Many people who have problems with their neighbours are often reluctant to get a solicitor involved. The main concern is usually the expense that could be incurred, and they might feel that a solicitor will bombard them with all manner of legal jargon which they might not be able to understand.
Before contacting a solicitor, it can help to understand your legal position by using our free Neighbour Rights Checker.
However, in situations where you have either tried to resolve a particular issue with your neighbour but have reached a stalemate, you’ve gone through a mediation service and that hasn’t worked either, or the Dispute Has Become Nasty, you might have no option but to seek legal advice.
What can I Expect if I Get a Solicitor Involved?
Well firstly, don’t be put off by the, sometimes, formal atmosphere of a solicitor’s office. A visit to a solicitor’s office might seem a million miles away from anything you’ve experienced before, but good solicitors will always try to put you at your ease, and explain things to you in a way in which you’ll be able to understand. Don’t forget, no matter how serious you think your problem is, you can be sure that they will have seen it all before countless times.
What can a Solicitor Do for Me?
Solicitors can help you on a number of levels. Firstly, once you’ve explained an issue to them, they’ll be able to tell you your legal position with regard to your particular problem. They can then determine what options you might have and, if there are several, they’ll be able to tell you the effects of choosing a specific option over another and the implications of each option.
They will also act as an intermediary, entering into negotiations with the other person(s) involved and make phone calls and write letters on your behalf. They will prepare all necessary legal documents and any court applications for you, and will ensure that you are represented in court.

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Your solicitor will be able to advise you on whether or not you’re entitled to legal aid. If you’re on an extremely low income and/or are receiving certain types of state benefit, you may be entitled to have all or a proportion of your legal costs paid for under the legal aid scheme, and a solicitor can advise you about this. However, government plans to cut the Funding To Legal Aid will reduce this entitlement.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
What if I Still Can’t Afford to Pay or Wish to Take Another Route?
Even if you don’t qualify for any kind of legal aid whatsoever, you may find that it’s not necessary to worry about the total cost of a solicitor’s bill from start to finish. Sometimes, it may only take one or two instances of correspondence from a solicitor to the other party to force the person(s) involved to accept some kind of resolution which will prevent the matter going to court anyway.
Therefore, you may find that it’s worth ‘testing the waters’ if you can afford to do that, and if both you and your solicitor agree that there’s every chance that the other party is likely to back down in the early stages. Of course, there’s always a gamble with that strategy that the other party may decide to contest the case, then you’re either stuck with continuing with the process and incurring further legal costs if you’re not entitled to legal aid, or dropping the case altogether. Your solicitor will usually be able to tell you, however, if it’s a gamble that’s likely to be successful, based on the facts you’ve presented to them.
Other Options
If you’re uncertain about engaging the services of a solicitor or simply cannot afford one and you don’t qualify for legal aid, then talking with a member of staff from Civil Legal Advice (CLA), which has its own website and is a free and confidential service, is well worth approaching. They’ll be able to advise you on your legal position and should be able to put you in touch with other advice centres close to where you live, who have advisers specialising in different areas of law who will be able to give you free, impartial advice.
They have bombarded us with continuous complaints to the council, over ridiculous accusations. The council appear to be upholding these allegations.
We are terrified if we get legal advice to stop this harassment, it will come up in council searches when we come to sell the house
He was quiet unpleasant and showed anger on occasion. The wife defused him a lot. Had his mother live there and she triggered him into causing unpleasant schemes. Arguing started by them towards me. I stated I am filming you, you are lying. He would stand off stating into camera he didn’t do that or this. Then finally knew I had concrete evidence. Went quiet for a week.
They got contractors in to do their guttering as their house was flooding. Long story short. These contractors and he to was present smashed up our roof tiles. Tried to com me into paying them for works that they caused.
Our guttering down pipe was ripped out and was actually within our boundary. They had no permission to stretch over our side. They left our guttering to flood my sons bedroom. They taped up the guttering with black tape. He closed off our flow to allow the water to run along all properties attached to us. As has been since being built 1950’s.
