The Watkins Firm has decades of proven experience resolving a neighbor dispute in San Diego.  When you live in close proximity to or share a property line with a neighbor there are inherent risks for disagreements.  Here in San Diego we enjoy many spectacular views.  Many neighbor disputes involve blocking a view through new construction, encroachment on property lines, fencing or even the natural growth of trees.  Yet here in California, there are specific legal ordinances or governance restrictions in very unique circumstances when it comes to a view.  Each case is fact and location specific.

Some of the most common challenges with resolving a neighbor dispute in San Diego are associated with boundaries and easements.  While new construction is often a culprit in a dispute between neighbors, in many other cases disputes arise over time through the encroachment of trees or plants, fences or structures such as a shed. If the challenge between you and your neighbor has anything to do with lot lines, you need to call the Watkins Firm for a free consultation at (858) 535-1511

Other common disputes include complaints about noise levels, animal control, or the use of a residence for commercial purposes. The varied terrain of San Diego presents challenges related to drainage, water runoff and resulting flooding as well as water rights and even access to water or the impact of new development on existing wells.

The Watkins Firm has more than 40 years of experience in San Diego and California real estate and neighbor cases.  We employ a unique approach for resolving a neighbor dispute in San Diego which is designed to diffuse situations and resolve them efficiently and in a timely manner.  We are often able to simply coach our clients on how to approach difficulties or challenging conversations.  We help our clients to understand not only the law(s) governing the issue at hand but the practical implications of managing the process of the dispute while seeking a positive resolution.  There is also a very effective mediation forum we often recommend.

When necessary, our skilled and experienced San Diego real estate and litigation attorneys are prepared to protect your interests and accomplish your goals.

Pro-Tip: “Boundary disputes range from an old fence that fell over and someone put it back up. People acting as their own fence contractors and not using a surveyor or soil subsidence. You take out an old retaining wall, you put in something that’s rots away, and all of a sudden your land is now on the neighbor’s land and the big rain comes, and all of a sudden everybody’s fighting and arguing.

Someone gets an estimate and no one wants to believe how much it’s going to cost, and then they fight. And then you have trouble having resolutions. Hard words are spoken, feelings are hurt, and everybody digs their heels in and they would rather pay their lawyer billions of dollars than be reasonable. So we get a lot of those, or we try to help them resolve them, I’d say 90% of the time. But sometimes there’s real legitimate disputes that you have to fight for and boundary disputes, building fence across the line, building a building, a storage shed, whatever. Putting a driveway across your neighbor’s land. There’s a lot of ways that you can really get into an area where you have to defend your property. You got a million dollar property, 10,000 square foot lot, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to talk about how much per square foot you got.

It’s a very expensive piece of land now. And somebody just taking a couple feet here, shaving it off, adds up to a couple hundred feet over the entire property line. And then you have a messed up title. Then haven’t fulfilled your obligations to your lender. It spirals out of control. All the problems when people don’t face reality.  Fix the boundary line problem and follow the law.

Generally speaking, what is a nuisance? Nuisance are just that denying people’s quiet enjoyment of their property.

Now, actionable nuisance can occur when it happens more than once. A noise complaint. We see this a lot. People complaining about Airbnbs and La Jolla. There’ was recently a murder at an Airbnb party or a bunch of people rented a big place, Airbnb supposedly, and the other ones are trying to crack down on that, but it still happens. And then you’re living next door and you got to have the party house. But then again, you’re the owner, you don’t even know what’s happening. The agents and local people that manage a property aren’t telling you because they don’t want to lose the revenue. It’s a very complicated question. It happens.

We actually handle those kinds of cases. We have gone to trial on those issues and know the law very well, and we like to see those things come to our office. ASAP, if you own a property that’s having a complaint that’s on an Airbnb or VRBO, let us know right away so we can help, because what happens is they bring an action for a TRO, yes, Temporary Restraining Order, and it’s just an evidentiary hearing and you don’t go with your lawyer and then a bunch of evidence comes in the wrong way and you’re the owner of the property and you didn’t know that maybe you should have had a lawyer because we would’ve taken on that matter completely different than any homeowner would, and we would’ve framed it right from the get go.

I’m not saying we’re a cure for everything. Sometimes you got just one of those terrible neighbors, that’s just never going to let it go. So you’ve just got to go to court.  Call us for a free consult.” – Dan Watkins, Founding Partner

Are you searching for San Diego real estate attorneys with a proven track record of successfully resolving a neighbor dispute in San Diego? We invite you to review our podcast Episode 44 – Neighbor Disputes as well as the strong recommendations of our clients and contact the Watkins Firm or call 858-535-1511 for a complimentary consultation today.