Neighbourhood Disputes | By Lawyers
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Neighbourhood Disputes

NSW

A practical guide to the law applicable to neighbourhood disputes in New South Wales.

1 Matter Plan

Overview

The commentary covers disputes over dividing fences, trees and high hedges, companion animals, and Nuisance.

The Reference materials folder includes guidance on electronic signing and witnessing, and the comprehensive Getting the matter underway folder includes compliance and client care documents. Using the extensive Retainer Instructions when gathering information ensures nothing is missed.

Precedents in this publication include:

  • Library of notices and applications;
  • Example letters to the other side for:
    • tree issues or high hedges;
    • dog bite;
    • stormwater;
    • nuisance.
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1 Matter Plan Included

  • Item icon ALERTS - Nil
  • Item icon Full Commentary - Neighbourhood Disputes (NSW)
  • Folder icon Reference materials
    • Item icon AI Prompts
      An AI prompt defines a specific task for AI to perform, like drafting a particular document, and provides clear instructions on how to execute that task. The goal is for the AI to quickly create a useful first draft of a document, which the user verifies and refines into a final version, ultimately ...

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    • Item icon Looking to the Future
    • Item icon Electronic Signing and Witnessing
    • Item icon 101 Costs Answers
    • Item icon Further information
  • Item icon Overview
    Disputes can arise between neighbours for many reasons such as noise, needing a new fence, overhanging trees, dogs and other pets, rubbish, access to properties, renovations and building work, use of common property, privacy issues and so on. The first step should always be for the client to try to ...

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  • Folder icon A. Getting the matter underway
    • Item icon File cover sheet - Neighbourhood disputes
    • Item icon First steps
    • Item icon Client details and verifying identity
    • Item icon Retainer instructions - General
    • Item icon Conflict of interest check
    • Item icon Letter to client enclosing costs agreement
    • Item icon Costs agreement - NSW
    • Item icon Standard costs disclosure form for clients - Fees under $3000
    • Item icon Time and costs estimates
    • Folder icon If required - Updating costs disclosure
      • Item icon Letter to client updating costs disclosure
      • Item icon Charge securing costs
      • Item icon Guarantee securing costs
      • Folder icon Costs disclosure before settlement in litigation matters
        • Item icon Letter to client - Costs disclosure before settlement - NSW, VIC, and WA
        • Item icon Letter to client - Costs disclosure before settlement - QLD, SA, TAS, ACT, and NT
    • Folder icon General deeds, agreements, execution clauses, and statutory declarations
      • Item icon Deeds and Agreements
      • Folder icon Deeds
        • Item icon Deed for general use
        • Item icon Deed of guarantee
        • Item icon Deed of release
        • Item icon General deed of indemnity
        • Item icon Deed of assignment of agreement
        • Item icon Deed of gift
        • Folder icon Library of standard clauses for deeds
          • Item icon Amendment
          • Item icon Confidentiality for defined information - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality for defined information - One party
          • Item icon Confidentiality for terms of deed - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality for terms of deed - One party
          • Item icon Costs
          • Item icon Counterparts
          • Item icon Dispute resolution
          • Item icon Events beyond control
          • Item icon Governing law and jurisdiction
          • Item icon Interpretation
          • Item icon No assignment
          • Item icon Notices
          • Item icon Severance
          • Item icon Waiver
          • Item icon Whole agreement
      • Folder icon Agreements
        • Item icon Agreement for general use
        • Item icon Heads of agreement
        • Item icon Non-disclosure agreement - Formal
        • Item icon Non-disclosure agreement - Informal
        • Folder icon Library of standard clauses for agreements
          • Item icon Amendment
          • Item icon Confidentiality for defined information - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality for defined information - One party
          • Item icon Confidentiality for terms of agreement - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality for terms of agreement - One party
          • Item icon Costs
          • Item icon Counterparts
          • Item icon Dispute resolution
          • Item icon Events beyond control
          • Item icon Governing law and jurisdiction
          • Item icon Interpretation
          • Item icon No assignment
          • Item icon Notices
          • Item icon Severance
          • Item icon Waiver
          • Item icon Whole agreement
      • Folder icon Execution clauses
        • Folder icon Library of execution clauses for agreements
          • Item icon Attorney
          • Item icon Authorised officer
          • Item icon Company
          • Item icon Company - Sole director
          • Item icon Individual
          • Item icon Individual - No witness
        • Folder icon Library of execution clauses for deeds
          • Item icon Attorney
          • Item icon Authorised officer
          • Item icon Company
          • Item icon Company - Sole director
          • Item icon Individual
      • Folder icon Statutory declarations
        • Item icon Commonwealth statutory declaration
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - ACT
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - NSW
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - VIC
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - QLD
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - TAS
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - SA
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - WA
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - NT
        • Item icon Standard annexure note for documents
      • Item icon Standard annexure note for documents
  • Folder icon B. Dividing fences
    • Item icon Dividing fences
      The Dividing Fences Act 1991 applies. Fences are widely defined in s 3 to include most structures, whether or not on the boundary, that separate adjoining properties.

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    • Item icon Notice to carry out fencing work
    • Item icon Application to the Local Court - order for dividing fencing work
  • Folder icon C. Trees and high hedges
    • Item icon Trees and high hedges
      The NSW Land and Environment Court (LEC) has jurisdiction over tree disputes, but it will not make an order unless it is satisfied that the applicant has made a reasonable effort to reach agreement with the owner of the land on which the tree is situated: ss 10(1)(a) and 14E(1)(a). The ...

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    • Item icon Example letter to other side - Problems relating to trees
    • Item icon Tree dispute application
    • Item icon Tree dispute claim details (damage to property or injury to a person)
    • Item icon Example letter to other side - Problems relating to high hedge
    • Item icon Tree dispute claim details (high hedges)
    • Item icon Appearance
  • Folder icon D. Companion animals
    • Item icon Companion animals
      Legislation This area of law is governed by the Companion Animals Act 1998 and Companion Animals Regulation 2018 and provides for the effective and responsible care and management of companion animals. The local council administers the Act.

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    • Item icon Example letter to other side - Dog bite
  • Folder icon E. Nuisance
    • Item icon Nuisance
      With the exception of tree disputes, remedies for wrongs committed by neighbours generally fall under the common law tort of nuisance. A private nuisance may occur where a person’s use and enjoyment of their land is interfered with by dust, noise, vibration, sewerage, odours, or water run-off from ...

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    • Item icon Example letter to other side - Nuisance
    • Item icon Example letter to other side - Stormwater
  • Folder icon F. Finalising the matter
    • Item icon Letter to client finalising the matter
    • Item icon Example invoice incorporating notification of client's rights - NSW
    • Item icon Closing the file
    • Item icon File closing checklist
  • Item icon Comments and suggestions for By Lawyers

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