He created a hole into our down pipe to attach another unnecessary down pipe from his side. They have put up spikes in the guttering. He actually wrote a letter demanding money for this works to guttering be paid by me. More in that letter.
I have a fence up on my boundary, it’s 4ft. They go on and on trying to get me to replace it. I can’t. So he put up a steel fence up on our boundary but just inside theirs. Higher than 6ft. Black grey. Caused many issues with birds wildlife. Death harm has come to many and they have blantantly stated they don’t want any type of nature inside they’re garden.
They been cutting down bushes of mine and opposite neighbours who are also up in arms about what they have done.
Finally they were told to get contractors back out as our house is flooding. Same contractors same mess. They yanked our plastic and our down pipe has been moved inches more their way. Our guttering not fixed.
He demanded that I am not allowed to take our fence down ever or touch the concrete posts. They have sneakily at late evening or night. Saw down or cut our bushes. Neighbours opposite our not happy and she witnessed many things he up to with how he has become obsessed by causing us untold trouble.
They started planting large owls and wind mills in our direction causing us stress anxiety. They said it’s to keep the birds away but it’s blatantly obvious it’s totally intimidation. They now placed it permanently facing into our property looking straight in our living space. I strongly feel it’s operated by them as at times it actually follows me with its eyes. It’s placed directly on the fence line in to our conservatory come lounge and I’ve caught many times turning
I’m worried for my families safety. Is there advice to can give me.
coming under ground and such force even on a normal rainy day . tried to resolve neighbour being very difficult possibly their tree roots of trees just recently chopped down have cracked an underwater pipe
we offered to buy the land which in 22 years the neighbour has has no interest in until we located where all this water was coming from which is from her property
If a neighbour damages or removes your fence, bush or tree this is classed as criminal damage. Call the police. Don't worry about what people think of you, just do it!
If people get noisy, speak to them once. After that just call environmental health and keep calling them. You need to do this to get evidence. Also keep a diary no matter how boring it is.
If it is a rental property, email/write to the letting agent/landlord/housing association. Keep complaining to them, don't stop.
If it is students you can also contact the local university/s and complaint to them. They are responsible for their students behaviour.
If they are causing a disturbance the street at night, you can call the police.
If they threaten, harass or touch you - call the police.
If a council housing association, police, university etc. is treating you badly, contact you local councillor or even MP.
Don't back down, don't fold like a deckchair at the first hurdle, stay strong and keep pushing.
YOU ARE NOT THE BAD PERSON, YOU ARE NOT MAD, YOU ARE NOT THE PERSON IN THE WRONG!
scared of these people because The neighbours in question have a severely disabled daughter who they use as a excuse to get own way seems the council now down to them because of this.while I sympathize with them it must be really hard . It's not fair and not right to make other people's life a misery.'m not in best of health and the stress is making my symptoms worse . I need advice please help
I reported the problem to the housing association and myself and my wife have been accused of anti social behaviour and we have received a warning letter from our housing association. I don't believe that the tenant who started the problem has had such a letter. I am now fuming that my wife and myself have been accused of ASB.
Just a warning if you see your wife is in danger of being assaulted, do not interfere this is the advice from the housing association or you may end up loosing your tenancy.
Best thing is to record it yourself on camera etc. Shame the housing association and council online.
Going by the experience I've had - best thing is to give up complaining. Move or kill yourself. No one cares. No one!
First question is how does it affect noise. For example am I then going to be told that I can't for example use my washing machine because the noise is too much in the neighbours flat.
Second question is there will obviously be a loss in the value of the property. Can I sue the said neighbours for this loss as they are causing the problem.
Thank you.
I have a rogue neighbour who is intentionally parking full length of the car 24x7 across dropped kerb so as to cause inconvenience getting in and out of a semi-detached house. I've to make many manoeuvres and drive over the kerb hardly to make it in or out. Though there is a clear case of obstruction and inconvenience caused can't seek legal help. Any advice would be appreciated. He has recently been warned on my complaint by the council for trespassing, harassment and right of quite enjoyment so is the outcome.
and poeple coming from a pob opposite where I live.
could you help.
