Disputes between neighbours can arise over a number of issues and in a number of situations, ranging from arguments about the exact position of boundaries to complaints about noisy children. They can involve the owners and tenants of houses, flats and home units. Disputes between neighbours in strata title units can often be resolved at meetings of the owners. There are many types of neighbours and many different kinds of neighbour disputes, but one thing they all have in common is that a polite but direct discussion about the matter can often resolve the problem. If a neighbour is doing something upsetting or unreasonable, the first thing to do is to talk about it early (before becoming angry), directly (so that there is no misunderstanding), and calmly and politely (because neighbours still have to live next door, or very close, to one another).

If this does not help and the problem continues, the next step is to try to resolve the dispute through mediation at the Community Mediation Service. Mediators can often help disputing neighbours to reach an agreement and so avoid the greater problems they would face if the dispute turns into a legal battle. For more information about mediation services and how they function, see the legal system.

If a solution cannot be reached by negotiation and the problem cannot be ignored, legal action may be appropriate as a last resort. Civil actions between neighbours based on nuisance, trespass or the Fences Act 1975 , as well as monetary claims for less than $6000, are generally dealt with in the Minor Civil Actions (small claims) jurisdiction of the Magistrates Court.