Watching two neighbors who are perpetually warring it out in a sitcom can be quite entertaining. The situation can be much less amusing when you are living in it. Neighbor disputes have the potential to make your living situation quite miserable, whether you share a wall or live a full mile apart on large plots of land. If the feud escalates to litigation, both of you could be in for a rough time. For many, mediation offers a path to resolving whatever concern you and your neighbor are at odds about in a more amicable fashion. Contacting a qualified neighbor dispute attorney may be the first step towards initiating the mediation process.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Neighbor Disputes?
A lot of concerns, big and small, can lead to neighbors facing off in court. Mediators seek to avoid litigation by allowing both parties the chance to arrive at a fair solution through negotiation and guided discussion. Common reasons that neighbors come to mediation include:
- Noise - Whether it is a barking dog or a stereo, loud noise that one neighbor feels is disturbing their peace can quickly lead to escalating animosity. Often, a solution can be worked out, whether it involves scheduling garage band practice for a time when the neighbor is not around or simply agreeing to end social gatherings in an apartment by a certain hour.
- Boundary disputes - When you and your neighbor cannot agree on whose property is whose exactly, it may be beneficial to bring in a mediator. These disputes almost always arise out of genuine confusion rather than any nefarious attempt to encroach on another’s land. Possible resolutions may include splitting the difference or arranging a buy-out of the disputed land.
- Parking - Few things are more frustrating than coming home after a long day and then having to park a block away and hike through the snow, all because someone is in your parking spot. Often, a clear agreement about who is to park in which spot and where guests’ cars belong is all that is needed and can be achieved quickly through mediation.
- Appearance - No one wants to live next to a poorly-maintained house or overgrown lawn that is becoming an eyesore. On the other hand, no one wants a neighbor constantly dictating how they are to care for their own property. A mediator can often offer an outside perspective on what expectations are reasonable.
- Health and safety - Unsanitary or unsafe conditions, such as a bug infestation or foul odor, that has begun to affect others should be addressed promptly. Safety concerns, like an exposed pipe, also require prompt attention. Mediation can reveal that a neighbor is in need of assistance in some cases. Often, the situation and its resolution become much more clear in the mediation room.
While mediation is generally preferable to litigation, there are cases where it is not recommended. If the source of your dispute is, for example, your neighbor’s criminal activity, your attorney may advise proceeding directly to litigation.
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