Letters To Serve Your Neighbours 

Mutual agreement 

The best way to erect a fence between adjoining properties is by mutual agreement between 

the owners. Even if this is possible you should still give notice in writing as described below. If 

you have given notice and agreement has been reached do not begin to erect the fence until 

you have reached agreement concerning payment. 

Where there is no agreement 

If there is no common approach or agreement, the following steps should be taken. It 

appears that Step 1 and Step 2 apply whether or not the adjoining land is vacant or has 

been built upon. 

Step 1 Notice 

Give Notice in writing to the owner of the adjoining land. If the land is vacant you can find out 

the owner's name at the Land Titles Office. Your Local Government may also, for a fee, be 

able to assist you. 

Notice must include: 

• where you want to have the fence built (draw a diagram) (If you are replacing an existing 

fence, ensure there is no dispute about the alignment); 

• when you want the fence and who in your view should build it; 

• the type of fence you want. 

If agreement is reached you can proceed, but whether agreement is reached or not, you 

should keep a copy of all correspondence and receipts. 

Sample Letter: 

Dear Neighbour, I propose to erect a dividing fence on the boundary line 

between our properties. I propose to erect a 1.8 metre fence in treated pine 

paling fencing. I have obtained a quote from All Day Fencing for $400.00. 

Your share will be $200.00. Please let me know within 21 days whether you 

agree with this proposal. 

Your Neighbour

Step 2 Court Action 

If the other owner does not agree within 21 days, you may apply to the nearest Court of 

Petty Sessions to decide the matter. 

That Court can decide: 

(a) whether the fence is necessary; 

(b) what type of fence should be built; 

(c) how long it should take to build it; 

(d) the rate of contribution if the fence is wholly on piece of land. 

Notice of this decision, if it is given to the other owner before the construction of the proposed 

fence, can the other owner to pay for half the value of the fence. The other owner has three 

months within which to with the agreement made (Step 1) or order which h made by the Court 

of Petty Sessions (Step 2) unless different period is agreed or ordered by the Court.

If after three months you have not received the other owner's contribution towards the cost of 

the fence, you may erect the fence, and recover half of its costs by applying to the Local 

Court and issuing a Summons for Debt. 

There is no appeal from a Court of Petty Sessions' decision. 

What to do if you cannot find the owner of the adjoining land 

If you are unable to give the necessary Notice because you cannot find the owner of the 

adjoining land you may apply to the nearest Court of Petty Sessions and ask to proceed. 

If you can satisfy the Court of Petty Sessions that you have made reasonable enquires 

(eg you have done a search at the Department of Land Administration) but have been 

unable to find the owner, the Court may make an Order authorising you to construct the 

fence. 

You MUST give a copy of this Order to the Chief Executive Officer of your Local Government 

within 21 days. If you do not do this, you will not be able to recover any part of the 

costs from the other owner at a later date. 

If later you find the other owner (Whether or not that person was the other owner when the 

fence was constructed) you should give them a copy of the Court Order. (You, as the owner, 

may be presented with a copy of the Court Order when you purchase a property.) 

If the owner considers the Order is unjust they must apply to the Court of Petty Sessions 

within a month. If that other owner makes no application then after one month they will be 

liable to pay you half the cost of the fence, that is half the cost of the fences value at the time 

you gave him or her a copy of the Order. 

What happens if you erect a fence without giving notice or 

reaching agreement with the other owner? 

In that case you cannot recover any of the costs from the other owner unless or until the other 

owner: 

(a) has constructed or constructs a substantial building or structure on the land; or 

(b) has occupied or occupies a building or structure already on the land; 

(c) had permitted or permits some other person lawfully to occupy a building or 

structure already on the land. 

If any of the above conditions are satisfied, you may give the other owner a notice claiming 

half the estimated value of the fence at date of claim. The claim for contribution from the other 

owner exists whether or not they were the owners when the fence was constructed. Only the 

current owner who actually built the fence can claim a contribution from the other owner. 

Sample Letter: 

Dear Neighbour, I am writing to you about the dividing fence between our 

properties. I had the fence built six months ago. The cost was $400.00. 

Enclosed is a copy of the invoice we received from All Day Fencing. I would 

like to discuss arrangements for payment of your share of the fence, which is 

$200.00.If you do not agree with this please advises me in writing within one 

month. 

Your Neighbour.

If the other owner gives you a notice of objection they may make a complaint to the Court of 

Petty Sessions nearest to where the fence is. Complaint Forms are available from the court. 

