Neighbours & co-ownership
Nuisances, party walls, planting distances, easements, co-ownership works.
Ask a free question →French neighbour law governs relations between neighbouring owners and occupiers: abnormal nuisances (noise, smells), party walls and fences, planting distances, easements, and decisions and works in co-ownership (*copropriété*).
Living side by side means balancing each person's right to use their property against respect for others' peace and quiet. An abnormal neighbourhood nuisance — excessive noise, encroachment, disturbances — can make its author liable.
Many disputes are settled amicably or with a conciliateur de justice before any trial. In co-ownership, works and decisions follow precise voting rules. Our articles detail party walls, tree-trimming, easements and the available remedies.
All articles: neighbours & co-ownership
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Read →Mitoyenneté (joint ownership of a boundary structure) is a form of co-ownership concerning fences, walls, or d…
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Read →Frequently asked questions
What can I do about a noisy neighbour?
Start with a conversation, then a letter. In case of a disturbance, a report (police, *commissaire de justice*) can be drawn up. An abnormal neighbourhood nuisance can give rise to compensation before the court.
Who maintains a party wall?
A party wall belongs to both neighbours, who share its upkeep and repair costs in proportion to their rights. Precise rules govern its construction and raising.
Can I make my neighbour trim their trees?
Yes. If branches overhang your land, you can require the neighbour to cut them. You may not do it yourself, but you have the right to cut roots that encroach.
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