Owning a house that will serve as your family homestead for generations to come can be a great source of pride and peace of mind. The behavior of your nearest neighbors, however, can greatly enhance or detract from your happiness. If your neighbors become friends of yours, or if you do not interact with them much, but they mind their own business, then life as a homeowner is peaceful. If your neighbors are constantly antagonizing you, then the solution to that problem depends on the nature of that antagonism; it could require getting lawyers involved. If the dispute involves your neighbors encroaching on your property, contact the Denver real estate lawyers at the Law Offices of Eric Nesbitt, P.C.

When Bad Fences Make Bad Neighbors

Colorado laws about fences separating one neighbor’s yard from another’s are sufficiently detailed to prevent most boundary disputes. Colorado law holds that, when a fence separates the property of two homeowners, each neighbor should be responsible for 50% of the cost of building, repairing, or replacing a fence. If you plan to repair your boundary fence, you should give your neighbor written notice of your intention. Your neighbor should then respond, so you can agree on your choice of repair company or on what constitutes a fair price. If your neighbor ignores the notice and does not respond within 30 days, you have the right to have the fence repaired on your own and to send your neighbors a bill for their half.

You should involve a lawyer early in the process if your relationship with your neighbors is already adversarial. You should also work with a lawyer if payment issues are complex, such as if the fence got damaged in a severe thunderstorm and insurance companies are involved in paying for repairs.

Tree Trouble

The roots and branches of trees continue to grow without regard to where one neighbor’s property ends and another’s begins. You have a right to remove parts of your neighbor’s trees that encroach on your property, but you cannot unilaterally have your neighbor’s tree removed just because it is too close to your yard.

More Extreme Examples of Boundary-Crossing by Neighbors

The worst-case scenario is if your neighbors simply claim part of your yard for themselves, such as by building a shed on your property. If something like this happens, you have the right to remove your neighbors’ structures from your property, but only if you can prove that the area where your neighbor is building belongs to you. Resolving disputes about the borders between parcels of land connected to your house requires the expertise of a real estate lawyer.

Contact the Law Offices of Eric Nesbitt About Boundary Disputes Between Homeowners

For questions about boundary disputes between neighbors or other real estate needs in Colorado, contact the Law Offices of Eric L. Nesbitt, P.C. at (303)741-2354 or info@nesbittlawoffices.com.