The Court will make a decision in the dispute. The Court's decision is final with no right of 

appeals. 

If within one month of receiving your Notice of Claim the other owner does not pay the 

amount of the claim or give notice that they dispute your claim, then they will be liable to pay. 

You may then recover the sum by applying to the Local Court. 

Repair of Dividing Fences 

The ordinary rule is that when a dividing fence is in need of repair the owners of the land on 

either side are each liable to pay half the cost of those repairs. 

The Act defines the word "repair" as including "re-erect and realign" so the provisions which 

deal with repairing a dividing fence apply in the same way to fences which need realignment 

or re-erection. 

If you wish to have a dividing fence repaired, you must give the other owner a notice 

describing the repairs to be made, saying where and stating that you are prepared: 

(a) to repair the fence and pay half the cost if the other owner will also pay half the 

cost; 

(b) that you permit the other owner to repair the fence and you will pay half the cost; 

or 

(c) that you agree to pay half the cost of having the fence repaired by a third party. 

Sample Letter: 

Dear Neighbour 

The fence dividing our properties is in need of repair because a number of 

pickets are missing (or, three of the timber posts have broken, etc.). I propose 

that we have All Day Fencing, Fencing Contractors do the work and that we 

share the cost equally. I have obtained a quote for the work for $120.00. A 

copy of the quote is enclosed. Please let me know within 14 days whether 

you agree with this proposal. 

Your Neighbour. 

The other owner then has 14 days within which to object. They must notify you in writing of 

the objection. If the other owner objects you may apply to the nearest Court of Petty Sessions 

for an Order. If the other owner does not object within 14 days, you may repair the fence and 

you will be able to recover half the cost of repairs from the other owner. Both owners must 

allow access to enable the fence to be repaired and must also allow for the clearing of the 

fence line. If the other owner does not agree to pay you must take action in the Local Court to 

enforce payment. 

Landlord and Tenant 

As a tenant you do not have to pay for the cost of construction or repair of a dividing fence 

unless the term of the lease is for a period of five years or more.

Strata Titles 

Where adjoining land is owned under a strata title, a claim against the owners for their 

contribution may be made. 

Who owns the land may vary. The owners may be: 

• the strata company, or 

• another person, depending on the nature of the strata scheme, the by-laws of the 

strata company and whether a person has lodged a notice for recording on the 

strata/survey plan with the Registrar of Titles in accordance with section 123A (3) of 

the Strata Titles Act 1985. 

To find out who to claim a contribution from: 

• the name of the Strata Company can be obtained from Department of Land 

Administration, Land Titles 

Division and will be "the owners of (name of the building)" and the number of the 

strata plan. 

• information about the type of strata scheme, the by-laws of the strata company and 

whether a notice has been recorded on the strata/survey-strata plan can be obtained 

from the Department of Land Administration, Land Titles Division. 

Once you have this information you should seek legal advice before making any claim for 

contribution. 

Notices 

Notices must be: 

(1) in writing; 

(2) each notice must be served by either; 

(a) delivering it in person, or 

(b) sending it by registered mail addressed to the person's usual or last 

known place of residence. 

If the notice is to be given to a company it may be served by – 

(a) delivering it to the head office of the company in the State in which the company is 

incorporated; or 

(b) sending it by registered mail to the company's principal office. 

Legal Advice 

Before taking any steps, which involve significant cost, and before commencing legal 

proceedings, you should get legal advice from the relevant service in your state.

If you are searching for Orange Oil to kill termites, you are in the right place. Short answer, yes, orange oil does kill termites.  See more for details and conclusion. 

Although orange peel shavings can be used to flavor foods and small doses of the oil from the orange peel is said to convey health benefits, large amounts of the oil can cause vomiting and nausea in humans. Such negative effects are even greater when the orange oil is used against insect pests. Orange oil can be deadly to many insects, including cockroaches, ants, dust mites, flies, wasps, spiders, crickets, and, perhaps most importantly, termites.

What Is Orange Oil?

Even though it smells strongly of citrus, orange oil is not fruit juice but is instead an extract from orange peels, a substance that is insoluble in water.

Orange Oil as a Termiticide

During the 1930s, California researchers began injecting arsenic into active infestations of dry wood termites, selecting it because termites not killed by the initial application usually succumbed to toxic residues. Arsenic was a very effective pesticide. But the toxic residue of a powerful poison also poses a notable danger to other animals, including humans, so alternative methods of combatting termites have long been sought. Today, orange oil as a natural product is increasingly marketed as a herbicide and insecticide, with particular effectiveness against dry wood termites. So, what is this wonder product and how does it kill termites?

