Neighbour and boundary issues: key legal considerations for landowners and developers

Insight

27.11.2025

Neighbour-related property issues continue to present practical and legal challenges for landowners, developers and homeowners. Our Property Litigation team has produced a series of short articles examining some of the most common areas of dispute, the principles that govern them and the steps that can reduce risk.

This collection brings together guidance on liability at boundaries, the impact of rights affecting neighbouring land, responsibilities for boundary features, nuisance in the development context, managing home alterations with care for those nearby and approaches to resolving boundary disagreements. The articles provide a grounded overview of the legal framework, recent case law and practical measures that can support informed decision making.

Thank you to our contributors Jo Ord, Graham Anderson, Tom Dobson, Sian Walker, Megan Harding and William Johnson.

Neighbour issues: responsibility for boundary features

Understanding who must maintain boundary features can be complex. William Johnson outlines key principles affecting rural properties, including T marks, waterflow responsibilities and livestock related risks.

Expanding your home? Don't forget your neighbours!

Building projects often test neighbourly goodwill. This article by Sian Walker highlights the planning, communication and consent requirements that help ensure improvements proceed smoothly and with due regard for surrounding properties.

Noisy Neighbours and fussy falcons: a look at nuisance post-Tate

Tom Dobson considers how recent cases apply the principles of nuisance following Tate, highlighting the importance of ordinary use, reasonable conduct and balancing neighbours’ interests.

Landowners’ duty of care: managing risks relating to neighbouring land

Jo Ord outlines how landowners can manage risks extending beyond their boundaries, highlighting legal duties, inspection regimes and practical steps to reduce hazards affecting neighbours and the public.

Obstacles to commercial development: easements and restrictive covenants

Ancient rights can unsettle even the best prepared development plans. In this piece, Graham Anderson examines how easements and restrictive covenants arise and the steps developers can take to manage them.

Is your neighbour crossing the line? A guide to boundary disputes

When boundary lines are questioned, certainty becomes essential. Megan Harding outlines how legal boundaries are identified, the historical evidence that supports them and the processes available to resolve disagreements.

This publication is a general summary of the law. It should not replace legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances.