NSW Who is responsible for retaining wall repair if it lies on one person's land?

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ROBBIE12

Active Member
17 July 2021
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A retaining wall exists between myself and neighbor and is structurally failled. It supports the dirt on their high side. It is 1 cm from the boundary line and the wall lies on my side. A boundary fence is on top, not directly attached. My neighbor says that as the wall is on my side that I am responsible for building and cost. Is that true? Is there law that guides who is responsible?
 

Rod

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27 May 2014
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Generally the property that changed levels is responsible. Check with your council as to which property altered the land level.

A 1cm gap from the wall to the boundary may simply be an error.
 

ROBBIE12

Active Member
17 July 2021
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31
Thanks for the reply. I have checked with council and there are no records. None. Not even a prior survey. The 1cm gap is correct, as both I and neighbor had surveys done recently that confirm this.

I guess some court in the end has to adjudicate, as you say, regarding who likely changed the soil levels.
 

Rod

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I was not disputing the current surveys, I was suggesting that whoever put in the retaining wall may have meant to place it on the boundary but didn't.

Sucks having no council records.

Options:

1. Do nothing, leaving wall and fence as is
2. Agree on a split
3. Do the work and pay for it, then seek a contribution from the neighbour
4. Go to court first.

Maybe check with the historical society to see if they have any photographs of the area. Or check with former owners.