Regards.
Environmental Health came once, but my neighbour knew they were coming and cleaned up, so they assumed everything was fine... I would like to move in part because of this dirty neighbour the problem being on the sales form you must declare problems with neighbours, who would want to move in next to such people. not me ?
The police never took this seriously but turned it on to me, an immigrant.
the Sgt. Told me that police in south London, detest immigrants!!!
So this lying devious jealous female got a way with all...lucky in 2014
Boyfriend chucked her out...getting rid of her...?????but she
Had recruited. Drug dealers to harass me and trash my car etc.....
council told me they are not interested in Owners!!!!so they permitted the harassment, in fact they
Insulted me, etc..
The new neighbour to. Behave in a barbaric way....lying and non stop harassment
Police took her side.....being alone is an easy target...and female!
So no one will take complaints about this female...she has connection to police and council.
so. I should have erected a full. CCTV set..?to record and. I advise. all to do this.
Cameras don't lie. But nasty neighbours do.
It is expensive. but worth every penny....police can't lie and they do!!!
I bought a one camera wireless /plug in set...in Croydon..
Input it on my window will . And have the screen in the lounge to watch.
Oh boy! CCTV works well.....£190.00 well spent....3 years too late..so do this!
The first neighbour is being 'done' for harassment, but I think something needs to be done to stop him telling people we're the baddies; there's others that don't speak to us as a result of him saying things about us. I just want to come home from work and get in with my life.
Until the council decided to give us neighbours from hell.
The problem I have now is that one of the problem neighbours insists on leaving her pushchair/pushchairs in the hallway.
I contacted the fire service who contacted the council.
The council told him that the council have a Zero Tolerance policy on anything left in hallways in flats.
I have also looked on line and found that some Councils have actually removed the offending pushchairs without notifying the offender and said they would charge for the return of same.
I have tried unsuccessfully to get this council to take action; also another tenant was also unsuccessful in getting the council to do anything.
My fist complaint (I can prove) was back in January.
I want to know if the council have a legal obligation to clear hallways if they are informed of obstructions.
I also would like to know what would be considered a time frame for this action to take place, bearing in mind that several times the Anti Social Behaviour officers have walked past these Pushchairs in the hallway and done nothing. Also we have Caretakers regularly coming into this block with nothing done. The cleaner moves them out of the way the puts them back.
What I wish to know is this can I take legal action against the council for failing to take any action about this problem?
the same is happening to me....CROYDON COUNCIL>..BUT I OWN MY HOME
they are lying
they are setting people up to harass me!!!!!!!!and then twisting and turning
they HAVE TREATED ME LIKE A PIECE OF DIRT..
2004 now I have been harassed
but they BLAME ME...
one day I was so upset and I shouted as she touched my stuff when I was doing a new kitchen (nosy and does not work)
and I forgot about the CCTV so they hold that against me!!!!2004to now
she has stolen my stUff sworn at me.....told people to trash my car
BUT I shouted on one day (2013) ..POLICELIARS...
She is the one been antisocial and has caused the council to serve me with a notice of seeking possession and we are threatened with losing our home.
The authorities are doing all they can for this women and isn't willing to help protect my family from these lies.They say the are following procedures and as it stands at the moment I'm the one accused therefore I'm not a victim from this.
It's causing me and my family unjustified stress and no one will help me.
I have 15witnesses to the things she's made false allegations of and the council are not willing to speak to them yet. The police have attended around 10 times and only on the first occasion was an arrest made. they spoke with these witness on the other occasions.
But yet the council have not made any attempt to speak to my witnesses to beable to cancel the notice of seeking possession.
I can't afford a solicitor and legal aid will not cover my seeking advice.
What can I do and what should the council do?
I have been to the police but they do nothing to help me and it is making me ill. Any advice please?
Ask Problem Neighbours a question
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