Property owners and landlords in dispute with a neighbour
Boundary dispute solicitor
Proportionate advice on where the line runs, what rights exist over it, and how to end a neighbour dispute without spending more than the land is worth.
Boundary and neighbour disputes escalate faster than any other property problem, because they are about daily life as much as about title. A fence moves, an extension oversails, a shared drive is blocked, or a tree causes damage — and within weeks two households are corresponding in a way that neither can easily withdraw from.
Our job is to establish the legal position from the conveyancing history and the physical evidence, then find the shortest route to a durable outcome. Registered title plans usually show general boundaries only, so the answer is rarely on the plan alone.
Who this service is for
- Homeowners and landlords facing a dispute over the boundary line or a fence
- Owners whose access, right of way or shared drive is being obstructed
- Owners affected by nuisance, encroachment, overhanging trees or damage from a neighbouring property
- Sellers who need a long-running dispute resolved or properly documented before a sale
What we deal with
- Disputed boundary lines
- Interpretation of transfers and conveyances, historic plans and features, determined boundary applications and boundary agreements.
- Rights of way and access
- Existence and extent of easements, obstruction of an accessway, shared drives and maintenance obligations.
- Party wall issues
- How the statutory notice and award procedure interacts with an underlying boundary or damage dispute.
- Nuisance and encroachment
- Encroaching structures, overhanging trees and roots, water and drainage issues, noise and interference with the use of your land.
- Fences, walls and hedges
- Who owns and must maintain a boundary feature, and what to do when one is removed or replaced without agreement.
How Resolve can help
- Give an early view on the strength of your position and on proportionality
- Obtain and interpret title documents, historic conveyances and aerial or photographic evidence
- Instruct a boundary surveyor where expert evidence is genuinely needed
- Negotiate a boundary agreement, deed of easement or documented settlement that binds future owners
- Litigate, including applications for an injunction, where the neighbour will not engage
How we approach a neighbour dispute
1. Evidence gathering
Title and conveyancing history, plans, photographs, and a chronology of what changed and when.
2. Position and options
A written view on the legal boundary or right, with a proportionality assessment.
3. Negotiation or mediation
Correspondence aimed at settlement, or mediation, which resolves a high proportion of these disputes.
4. Proceedings if required
Court proceedings or a Land Registry determined boundary application, with expert evidence.
Why instruct us
- We advise on whether the dispute is worth running before it becomes unaffordable
- Settlements are documented so the issue does not resurface on a future sale
- We keep correspondence measured, which matters when the parties remain neighbours
- Acting for owners in London, Watford and Hertfordshire
Where we act
We act on boundary and neighbour disputes affecting property in London, Hertfordshire and across England & Wales.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Land Registry plan settle where my boundary is?
Usually not on its own. Registered title plans normally show general boundaries only and are not conclusive as to the exact line.
The legal boundary is established from the conveyancing history, the wording of the transfers, topographical features and, where necessary, expert evidence from a boundary surveyor.
Is a party wall disagreement the same as a boundary dispute?
No. Party wall matters follow their own statutory notice and surveyor award procedure, although a dispute about the position of the wall itself can raise a boundary question at the same time.
We advise on how the two interact and when the statutory route resolves the issue without litigation.
Are boundary disputes worth pursuing?
Boundary disputes can cost more than the land in issue, and they must be disclosed when the property is sold. We give a candid view at the outset on proportionality and on whether a negotiated boundary agreement, determined boundary application or mediation is the better outcome.
What documents should I gather before instructing you?
Usually the title documents or lease, any plans, the tenancy or contract paperwork, correspondence between the parties, a schedule of payments or arrears, and any photographs or expert reports.
Wait for our instructions before sending anything, so that documents are transferred securely and in a usable order.
Start Your Enquiry
Tell us briefly what has happened and what you need. Email and telephone are both required so we can respond in the way that suits you.