Adjoining Property Owners

Also known as adjoining landowners or abutting owners, adjoining owners are property owners whose property touches a common property. The definition of adjoining property owners is those individuals that own a property that shares a common boundary with one or more properties that are owned by another individual. These owners share a common boundary between their properties, which could be a wall that is a part of the structure of the building or a fence that limits the two yards.

So you are an adjoining property owner with the owners of the properties directly to your right, left, and back of your property if they touch yours. The properties are called adjoining properties because of this. But not to the owner of the property in front of your house, as it will have a road between them, separating one property from the other. The road is not a boundary for any of the two properties. An adjoining property can be a detached family house that shares a fence with the property next to it. Adjoined properties can also be two properties that share a wall from the structure of the houses, like mirrored homes or duplexes.

But what does that mean, being an adjoining property owner? 

But what does that mean, being an adjoining property owner? Being an adjoining owner means that, aside from owning a property that shares a common boundary with another property, those shared borders also share rights, duties, and liabilities. Both of the adjoining owners are expected to share the use of the common boundary in manners that would not affect the other owner, inflict upon their rights or affect the boundary itself to the best of their abilities.

The adjoining owners’ rights and obligations of adjoining property owners underline a reasonable use of the boundary without interfering with the rights of the other adjoining owners or their property. These interferences can be concerning noises, changes in the construction, visual effect on the owner’s private property. The adjoining owners’ rights are stipulated in the abutter’s rights.

For example: 

Adjoining property owners have a legal right – called abutter’s rights - to be notified when a zoning variance or change in licensing in the common property is being formally considered. The term adjoining owners was coined precisely to make sure both adjoining owners know they have responsibilities to its direct neighbors once construction and real estate development is done so close to another property.

Real Estate Tip:

A real estate agent can guide you through the best strategies when dealing with adjoining owners; find one now!