Neighbors at the dacha: how to resolve conflicts?

With a lawyer, we explore how to resolve conflicts with neighbors at the dacha. Write in the comments about the problems you've encountered, and we'll make a second part.

Yuri Kryukov — expert, lawyer, runs his own blog in Instagram @vkursedela about the rights of co-owners and apartment owners

Animals scare children, trample flowers, and their owners don't clean up after the dogs. Can you influence them in any way?

Yes! In December 2018, a law was passed on responsible treatment of pets. Dogs must now be walked only with muzzles and on a leash, and you must always clean up after them. For violating the law, owners can be held administratively responsible.

For this, you will need:

• record the inappropriate behavior of the animal on video;

• find out who is its owner;

• file a complaint to the police.

As a result of your complaint, violators will be fined. In Moscow region, fines range from 100 to 1500 rubles. With repeated violations, the responsibility increases, and with multiple violations, the pet may be confiscated.

You can report stray animals to local self-government bodies: they deal with catching and sterilizing them.

Our neighbor started construction. They hammer, saw, and drill in the morning. What to do?

The silence law will protect you: noise from renovation work and construction equipment is allowed only during certain time intervals.

For example, in Moscow region, noise is allowed:

• Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00;
• Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00;
• Sundays and holidays, renovation work is prohibited.

What about noisy neighbors who have fireworks parties?

There are also restrictions for such cases. In Moscow region, noise is allowed Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 21:00 (the break from 13:00 to 15:00 applies only to sound equipment).

On weekends and holidays — from 10:00 to 22:00, with the same restriction on sound equipment as during weekdays.

You can file a complaint to the police or call the officer on duty about noisy neighbors. Don't forget about witnesses and video evidence.

Neighbor builds a garage right up against the fence

First, file a complaint to local administration and the police. If necessary, do this again and only then go to court.

These problems are solved fastest if the construction is not yet complete. An unlawful structure may be kept by court decision if it does not threaten life and property of neighbors.

Neighbors climbed over the fence onto your territory

1. Call a cadastral engineer who will mark the boundaries according to data from Rosreestr. It is advisable to do this in the presence of neighbors.
2. If the dispute continues, hire a land surveying expert and also invite neighbors. Perhaps at this stage, it's possible to resolve the issue peacefully.
3. If agreement is not reached, file a lawsuit in court.

Neighbors dump snow off the fence onto the common road in winter

If they obstruct traffic, this is an administrative offense with a fine of from 5,000 to 10,000 rubles.

Document the violation and file a complaint to the police.

Neighbors constantly complain

For example, about the shadow cast by birch trees that falls onto their plot, or roots of birch trees which prevent them from tilling the garden, or birch pollen that causes allergies in their grandchild. Are such complaints justified?

First of all, make sure the complaints are justified. If your trees prevent neighbors from fully using their plot, they have the right to file a lawsuit.

According to SNIP standards, the distance from tall trees to a fence should be no less than 4 meters. Branches casting large shadows on the neighbor's plot should be pruned.

If possible, try to resolve the conflict peacefully. Because neighbors are here for a long time, and you may have to live next to them for years.