Neighbors on the dacha: how to resolve conflicts?

With a lawyer, we look at how to resolve conflicts with neighbors on the dacha. Write in the comments about the problems you have faced, and we will make a second part.

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

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

Yes! In December 2018, a law was adopted on responsible treatment of domestic animals. Dogs must now be walked only with muzzles and on a leash, and you must always clean up after them. For violating the law, the owner 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;

• write a complaint to the police.

As a result of your complaint, violators will be fined. In Moscow Region, the amounts vary from 100 to 1500 rubles. With repeated violations, the responsibility increases, and with multiple violations, the pet may be seized.

You can complain about stray animals to local self-government bodies: they deal with capturing and sterilizing.

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

The noise law will protect you: noise from renovation work and construction equipment is allowed only at specific times.

For example, in Moscow Region, noise is allowed:

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

What if neighbors love noisy parties with fireworks?

For such cases, restrictions are also provided. 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 the week.

You can file a complaint to the police or call the local officer 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 the local administration and the police. If necessary, repeat this and only then go to court.

It's fastest to resolve such issues if the construction is not yet completed. An unlawful structure can, according to a court decision, be kept if it does not threaten life or property of neighbors.

Neighbors climbed over the fence onto your territory

1. Call a cadastral engineer who will mark boundaries according to data from Rosreestr. It is advisable to do this in the presence of neighbors.
2. If the dispute continues, commission a land surveying expert assessment, also inviting neighbors. Perhaps, at this stage, it's possible to resolve the issue amicably.
3. If negotiation fails, go to court.

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

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

Document the violation and write a complaint to the police.

Neighbors constantly complain

For example, about the shadow from birches falling onto their plot, roots of birches preventing them from tilling the garden, or birch pollen causing allergies in their grandson. Are such complaints legal?

First, ensure that the complaints are justified. If your trees prevent neighbors from fully using their plot, they have the right to go to court.

According to SNIP standards, the distance from tall trees to a fence should be at least 4 meters. Branches casting large shadows on neighboring plots should be trimmed.

If possible, try to resolve the conflict amicably. Because neighbors are long-term, and you may have to live next to them for years.