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Discuss the problem with your neighbour

If you’re involved in a dispute with a neighbour, try discussing the problem with them before you make a formal complaint or get others involved.

If you’re worried about approaching your neighbour, write them a letter, explaining the problem clearly and sticking to the facts.

You can involve other neighbours if the problem affects them too. It may be easier to settle a dispute if the complaint comes from a number of people. A tenants’ association might help if you’re a member of one.

Mediation if speaking to your neighbour doesn't work

Watch a video on how mediation can help you solve a dispute

• Video: what happens at mediation?

If you can’t resolve the dispute by speaking to your neighbour, you may be able to get help from a mediation service.

How neighbour mediation works

Mediation is when an impartial person - trained in dealing with difficult discussions between two opposing sides - acts like a referee in a dispute.

Mediation for neighbour disputes is usually free. If there’s a fee, it will still be cheaper than hiring a lawyer and taking legal action.

Setting up a mediation appointment

A mediator will speak to everyone involved and arrange a meeting between you and your neighbour. This can take place at a neutral venue, like the mediator’s offices

Mediation works best face-to-face. If you’re worried about meeting your neighbour, you can take someone with you or the mediator may be able to act as a go-between.

Negotiating with your neighbour

The mediator will help you and your neighbour understand each other’s point of view and reach a solution by:

• setting ground rules for the discussion
  
• making sure the views of both sides are heard
  
• suggesting ways forward
  

Agreements can be verbal or written down. They aren’t legally-binding, but you’re both likely to stick to an arrangement you’ve worked out and freely signed up to.

Find a mediation service

In England and Wales, use the 'find a civil mediation provider' tool to get details of a mediation provider in your area.

In Scotland, use the Scottish Mediation Network.

Your council or housing association may provide a mediation service too.

• Find a civil mediation provider Opens new window

• Scottish Mediation Network Opens new window

Sources of help and information in neighbour disputes

If the dispute is about high hedges or noise, see the links ‘Dealing with a dispute about a high hedge’ and ‘Dealing with a noise nuisance’.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has free advice on boundary disputes and ‘party walls’ (the walls you share with your neighbours).

• Dealing with a dispute about a high hedge

• Dealing with a noise nuisance

• Resolving boundary disputes: advice from RICS Opens new window

• Advice on party walls from RICS Opens new window

If your neighbour is a tenant, you could complain to their landlord – for example, a housing association, the council or a private landlord.

For disputes about building work that breaks planning rules, or anti-social behaviour (like vandalism and threatening behaviour), complain to your council or the police.

• Find your local council Opens new window

• Find your housing association Opens new window

• Find a police force Opens new window

How your council deals with nuisances

If the problem you’re facing is a statutory nuisance, your local council has a duty to investigate it.

What is a statutory nuisance?

A statutory nuisance is an activity that is, or is likely to be, damaging to health or a nuisance. Examples include:

• noise from a premises, vehicles, machinery or equipment in a street
  
• noisy dogs
  
• artificial light (except street lamps)
  
• dust, steam, smell or insects from industrial, trade or business premises
  
• smoke, fumes or gases
  
• a build-up of rubbish that could harm health

• Statutory nuisance: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Opens new window

• Download technical information on statutory nuisances: Health Protection Scotland (PDF, 87K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

How to report a statutory nuisance

You should try talking to whoever is responsible for the nuisance. If this doesn’t solve the problem, report the nuisance:

• if it’s from larger factories and waste sites, contact the Environment Agency
  
• if it’s from any other source, contact your council’s environmental health officer

• Environment Agency

• Find your local council Opens new window

How your council decides if it’s a statutory nuisance

Your council has to decide if a statutory nuisance exists, or is likely to occur or recur. It will consider whether an activity is damaging to health or a nuisance, and will take into account:

• the type of nuisance and where it is
  
• the time the nuisance happened and how long it lasted
  
• whether or not the nuisance activity is useful or essential

What your council will do about a statutory nuisance

If your council finds a nuisance exists, it must issue an ‘abatement notice’. Find out more about abatement notices in ‘Dealing with a noise nuisance’. If you’re unhappy with your council’s response, you may be able to complain.

• Dealing with a noise nuisance

• Make a complaint against a local council or authority

Legal action for neighbour disputes

If all else fails, you could think about legal action against a neighbour. This should be a last resort, as it can be very expensive and could make it impossible to patch up your relationship with your neighbour.

You can get free legal advice from a law centre, advice centre or Citizens Advice.

• Find a legal adviser Opens new window

• Find a solicitor or advice agency

• Neighbour disputes information from the Citizens Advice website Opens new window

More useful links

• Street cleaning, litter and illegal dumping

• Environmental Protection Act 1990 Opens new window