When you purchase property, it is likely that you have an intended use in mind for the land. What some property buyers do not realize is that the actions of other property owners can affect their own interests. You may be surprised to learn that your neighbor can negatively impact you without ever stepping on your property. It will be beneficial to understand your property rights.
There are times when the actions of one property owner affect the adjacent property owner. Whether it is by physically crossing the boundary lines in some manner or simply by taking actions that negatively impact other owners, the affected owner may have the law on his or her side. The legal concept of nuisance and trespass means that there could be grounds to take legal action to protect property values in these situations.
Different ways to violate property rights
You have likely heard of the concept of trespassing. This is a physical invasion of another person’s property, and it can include anything from violating boundary lines to intentionally crossing onto your property to cause harm to it through vandalism, dumping, setting fire to it and more. The concept of nuisance applies to situations in which a property owner does things to harm the property value of a neighbor. An example of this is a neighbor who allows trash to build up in his or her yard or stores junk cars in the yard. While this is not on your Georgia property, it is still an eyesore.
You may feel like there is nothing you can do about a nuisance, but that is not the case. Even if a neighboring property owner never crosses into your yard, his or her actions could still affect your enjoyment of your property or the value of your property. Nuisance laws apply in private property cases, as well as in situations involving public or commercial property.
What are your legal options?
The legal options available to you will depend on the details of the individual situation. If you believe that you may have grounds to pursue legal recourse over trespass or nuisance issues, it may be helpful to seek an assessment of your specific case. The issues involved with these types of cases go beyond the dollar amount that your property is worth. You have the right to protect your property interests, the way you use your property and your enjoyment of it.