AN INSURANCE expert has urged homeowners to follow her advice if they’re rowing with neighbours.
Brits must chat to next door first before seeking legal advice about boundary disputes as it could be costly, pros have warned.
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Sarah Khan, head of Churchill Home Insurance, said: “Unfortunately, many people end up falling out with their neighbour over boundaries, whether that is over trespass caused by a tree, a fence, or an extension.
“We would always advise that people try to speak to their neighbours to find a resolution to these problems, saving time, money, and relationships.”
One solution rowing neighbours have is coming up with a ‘boundary agreement’ between the two parties.
The document records the boundary and who is responsible for maintaining it – but it costs a whopping £90 each.
But, of the 206 boundary applications made between 2019 and 2021, just 40 per cent were approved due to a lack of evidence supporting the boundary claims.
In total, Brits have wasted nearly £7,500 on unsuccessful applications in the last three years.
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Over three million Brits have sought advice from chartered surveyors – while 1 in 11 of those engaged in disputes have taken them to court.
An equal number of cases are currently pending in the legal system.
In total, 11 million people told said they had been involved in boundary disputes with neighbours.
But the space Brits argue over is just two per cent of the average garden, the study by Churchill Home insurance found.
The boundary issues that cause the most arguments are due to the placement of a fence, wall, or hedge (31 per cent), a plant or tree (14 per cent), or access issues (13 per cent).
The government advises Brits who are looking for help in resolving a disagreement over boundaries to use the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Helpline Scheme.
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