Property boundary disputes often occur in businesses. Issues like fence encroachments or easement confusion can arise. These conflicts can grow and affect your business, so it could help you look at ways to solve these issues calmly and effectively.
What are the common causes of boundary disputes between commercial neighbors?
Boundary disputes can happen in different ways, often due to unclear or old property descriptions. Some common causes include:
- Inaccurate surveys: Mistakes in original or later surveys can cause boundary line errors.
- Missing or damaged markers: Faded, removed, or broken boundary markers can confuse property limits.
- Adverse possession claims: Someone using part of your property openly and continuously for a set time, which is 10 years in Arizona, could claim legal ownership without your knowledge.
- Easement disputes: Fights about the location, scope, or use of easements, like rights to use another’s property for a specific reason, can cause conflict.
Ignoring these issues early on often leads to more significant problems later.
How can you resolve these disputes?
Solving boundary disputes requires clear communication, strong negotiation skills, and legal knowledge. Here are some steps to start resolving your neighbor’s commercial disputes.
- Open communication: Start a talk with your neighbor to discuss the issue and find common ground.
- Mediation: If direct talks fail, a neutral third-party mediator can help communicate and reach a solution everyone agrees on.
- Legal action: When other methods do not work, seeking legal help might become necessary. This could involve filing a quiet title action to clarify ownership or pursuing litigation to enforce your property rights.
When there is a boundary dispute, staying calm and planning wisely is essential. By knowing the laws and ways to solve the issue, business neighbors can aim for a peaceful solution. As one of the suggestions for resolving any dispute, especially in business, getting help from a lawyer can provide helpful advice and support so you can carry on with your business growth.