Difference between revisions of "Neighbour Law"

If a neighbour comes onto your property without your permission, they are trespassing. If they don’t leave when you ask them to, you should call the police. If a neighbour builds a fence or other structure, such as a shed, that encroaches on (comes onto) your property, this is also a trespass. Often the encroachment is unintentional and you can solve the problem by getting a proper survey. If talking with your neighbour and getting a survey don’t solve the problem, you can sue them for trespassing. Usually, a court will order the neighbour to remove and relocate the fence or structure so it’s off your property.

You may have a problem that these laws do not cover. For example, your neighbour’s property may be producing a terrible smell. In this case, you could try alternative dispute resolution. It may be the best and most cost-effective way to resolve neighbour disputes, because the relationship between you and your neighbour continues and you don’t want to harm or destroy it. For information on alternative dispute resolution, see the website of the Dispute Resolution Office of the Ministry of Attorney General at www.ag.gov.bc.ca/dro.