A recent survey found that in 2020, there were 299,077 noise and statutory nuisance complaints filed across the country, a 28 per cent increase on the yearly average.
The North West had the biggest increase, rising from 23,338 complaints in 2019 to 32,792 in 2020 – a 41 per cent increase year over year.
This is according to data gathered through Freedom of Information requests sent to almost 200 UK councils.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/15785519/worst-neighbours-britain-complaints/
What is often not appreciated is the costs incurred dealing with disputes that go to Court as well as the stress and the blight effect when it comes to selling.
If I asked you for £200,000 to deal with a difficult neighbour and to try to stop them letting apples fall from their tree and rot on the ground, you would probably tell me not to be so stupid!
£200,000 is the legal bill allegedly incurred by one neighbour alone in the case of Williams v Pincher currently proceeding in the Court according to the Daily Mail where all such neighbours at war cases are reported. This one comes in a long line of daft disputes which should’ve been resolved by mediation. Cheaper to move house than have a dispute like this one.
It is reported that Mrs Pilcher claims she is has been unable to use the bottom of her garden due to the composters and stinging insects attracted to fallen apples which have fallen from Mrs Williams’ overhanging tree onto her grass as she has a wasp allergy.
It is not the first such case over a tree and one particular tree dispute hit the news when a neighbour chopped it down the middle.
Such cases may become history if mandatory mediation is introduced, as 99% approx cases settle before trial and mediation can help to achieve settlement in many cases.
If you have a neighbour dispute and are interested in mediation please do get in touch.