Since the Covid-19 pandemic, millions of Brits have pursued loft conversions, kitchen extensions, and garden rooms, sparking a surge in neighbourly arguments. According to Laura Albon, a property litigation partner at Helix Law, this renovation boom is now the most common cause of disputes between neighbours.
Why Renovations Cause Friction
When homes are close together, they often share walls, overlook each other's gardens, and have little privacy. Adding new buildings can affect light, privacy, and boundary lines. Albon explained: "The renovation boom has been brilliant for homeowners wanting more space, but it has also created enormous friction. People invest emotionally and financially in their homes, and when a neighbour's building works start affecting their light, their privacy, their garden, or their boundary line, it feels very personal very quickly."
Party Wall Disputes
The Party Wall Act 1996 requires homeowners to notify neighbours before building near or on a shared wall or boundary. However, many begin construction without serving the proper paperwork, often unknowingly. Albon noted: "Party wall disputes frequently occur. The law is actually quite clear, but so many homeowners either do not serve the correct notices before starting work or do not respond properly when they receive a notice from a neighbour. By the time they come to us, the situation is often already inflamed, and the costs are climbing."
Rights of Light Claims
Homeowners have rights if a new extension blocks natural light that has reached a window for at least 20 years. A successful rights of light claim can lead to an injunction requiring part of a building to be demolished. Albon warned: "Rights of light cases are often underestimated until they become serious. Homeowners assume that because they have planning permission, they are protected. They are not. And boundary disputes can drag on for years, consuming legal costs that dwarf the value of the strip of land in question. The emotional toll on families is often just as significant as the financial one."
