Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Iowa

Seven years ago, we installed a pool in our back yard along with a privacy fence. All neighbors were fine with the fence except for our neighbor directly behind us. She wanted to keep her chain link fence up and told us that some of the land, small strip, was actually hers as this was once an alleyway the city owned but has assessed the land to the home owners that have direct contact with it. This is true, which we did not know at the time as we were maintaining the land piece as if it was ours. We proceeded to install the fence allowing her half of the alleyway and ours but we had to encroach on our property an additional 18 inches the width of our lot because there is a power line and we must be 18� from the power line. Fast-forward to today. I noticed that my neighbor removed her chain-link fence and has a temporary swing gate that goes from her corer fence post to ours. What legal action, if any, do I have if she proceeds to use my land and hook to my fence without my permission? I would work with anyone that is reasonable but this woman is nuts to say the least. Thank you.


Asked on 8/15/15, 1:13 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Stephen Lombardi Lombardi Law Firm

Before you do anything have the lot line surveyed. And have the survey crew drive steel pins with yellow caps into the ground. Then there is no question about which land is yours. Without the survey pins in place it is all just a guess.

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Answered on 10/23/15, 7:55 pm


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