused by neighbours refusing to pay for a garden fence, stealing parts of a garden and even building a shed.
We explain what your rights are if next door’s building work damages your garden.
Your first step should always be to have a conversation with your neighbour if you can.
It’s better to see if it can be resolved quickly and in a friendly manner before you escalate the situation.
In this scenario, you could ask them to cover the cost of fixing the damage and to ask the builders not to enter your garden.
If you’ve tried that and it was unsuccessful, there are further steps you can take.
A Which? legal expert told The Sun that the homeowner could try and get the builder to fix or pay for the damage.
You can make a formal complaint before escalating it to a dispute resolution scheme.
If this doesn’t work, you can report them to Trading Standards or consider taking legal action.
Make sure you keep a record of the damage by taking photographs, as you may need to prove your claim against either the builder or your neighbour.
According to the AA, you could check whether the damage caused by a neighbour is covered in your home insurance policy.
If it is, you could make a claim to fix the damage.
Alternatively, you could use a mediation service to try and resolve the argument.
A mediation service is a third-party that steps in to try and arrange an agreement.
You might have to pay a fee but this will be cheaper than having to take legal action.
As a last resort you could take legal action however, this could be very expensive.
If you do make that decision, check if your estimated legal costs would wipe out any money you win in court.
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Other neighbour rows included a family who were accused of stealing part of next door’s garden and another with a hedge that took over a garden.
We spoke to a legal expert who revealed the four most common neighbour spats.
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