Lawyer shares ‘excessive’ possibility owners might take towards noisy neighbours
Many people become embroiled in disputes with their neighbours at some point – but one lawyer says there is a drastic option available for homeowners that could end the dispute for good
Countless individuals frequently find themselves utterly frustrated when embroiled in a row with their neighbour. Yet one legal expert reveals there’s an “extreme” remedy available to property owners that might resolve the conflict.
Nevertheless, barrister Daniel Barnett warns it won’t necessarily provide an instant fix. You might even discover yourself wiping thousands off your property’s worth.
Daniel advises those caught up in disagreements with nearby residents should initially think about approaching their local council or perhaps their landlord, reports the Express. According to Daniel, your local authority can assist with noise issues if they’re logged on the Government website.
He explains this can subsequently be evaluated by the council, who may serve an abatement notice should the disturbance be deemed a “statutory nuisance”.
The abatement notice can demand your neighbour cease creating noise at particular times or take measures to minimise the disturbance, or they risk being hit with fines reaching £5,000.
Daniel notes councils frequently dispatch a warning notice if they don’t immediately consider the noise constitutes a “statutory nuisance”. He also suggests people have a word with their neighbours before pursuing any formal action.
However, if everything else proves unsuccessful, Daniel reveals there’s one drastic alternative – seeking legal counsel.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Daniel explained: “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 cautions that getting embroiled in a formal disagreement with your neighbour could “knock tens of thousands of pounds” off the value of your property. He further clarified that even if you have no immediate plans to sell your home, your neighbour might decide to relocate, and as a homeowner, you wouldn’t want to risk any potential sale.
