Property disputes are widely reported and the cutting down of hedges, moving fences and diverting water supplies together with similar issues evoke immediate reactions within the general public. Property ownership is of such great personal importance that what starts as a minor disagreement may quickly escalate into full-blown litigation, destroy the security you feel when at home and seriously affect your property’s value on sale.
Property litigation is a complex area of law. Property dispute claims are often protracted and expensive to litigate and should be dealt with by a specialist. They must be managed carefully as the value of the land in issue is often low and the costs can become out of proportion to the value of the dispute. Our experienced specialists will balance the need to contain the costs of the dispute with the importance of the matter to you.
We provide an early assessment of the merits of your case, enabling us to be proactive and cost effective in seeking a successful resolution on your behalf. One of the ways in which costs can be contained is by the use of mediation. Mediation is a process in which two or more parties to a dispute come together in the presence of an independent mediator with the aim of finding a solution to their dispute that is acceptable to the parties. The advantages to mediation, in contrast to the courts, are that it can generally be undertaken quickly, is usually far cheaper than litigation and is less intimidating than having to give evidence. The process is voluntary and confidential and any settlement reached is the decision of the parties and not imposed upon them. Mediation must be strongly recommended at the outset of any dispute, but particularly in the case of boundary disputes.
We will discuss your specific options with you when we first take instructions and we will do everything we can to assist you in choosing the most appropriate route to resolve your dispute.
If you would like to speak to one of our property dispute specialists please call either Adele Dethick or Saul Kelleher on 01747 825432.
