{"id":369348,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:23","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/realestate\/neighbors\/do-s-and-don-ts-neighbor-relations.html"},"modified":"2025-07-04T16:29:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T21:29:00","slug":"do-s-and-don-ts-neighbor-relations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/neighbors\/do-s-and-don-ts-neighbor-relations.html","title":{"rendered":"How To Avoid Problems With New Neighbors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">How To Avoid Problems With New Neighbors<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/eric-harvey-j-d\/\">Eric Harvey, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/aisha-success-esq\/\">Aisha Success, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            July 04, 2025\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n    <div class=\"fl-callout-text article-blockquote\">\n        <p>Whether you&#8217;re new to the neighborhood or someone just moved in next door, first impressions are key. Know your rights and responsibilities so you can be a good neighbor&nbsp;\u2014 and properly deal with bad neighbors.<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n<p>Most of us have to deal with neighbors. Sometimes, you find yourself with bad neighbors who are hard to handle. It&#8217;s surprising how common neighbor disputes can be.<\/p>\r\n<p>There are laws that govern how you can use your residential property. There are also many laws related to neighbors. You&#8217;ll have to follow them as a homeowner or renter, and so will your new neighbors. Below, see tips to understand what you can and can&#8217;t do about neighbor-related stress.<\/p>\r\n<p>Remember, real estate law can be complicated. Facing an issue with a neighbor can be rough. If you&#8217;re struggling with an issue related to neighbor relations or being a homeowner, it&#8217;s likely a good idea to speak with a licensed <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">real estate attorney<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Watch for Common Neighbor Problems<\/h2>\r\n<p>If you have new neighbors, you might have concerns if:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>They are noisy, such as with loud music, barking dogs, or shouting.<\/li>\r\n<li>They are messy, such as by dumping junk in their yard.<\/li>\r\n<li>They or their pets are trespassing on your land.<\/li>\r\n<li>Their belongings, plants, or waste begin to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/neighbors\/what-can-you-do-about-an-encroachment.html\">encroach on your property<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<li>You smell strong odors coming from their property while trying to enjoy yours.<\/li>\r\n<li>They start a landscaping or home improvement project that affects your view or property.<\/li>\r\n<li>They take your parking space.<\/li>\r\n<li>Their guests are frequent and rowdy.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>These problems can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/neighbors\/bad-neighbors-what-to-do-legally.html\">signs of a bad neighbor<\/a>, but they might be preventable. You can get familiar with real estate laws to help keep the peace or, if necessary, be ready to take action.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<h2>Verify Where Your Property Lines End<\/h2>\r\n<p>Know and respect your property boundary lines. Many of your rights as a property owner end at your property line.<\/p>\r\n<p>It&#8217;s always a good idea to check if your neighbor&#8217;s property is actually theirs. When you or a neighbor moves in, review&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/neighbors\/property-boundaries-lines-and-neighbors-faq.html\">what the boundary lines are<\/a>. Depending on the property, you might also need to know how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/land-use-laws\/easement-basics.html\">easements<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/land-use-laws\/adverse-possession-continuous-trespassers-rights.html\">adverse possession<\/a> work.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>Let your new neighbor know if the boundaries are odd or surprising in some way. A polite conversation could prevent your neighbor from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/neighbors\/neighbors-trees.html\">planting trees<\/a>, building a fence, or trespassing while unaware of the true property line. You can also clarify that one party has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/land-use-laws\/necessity-and-permissive-easements.html\">permission to use<\/a> the other&#8217;s property for a necessity, such as sharing a driveway.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<h2>Get To Know Your New Neighbors<\/h2>\r\n<p>You don&#8217;t have to be best friends with your neighbors to get along. Yet, it&#8217;s wise to be aware of a few basic details about them and their property. Even if you don&#8217;t own the property as a renter, it&#8217;s a good idea to get to know the other residents in a building you share.<\/p>\r\n<p>Think about how the way you use your property might affect them. What&#8217;s the view like from across the street? Can the people in the house behind you hear your son&#8217;s band practicing in your garage?&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>You can also consider starting a community program, such as a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-legal-help\/what-is-neighborhood-watch-.html\">neighborhood watch<\/a>&nbsp;or an annual block party. Neighbors who are paying attention to what&#8217;s happening around them can help prevent crime and neighborhood decline. It&#8217;s important to be familiar with your neighbors&#8217; behavior. It&#8217;s also important to organize neighborhood groups appropriately.<\/p>\r\n<p>Building a positive neighbor relationship can pay off later. You might want to seek the support of your neighbors when you want to make a big change. Most zoning boards are amenable to nonconforming uses, imposition, or waiver of zoning laws if the whole neighborhood consents.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Follow the Noise Limits in the Neighborhood<\/h2>\r\n<p>Local ordinances sometimes place&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/neighbors\/what-to-do-about-a-neighbor-s-noise-faqs.html\">restrictions on noise<\/a>. It&#8217;s important to verify your local laws. Homeowners&#8217; associations (HOAs) may also set stricter noise rules in the immediate area.<\/p>\r\n<p>You could be entitled to demand quiet at certain hours. You&#8217;ll need to respect quiet hours for your neighbors, too.<\/p>\r\n<p>Keep in mind that these rules often extend to animals. For example, say your neighbor raises chickens in a suburban town. Roosters crow outside your bedroom window at four o&#8217;clock every morning. This case could be a disruptive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/neighbors\/neighbor-animal-disputes.html\">animal noise nuisance<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>A neighborhood can&#8217;t be silent all the time, though. Reasonable noise levels during the day are part of your right to &quot;quiet enjoyment&quot; of your property. If you and your neighbor disagree about loud activities, you can refer to the local noise ordinance or HOA rule.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<h2>Keep Your Yard and Home Exterior Tidy<\/h2>\r\n<p>You are generally entitled to change the appearance of your home and yard, unless you&#8217;re subject to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/owning-a-home\/what-homeowners-associations-may-regulate.html\">HOA regulations<\/a>. But remember that the law imposes certain limits.<\/p>\r\n<p>Neighbors might deem your yard full of vehicles an eyesore. Leaving trash on your lawn could blow over onto their side. Old food or unsecured compost bins might attract wildlife. Invasive, overgrown plants could start to creep into their property, forcing them to deal with constant removal.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>In some situations, an unkempt yard could be a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/neighbors\/property-rights-my-neighbor-is-a-nuisance.html\">legal nuisance<\/a>. Avoid these disputes by cleaning up debris and taking good care of your property.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Communicate With Neighbors Early<\/h2>\r\n<p>Often, a problem between neighbors doesn&#8217;t require legal action. Instead, you and your neighbor can prevent and solve problems through communication and compromise. Open the line of communication soon after the move-in day.<\/p>\r\n<p>The old saying that it&#8217;s &quot;better to ask forgiveness than permission&quot; usually doesn&#8217;t apply to neighbor disputes. For example, if you&#8217;re thinking about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/neighbors\/fencing-laws-and-your-neighbors-faqs.html\">building a fence<\/a> between your property and your neighbor&#8217;s property, start talking about it now. Building the fence only to discover a problem later could cost more time and money in the long run.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>Neighbors who know what&#8217;s going on are more likely to be supportive of projects that affect them. They are also more likely to cooperate if problems arise.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Check Your Home Renovation Plans<\/h2>\r\n<p>When you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/buying-a-home.html\">buy a house<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/owning-a-home.html\">own one<\/a> for a long time, you&#8217;ll likely want to renovate it someday. But the home improvement project of your dreams could start a feud if you&#8217;re not careful.<\/p>\r\n<p>Pause before you build, expand, demolish, or remodel your property to check:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Your title<\/li>\r\n<li>Your deed<\/li>\r\n<li>Applicable restrictive covenants<\/li>\r\n<li>Local&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/land-use-laws\/zoning.html\">zoning ordinances<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>State laws<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Your neighbors have the right to your compliance with the law. Likewise, if a neighbor repeatedly violates an ordinance and it causes you distress, you could have grounds for suing them.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Build Community and Use Resources in Your Neighborhood<\/h2>\r\n<p>Investigate what your community has to offer. Many private and governmental organizations help communities run smoothly. Such organizations offer anything from legal information to conflict resolution programs to home improvement financing.<\/p>\r\n<p>When dealing with difficult neighbors, it&#8217;s important to check what your community or homeowners association offers. You can also check what other organizations offer.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Be Ready for Possible Neighbor Conflicts<\/h2>\r\n<p>Living in close quarters with other people is bound to introduce some tension.&nbsp;Don&#8217;t hurry to file a lawsuit over every little problem.<\/p>\r\n<p>Disputes don&#8217;t always need to escalate or interfere with your enjoyment of your property.&nbsp;It&#8217;s always possible to have good relationships with your neighbors.