In most cases we are quite happy to let our neighbours continue on as they please as long as they extend the same courtesy to us.But when do their decisions start affecting other peoples standard of living and property values?
In South Africa ,according to the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act 103 of 1977, a homeowner can object to the proposed building plans of a neighbour.People with beachfront properties are all to familiar with even more developments being built directly in their line of sight of the ocean.There are also instances where property owners lose their beloved mountain view when neighbours build multi-storey properties that block the view.
Most people realise that beachfront properties and the like get a great deal of their value by having a clear unobstructed view of something that people enjoy looking at.Needless to say that if something is then built that impairs this view the property’s value would almost certainly suffer.
Of course the point of contention may be something more tangible than just the view from your living room window.There are many things people feel will detract value from their property or neighbourhood and if you are aware a neighbour of yours has the intent to build something of this nature investigate your legal rights in this regard.
There is usually a way to settle these differences in an amicable manner and it is of course always better to follow the law in any kind of dispute.Perhaps there is some kind of arrangement both parties can agree upon.
As land in the cities and their suburbs becomes more sought after and expensive neighbourhoods are probably going to change quite a bit as the years pass and not all these changes are going to make people happy.
So in conclusion if you are concerned about something like this affecting you and your home contact a property litigator that will be able to investigate the matter and inform you of the steps to follow.
