Your Guide to Neighbor-to-Neighbor Disputes

Living in a neighborhood comes with many benefits, including community safety, proximity to people you like and the opportunity to receive support during tough times. Unfortunately, neighborhood living can also come with drawbacks when you and your neighbors don’t get along. Disputes among neighbors are common, and most can be resolved quickly and easily simply by discussing the matter. Sometimes, however, neighbor disputes can get out of control and make everyday life uncomfortable and difficult.

Why Do Neighbor-to-Neighbor Disputes Occur?

Disputes between neighbors can pop up over virtually anything, but more often than not, they happen due to property disagreements. These types of disputes may be the result of things like fencing or trees, but they can also be the result of unleashed pets.

Neighbors also may get into disputes about noise. Most people move to a neighborhood to enjoy a quiet, peaceful environment surrounded by like-minded homeowners, but if you have a neighbor who thinks that three o’clock in the morning is the perfect time to throw a loud party, the noise can interrupt your sleep and cause other issues.

Finally, neighbors often find themselves involved in disputes regarding the way a piece of property is maintained. If you let your grass grow up to your knees in the summer, this can invite rodents and other pests to invade the area. Additionally, if a homeowner in a neighborhood decides that he wants to paint his home fluorescent pink and green, the neighbors might want to have a word about these loud color choices, potentially resulting in a dispute.

An HOA May Be Able to Help

If talking with a neighbor doesn’t help or doing so may make the problem worse, you may be able to find help with your homeowners’ association (HOA). These organizations exist in many neighborhoods across the country to draw up bylaws that each homeowner in the neighborhood agrees to abide by, and they also usually handle enforcement of the HOA regulations through fines and fees.

Your HOA may have a designated representative who is responsible for handling disputes, so it would be a good idea to review your HOA agreement to find out how to proceed with a complaint. Once you contact your HOA, it’s usually best to let its representatives handle things going forward unless a new dispute arises. If you press the issue further, the neighbor at the heart of the matter may feel like you’re ganging up on him or her, and this could make the situation even tenser.

You May Need to Hire an Attorney

After contacting your HOA, your next step in seeking results may be to contact an attorney who specializes in HOA matters and real estate. In popular Florida destinations like Coral Springs, a Coral Springs HOA attorney will be able to meet with you to discuss the details of your dispute and provide you with potential legal options to rectify the situation and seek compensation.

Your South Florida HOA attorney can also fill out and file any paperwork that may be needed if your case moves to court as well as represent your interests in court if the need arises. A Coral Springs association law attorney may or may not charge an upfront legal fee to provide services, so you will want to discuss costs to ensure you understand what may be possible regarding compensation when you win your case.

Condo Owners May Have Different Needs

Although neighbor disputes typically take place between homeowners in neighborhoods, condo owners in the South Florida region also find that getting along can be difficult. The disputes between condo owners are similar to those found in neighborhoods, but they can differ in that these types of properties often share common spaces, and condos can be in closer proximity to one another compared to homes in a neighborhood.

Regardless, condo owners are encouraged to follow the same course of action to resolve disputes. If speaking with a neighbor doesn’t help or could make things worse, it may be time to involve the condominium owners’ association for the property. If you can’t get results through this, you may want to partner with an attorney who focuses on Florida condominium association law.

Your Florida condo attorney can review the regulations set forth by your property’s association and advise you as to your legal options. A South Florida condominium attorney can also offer representation on your behalf should the matter need to go to court.

Contact a South Florida Attorney For Help in Solving Neighbor-to-Neighbor Disputes

Thankfully, neighborhood disputes don’t have to be a headache when you contact the South Florida condominium attorneys at Bakalar & Associates. Aside from assisting in solving neighbor disputes in a condo living environment, the attorneys at Bakalar & Associates also handle HOA disputes, property disputes and more.To learn more about your options for seeking compensation and gaining peace of mind in your neighborhood or condominium property, call a South Florida HOA attorney by dialing (800) 495-4951 today. You can also reach out to a Florida condo attorney right now using this contact form.