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>Friendly face-to-face interactions can often be the best way to handle things.&nbsp;A good community mediation program might also provide an efficient, economical, and friendly way to resolve conflicts.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Don&#8217;t Let Bad Neighbor Behavior Persist<\/h3>\r\n<p>On the other hand, don&#8217;t put up with discourteous neighbors.&nbsp;Odds are, if your next-door neighbor&#8217;s late-night parties are bothering you, they are bothering your other neighbors, as well.<\/p>\r\n<p>There are laws, such as zoning laws, that govern noise levels and activities that are allowed or prohibited in your area. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/neighbors\/views-noise-and-other-potential-neighbor-disputes.html\">Noisy neighbors<\/a> can be a terrible nuisance. And you shouldn&#8217;t have to deal with them.<\/p>\r\n<p>Sometimes, the best solution is to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/neighbors\/neighbor-disputes.html\">file a lawsuit<\/a>. Litigation is typically reserved for the most serious or expensive disputes between neighbors. Going to court can be complicated, but it could be necessary to protect your property, safety, or peaceful enjoyment.<\/p>\r\n<p>Small claims court can be an easier option. If the problem with your neighbor results in a lawsuit, consider reducing the amount of money you demand. Most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/going-to-court\/small-claims-court.html\">small claims courts<\/a> have a limit on the amount of money at stake in each case. It might be worth your while to lower your demand in exchange for the convenience of having your problem resolved in a small claims court.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Get a Lawyer for Neighbor and Real Estate Issues<\/h2>\r\n<p>While the goal is always to avoid conflicts, don&#8217;t hesitate to seek legal advice.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Asking a lawyer<\/a>&nbsp;for help doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean you will end up in court or with a huge legal bill. Your lawyer can give you good advice about your rights and responsibilities regarding your neighbors, often preventing problems before they arise.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3418)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M6 21H3C2.46957 21 1.96086 20.7893 1.58579 20.4142C1.21071 20.0391 1 19.5304 1 19V12C1 11.4696 1.21071 10.9609 1.58579 10.5858C1.96086 10.2107 2.46957 10 3 10H6M13 8V4C13 3.20435 12.6839 2.44129 12.1213 1.87868C11.5587 1.31607 10.7956 1 10 1L6 10V21H17.28C17.7623 21.0055 18.2304 20.8364 18.5979 20.524C18.9654 20.2116 19.2077 19.7769 19.28 19.3L20.66 10.3C20.7035 10.0134 20.6842 9.72068 20.6033 9.44225C20.5225 9.16382 20.3821 8.90629 20.1919 8.68751C20.0016 8.46873 19.7661 8.29393 19.5016 8.17522C19.2371 8.0565 18.9499 7.99672 18.66 8H13Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\n                              stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3418\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"No\"\n                value=\"no\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">No<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3423)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M16 0.999995H18.67C19.236 0.989986 19.7859 1.18813 20.2154 1.55681C20.645 1.9255 20.9242 2.43905 21 3V10C20.9242 10.5609 20.645 11.0745 20.2154 11.4432C19.7859 11.8119 19.236 12.01 18.67 12H16M9.00003 14V18C9.00003 18.7956 9.3161 19.5587 9.87871 20.1213C10.4413 20.6839 11.2044 21 12 21L16 12V0.999995H4.72003C4.2377 0.994543 3.76965 1.16359 3.40212 1.47599C3.0346 1.78839 2.79235 2.22309 2.72003 2.7L1.34003 11.7C1.29652 11.9866 1.31586 12.2793 1.39669 12.5577C1.47753 12.8362 1.61793 13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3423\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"was-this-helpful__taken-action fl-text-sm-bold\"><\/span>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-container\">\n        <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n            <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form\">\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--positive\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Easy to understand\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                        >Easy to understand<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Solved my problem\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                        >Solved my problem<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--negative\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                        >Missing the information I need<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Too complicated\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                        >Too complicated \/ too many steps<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Out of date\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                        >Out of date<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\">\n        <div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Many neighbor disputes can be resolved with an informal conversation.\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Some tenant or neighbor disputes may need the help of local police.\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Complex real estate issues (such as land use or boundary disputes) may need the support of an attorney.\n\n                <\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\">\n                <p>Conflicts with neighbors can benefit from legal expertise. An attorney can offer tailored advice and help prevent common mistakes.