Your neighbor is worried about someone breaking into their cars at night. To prevent it, they install bright lights over the driveway, which they turn on every evening.While you can see that the lights are a deterrent to crime, they also shine brightly right into your...
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Neighbor Disputes
Your neighbor can negatively impact your property value
The unfortunate reality is that you are not the only person who is in control of your property value. If you go to sell your house, you may find that your neighbor has driven that value down.This is part of the reason for zoning laws. Putting a gas station next to a...
Lot line agreements and mortgage restrictions
You and your neighbor are unsure exactly where your lot line is situated. There is just one fence, and it was there before either of you owned your current homes. You always thought it was your fence from the orientation, but it appears to be too close to your...
Do you know your neighbor’s name?
Have you met your neighbor and exchanged more than a wave? Do you know their name if someone asked?If so, while you are in the majority, you may be surprised to find that it's not as big of a group as you'd imagine. Roughly 33% of Americans claim they have "never...
What is light trespass?
There are a lot of ways that your neighbor can impact your quality of life. Maybe they refuse to maintain their property, bringing your property value down. Maybe they built a fence that is so tall it breaks local regulations and makes you feel enclosed in your own...
People often do not know what land they own
Do you think you know exactly what land you own? Do you know how big your yard really is?If you do, it may surprise you to find out that many homeowners have no idea. They may think they do, but they do not officially know where the boundary lines are. Part of the...
Can you trim a neighbor’s tree?
Your neighbor has an old tree with huge branches hanging out into your yard. Your children play in that yard all the time. You're worried that one of those branches is going to break off and injure someone.However, your neighbor loves that old tree and refuses to have...
Have a bad neighbor? These tips can help
Unfortunately, you cannot pick your neighbors. You may get a bad neighbor who constantly looks for ways to aggravate you or who actually infringes on your rights. Maybe they use your property without permission, build structures too close to the property line or start...
Is your neighbor using your property without permission?
In some cases, your neighbor may have legal permission to use your property. This is known as an easement.It's important to note that this permission typically just extends to one type of use. For instance, maybe it's a right-of-way easement because the only way from...
Spite fences are illegal in Washington
Not everyone has a good relationship with their neighbor. You may have a fairly contentious one. You don't want to move and neither do they, so the two of you are stuck with each other for the time being.In some cases, one neighbor takes direct action to antagonize or...