The active ingredient of orange oil is d-limonene, a chemical known to be both a weed killer and an effective insecticide against a variety of pests, including flies, mosquitoes, ants, crickets, and mites. Scientists say that the oil dissolves the termite's exoskeleton, which destroys the insect's cell membranes and kills the bug due to massive losses of water and protein.1

Inspect, Inject, and Inspect Again

The mode of treatment once a dry wood termite colony has been found is to drill holes into the infested wood and to inject the orange oil into the hollow spaces where the termites are feeding. The treatment works best if the insect galleries are identified and treated. Studies show that some residual effects continue in varying degrees from three days to three weeks after direct injection.

The majority of termites are killed by direct contact, and since orange oil deters the termites from feeding, some of them will then starve. After the treatment, the home or business owner should periodically check for signs of a new infestation. Trained termite-sniffing dogs have been very effective in sniffing out new or previously undetected termite colonies. Orange oil treatment is typically not preventative but must be applied each time a new infestation is discovered.

Orange Oil as a Termiticide

During the 1930s, California researchers began injecting arsenic into active infestations of dry wood termites, selecting it because termites not killed by the initial application usually succumbed to toxic residues. Arsenic was a very effective pesticide. But the toxic residue of a powerful poison also poses a notable danger to other animals, including humans, so alternative methods of combatting termites have long been sought. Today, orange oil as a natural product is increasingly marketed as a herbicide and insecticide, with particular effectiveness against dry wood termites. So, what is this wonder product and how does it kill termites?

The active ingredient of orange oil is d-limonene, a chemical known to be both a weed killer and an effective insecticide against a variety of pests, including flies, mosquitoes, ants, crickets, and mites. Scientists say that the oil dissolves the termite's exoskeleton, which destroys the insect's cell membranes and kills the bug due to massive losses of water and protein.1

Inspect, Inject, and Inspect Again

The mode of treatment once a dry wood termite colony has been found is to drill holes into the infested wood and to inject the orange oil into the hollow spaces where the termites are feeding. The treatment works best if the insect galleries are identified and treated. Studies show that some residual effects continue in varying degrees from three days to three weeks after direct injection.

The majority of termites are killed by direct contact, and since orange oil deters the termites from feeding, some of them will then starve. After the treatment, the home or business owner should periodically check for signs of a new infestation. Trained termite-sniffing dogs have been very effective in sniffing out new or previously undetected termite colonies. Orange oil treatment is typically not preventative but must be applied each time a new infestation is discovered.

Limitations of Orange Oil as a Termiticide

There is an obvious appeal to using orange oil against dry wood termites since it is a much less toxic substance that the original arsenic used to combat the insects, or than the favorite modern chemicals, such as fipronil, imidacloprid, and hexaflumuron. But orange oil is not a do-all, end-all panacea against termites, and it has several drawbacks:

Orange oil is not completely safe since it can cause stomach upset if ingested and irritation to skin.

Its efficacy against termites is debated by some sources. For example, the Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California states, "There are many localized [drywood termite] treatment methods available that include both chemical and nonchemical options. ... Botanical-based products (e.g., orange oil and neem oil) have been tried, but recent lab and field tests from two universities question the efficacy of at least d-limonene."

While orange oil does seem to kill termites on contact, its residual effectiveness is minimal. Repeated applications are the norm when using orange oil.

Termite galleries must be located and drilled into in order to inject the oil. Commercial fumigation, on the other hand, can kill termites throughout the house. The boreholes used to inject the oil can also leave a substantial amount of patching to be done.

CONCLUSION

As a minimally toxic pesticide, orange oil is worth trying as a solution against dry wood termites. But expect a somewhat lower level of effectiveness when compared to other commercial pesticides and pest control services, and be prepared for repeated applications as new infestations occur.

• While orange oil does seem to kill termites on contact, its residual effectiveness is minimal. Repeated applications are the norm when using orange oil.
• Termite galleries must be located and drilled into in order to inject the oil. Commercial fumigation, on the other hand, can kill termites throughout the house. The boreholes used to inject the oil can also leave a substantial amount of patching to be done.

The Bottom Line

As a minimally toxic pesticide, orange oil is worth trying as a solution against dry wood termites. But expect a somewhat lower level of effectiveness when compared to other commercial pesticides and pest control services, and be prepared for repeated applications as new infestations occur.