<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link fl-flex\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link\">\n                <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <p class=\"find-attorney\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/real-estate-law\/#USER_GEO\/?fli=esum:FL43\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find a local attorney<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"email-subscription fl-mb30\">\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-header\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-content\">\n            <h3 class=\"fl-callout-sm fl-no-margin\">Stay Up-to-Date With How the Law Affects Your Life<\/h3>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-image fl-flex fl-items-end\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n                src=\"https://www.findlaw.com/static/c/images\/images\/w_1200,c_limit,dpr_auto\/f_auto,q_auto:eco\/v1745902396\/ability-law\/wp-prod\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1.png?_i=AA\"\n                alt=\"\"\n                loading=\"lazy\"\n            \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-content fl-flex fl-flex-wrap\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-text fl-mb25\">\n            <h4 class=\"fl-no-margin\">Enter your email address to subscribe<\/h4>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <form class=\"email-subscription-content-form\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distributionList\" value=\"latl\" \/>\n            <label for=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" class=\"fl-text-sm-bold\">Email (Required)<\/label>\n            <div class=\"email-subscription-content-form-group\">\n                <input id=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" name=\"email\" autocomplete=\"email\"\/>\n                <button type=\"submit\" aria-label=\"Submit\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-success subscribe-success-message fl-text-sm-bold\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"status\">Thank you for subscribing!<\/p>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-error subscribe-error-message fl-text-sm-bold\" role=\"alert\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/p>\n\n            <div id=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha\" class=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha subscribe-recaptcha\"\n                data-sitekey=\"0x4AAAAAAABGBEkK9kEeKxO-\"><\/div>\n        <\/form>\n\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-footer fl-text-sm\">\n            <p><a href=\"https:\/\/newsletters.findlaw.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about FindLaw\u2019s newsletters<\/a>, including our terms of use and privacy policy.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"general-list\">\n    <h3>Helpful Links<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"fl-list fl-no-margin\">\n                                    <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/buying-a-home.html\">\n                        Buying a Home\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/landlord-tenant-law.html\">\n                        Landlord-Tenant Law\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/neighbors\/neighbor-disputes.html\">\n                        Neighbor Disputes\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"popularDirectory\">\n        <div class=\"general-popular-directory \">\n            <div class=\"general-popular-directory-title\">\n                <h3>Attorney Directory<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <ul>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/real-estate-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Real Estate Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/construction-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Construction Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/eminent-domain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Eminent Domain Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/foreclosure-alternatives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Foreclosure and Alternatives Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/land-use-zoning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Land Use and  Zoning Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/landlord-tenant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Landlord and Tenant Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/housing-construction-defects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Housing and Construction Defects Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Worried your new neighbors are trouble? Know how to handle neighbors when there&#8217;s the possibility of legal disputes. Learn more at FindLaw.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":369340,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2741],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-369348","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-realestate"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/369348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=369348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/369348\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/369340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=369348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=369348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=369348"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=369348"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=369348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}