We all want to get along with our neighbors, but occasionally disputes can – and do – occur. One of the most common problems you could find yourself having with a neighbor is when they build over the property boundary line. This does not just include ground-based structures, but also structures such as balconies, which could hang over your land. If this happens then you are probably going to want to do something about it.
The important thing to remember is that you need to enlist the services of a professional surveyor such as Geosurv to determine where the boundary of the properties actually is; this is something that has to be done by professionals. You need to know for certain before you can take any action regarding potential encroachment.
Let’s take a look at why knowing about your property boundary is so important and what you need to do when it’s encroached upon.
Why it’s important to know where property boundaries are crossed
If you want to reduce the risk of any future disagreements then it’s a good idea to agree on property boundaries with your neighbors when you first move onto a property. The only way you can do this accurately is with the help of a professional property surveyor.
They can carry out the work required to determine exactly where the boundary lines are. Once these lines are marked, it’s then an offense to remove the markings. This means that there can be no doubt as to where your property ends and your neighbor’s property boundary begins.
What happens when there is a dispute
If you haven’t been able to prevent your neighbor from building over the boundary line of your property, then you need to know what to do next. As we have already mentioned you cannot take any kind of action before the boundary line is officially identified and recognized so you will need to ask your neighbor to hire a surveyor to do this work. If they refuse to do this, you can take the case before the Courts and have them forced to comply.
Once the boundaries have been established the court can decide on the issue of encroachment. The court may decide that any structures that have been built over the boundary should be removed.
It may also decide to award compensation for the encroachment or to order that land is transferred or leased to the person who has encroached. The decision that is made will depend on the individual situation.
Any dispute between neighbors is not pleasant, which is why it’s a good idea to identify property boundaries when you first move into a new neighborhood. That way you can try and avoid any future encroachment issues. If you do end up having problems with a neighbor building over your property boundary lines then hopefully our tips will help you deal with the situation.