Boundary disputes are usually stressful, time-consuming, costly and create significant issues between neighbours.
Boundary Mediation specialises in helping property owners, neighbours, developers, and professionals find fast, fair, and amicable solutions to boundary disputes, and other neighbourly and property disagreements.
Why Mediation?
Save Money
Mediation is significantly cheaper than going to court.
Quicker Resolutions
Reach an agreement in days or weeks, not months or years.
Confidential & Flexible
A private, flexible process where solutions are controlled by you and can be tailored to your unique situation.
Maintain Relationships
Mediation fosters cooperation and understanding, preserving (or improving) valuable neighbourly relationships.
Boundary Mediation is led by Jack Norton, an experienced Chartered Surveyor and CEDR Accredited Mediator, specialising boundary disputes and neighbourly matters.
Jack partnered with Andrew Schofield in 2015 to grow Schofield Surveyors, where he remains as a Director. As a surveyor, he regularly acts as an expert on boundary and Party Wall etc. Act disputes as well as advising developers and private clients on a consultancy basis. He is a member of the RICS Boundaries and Party Walls Panel Working Groups, contributing as a co-author to the RICS Professional Standards on both Party Wall Legislation, and ‘Boundaries: procedures for boundary identification, demarcation and dispute resolution’.
As a mediator, Jack combines his surveying acumen with dispute resolution skills, providing mediation services for a range of property disputes. He is a registered mediator with the Civil Mediation Council, an ADR Official with CEDR, and a listed mediator on the RICS and Property Litigation Association Disputes Mediation Service, and the Party Wall Mediation Scheme.
As a mediator, Jack’s approach is friendly, calm, inquisitive, and he focuses on trying to understand the underlying interests of the parties. His technical expertise allows for robust testing of positions, and assists parties in finding practical and workable solutions. He is determined and does not give up.
Having seen numerous examples of litigation failing parties embroiled in boundary disputes, Boundary Mediation Ltd was established because of Jack’s belief that mediation provides parties with the best possible opportunity of settling disputes. Although primarily focused on boundary disputes, Jack is happy to mediate other property matters including:
Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (pre-award or when appealing an award)
Adverse possession
Rights of light
Rights of way and other easements
Access and oversail
Trespass
Dilapidations
Landlord and Tenant matters
Construction disputes
Recent Testimonials
Why Mediate?
When disputes arise between property owners, particularly over boundaries and neighbourly disagreements, emotions can run high, and tensions can escalate quickly. Litigating such disputes is incredibly costly, time-consuming, and can permanently damage relationships. Conversely, mediation offers a practical, effective, and less confrontational alternative.
Boundary disputes can arise over building works, fences, hedges, parking, rights of access, or unclear titles. These disagreements often involve both legal and surveying elements. With a mediator who understands both, parties can explore solutions that balance legal considerations with practicalities on the ground. Mediation can also involve site visits, enabling all parties to see the issues firsthand and explore realistic solutions.
The Benefits of Mediation
Cost Effective
Mediation is far less expensive than going to court. Legal fees, experts’ costs, and the potential financial risk of an adverse decision can quickly add up in litigation. Mediation offers more certainty and transparency on costs, helping you avoid escalating expenses.
Time Saving
Court proceedings can drag on for months or (often) years. Mediation, on the other hand, can often be arranged and concluded within weeks. This swift process helps you move on with your life sooner.
Confidential
Unlike court cases, which are often a matter of public record, mediation is entirely private. This allows both parties to discuss matters openly without fear of public scrutiny or setting legal precedents.
Control & Flexibility
Mediation is a voluntary process where you remain in control. Instead of having a judge make a binding decision, you and your neighbour have the opportunity to shape the outcome together. Solutions reached in mediation can be more creative and tailored to your specific situation. This is particularly relevant in the context of boundary disputes, when the underlying friction between neighbours is often nothing to do with the boundary being disputed.
Preserving Relationships
Boundary disputes often occur between neighbours who must continue to live or operate next to one another. Mediation fosters a less adversarial environment, promoting understanding and collaboration. Maintaining a personal or commercial relationships with your neighbour is often as important as resolving the dispute itself.
Practical Solutions
Jack is a surveyor in addition to a mediator. Having this practical knowledge and experience in boundary disputes brings valuable insights that help parties explore workable solutions. Unlike court judgments, which may only provide a legal answer, mediation can address the practical realities of living side by side.
Reduced Stress
The mediation process is designed to be less formal and more supportive than a courtroom setting. Many people find this approach significantly reduces the stress associated with resolving a dispute.
When Should You Consider Mediation?
When communication with your neighbour has broken down
When you want to avoid the financial and emotional costs of litigation
When you need a quicker resolution to get on with your life
When maintaining a working relationship with your neighbour is important
When you want to explore creative, mutually beneficial solutions
Next Steps
01. Agree to instruct Jack
All parties to the mediation need to agree upon the mediator’s selection. If you (lawyer or party) require Jack’s CV or have any questions concerning his suitability, please feel free to contact him directly.
02. Tailored Fixed Fee
A fee will be set which is designed to reflect the unique circumstances of your mediation. Factors such as the mediation venue and complexity of the case are considered to ensure fairness and relevance. Typically, mediation fees are shared equally between the parties.
A fee will be quoted for a day (up to eight hours) or half-day (up to four hours). Should the mediation exceed this timeframe, an additional hourly rate will apply.
To confirm your mediation date, payment is required in advance. This helps finalise arrangements and ensure a smooth mediation process.
The fixed fee includes all essential elements of the mediation process, such as:
Preparation time
Initial emails and phone calls to coordinate the mediation day
Administrative support to ensure all logistics are in place
03. Agreement to Mediate
A Mediation Agreement will be sent to the parties and their legal representatives, which dictates the rules for everyone involved in the mediation process. The Mediation Agreement needs to be signed by everyone in attendance, in advance of the mediation day.
04. Date, venue and logistics
The flexibility of the mediation process allows the mediation day to be conducted on site, (common for boundary disputes), or at a neutral venue, or online via Teams or Zoom. Jack can assist with selecting an appropriate forum and, if needed, can help organize a suitable neutral and convenient venue in London.
When legal advisors are involved, an agreed bundle of documents is often produced for the mediator in advance of the mediation day. In addition to any bundle, Jack will send a confidential questionnaire for the parties to complete and return to him.
