How do I get my neighbor to pay for the repair costs?

Questioner

There was a problem with the sewerage. Shared rainwater drainage and connection of sewers of my house and the neighboring property. The owner of the neighboring property, which has been empty for years, has verbally agreed to pay his share of the costs. After I sent him the bill, with a clear breakdown of the costs, he indicated that he found it too expensive. Since then he has not responded to anything and the payment has still not been received. It concerns almost €1000. Can I hire a debt collection agency for this or do I have to hire a lawyer? The costs for the lawyer are approximately equal to the amount owed, so in the end it would not benefit me.

Lawyer

In this case, a debt collection agency will not always lead to a solution. If the claim is disputed by the neighbor, a debt collection agency usually has to stop its work and the amount the neighbor has to pay must first be determined in court. There are a number of ways to approach the case. Sometimes it helps if someone receives an official letter from a lawyer and it does not have to come to a trial. If a case is won, the judge can issue a procedural costs award. The lawyer's costs are then covered. In addition, a lawyer can (partially) handle a case on a 'no cure no pay' basis. This means that (partially) only has to be paid if the case is won. If you require legal assistance, please feel free to contact me to discuss the matter.