Neighbours

LegacyUser

Hi,
Going unregged for this one. The long and short of this problem is that I live in the suburbs with neighbours on either side of my house. Our neighbours on one side (detached house) have about a million lights in their back garden - your standard garden lights all around their garden and a really bright light on one side of their garden and it's facing our house. They leave them on at very irregular times - sometimes they're on all day and night, and sometimes they're on in the evening and switched off at about half 11 or 12 at night, seems to vary tho. The really bright light is facing our house and even the neighbours further up the road are complaining about it. Pretty irritating if it's on all night.

These people never seem to be in their house a lot - sometimes they're there and sometimes they're not. They have another house somewhere else and they seem to spend a lot of time there. I'm guessing they have the lights for security cos the front of their house is all lit up too and there's a few cameras.

Not only are the lights irritating, but the last few winters since they've been leaving them on, the birds have started singing at night, which is really strange and really annoying. These neighbours also have barking dogs too. I guess it doesn't bother them too much cos they're not there all the time but I think they have a housekeeper there the rest of the time.

I would complain to them, only we've had to complain to them about a number of things already (barking dogs, other issues etc.) and they haven't been the most forthcoming.
So my questions are:
Do you need planning permission to have millions of bright lights in your back garden?
Can you have such lights on all night in the suburbs?
Any other advice?

Thanks in advance folks, I know it seems stupid but I'm doing exams this time of year and between the lights and the birds and the odd barking dog I'm losing a bit of sleep.

SarahSassy

Buy ear plugs!!!

Alternatively, you can ask St Patrick to come back and take the birds and dogs away from Ireland.

IRISH RAIL

I know the answer to this
it is illegal to have a security light shining onto someone elses property as it is seen as a nusiance
get in touch with the council and they will send an inspector out to have a look and make an assesment not too sure which department though

spinandscribble

close the blinds...

Marksie

constructive posts please

the_syco

OP: get blackout curtains. My mum got some for me, as a neighbours "back yard" light from the next road would, at times, illuminate my room (even with my curtains closed). These curtains are the stuff used in WW2 to stop light getting out. They are f**king excellent. 12 noon, on a bright sunny day, my room would be still pretty dark.

You'll have to search for them, though.

As for the dogs, throw over a football every few days. It'll keep the dogs occupied.

cowzerp

because i dont want to be banned im not going to recommend you shoot the lights out with a bb gun!! or you could cover the windows at night and maybe stop nit picking, dogs bark, birds sing etc..

dame

the_syco wrote: »

OP: get blackout curtains. My mum got some for me, as a neighbours "back yard" light from the next road would, at times, illuminate my room (even with my curtains closed). These curtains are the stuff used in WW2 to stop light getting out. They are f**king excellent. 12 noon, on a bright sunny day, my room would be still pretty dark.

You'll have to search for them, though.

As for the dogs, throw over a football every few days. It'll keep the dogs occupied.

Yep, get black-out curtains. You can buy black-out lining and put it onto the curtains you already have. By the way, they're great insulation too!

No harm getting on to the council too, like IRISH RAIL said.

l3LoWnA

AngryPerson wrote: »

Hi,
Going unregged for this one. The long and short of this problem is that I live in the suburbs with neighbours on either side of my house. Our neighbours on one side (detached house) have about a million lights in their back garden - your standard garden lights all around their garden and a really bright light on one side of their garden and it's facing our house. They leave them on at very irregular times - sometimes they're on all day and night, and sometimes they're on in the evening and switched off at about half 11 or 12 at night, seems to vary tho. The really bright light is facing our house and even the neighbours further up the road are complaining about it. Pretty irritating if it's on all night.

These people never seem to be in their house a lot - sometimes they're there and sometimes they're not. They have another house somewhere else and they seem to spend a lot of time there. I'm guessing they have the lights for security cos the front of their house is all lit up too and there's a few cameras.

Not only are the lights irritating, but the last few winters since they've been leaving them on, the birds have started singing at night, which is really strange and really annoying. These neighbours also have barking dogs too. I guess it doesn't bother them too much cos they're not there all the time but I think they have a housekeeper there the rest of the time.

I would complain to them, only we've had to complain to them about a number of things already (barking dogs, other issues etc.) and they haven't been the most forthcoming.
So my questions are:
Do you need planning permission to have millions of bright lights in your back garden?
Can you have such lights on all night in the suburbs?
Any other advice?

Thanks in advance folks, I know it seems stupid but I'm doing exams this time of year and between the lights and the birds and the odd barking dog I'm losing a bit of sleep.

If I were you, I'd approach them again, appoaching the council, who in turn will approach them, would probably pee them off a little more than you approaching them again. Just say what you've said here. They should have sensor lights is they had any cop-on/respect. They may not have any idea how much it's annoying you though.

As for the birds singing, I live in the country and the birds sing extremely early in the mornings (3 or 4) most of the year through - and there are no artificial lights...

Ps - not meaning to go off-topic, but shouldn't you be studying instead of posting on here complaining about your neighbours, seems like you're thinking way too much about the neighbours when you've exams at the moment...you'd have been quicker popping in to discuss the matter with them! (just a thought...)

(Wait until they put up the Christmas lights) :O

MugMugs

Gonna stick the link in but it might be taken out so here it is...

Build a big EMP Gun and electromagnetically black out their lights !

Sounds all very Star Trek !

Carrigart Exile

OP I have a very similar problem, people who face on to me have a back yard light that they clearly stole from a runway, shines clean through ordinary curtains. And you are spot on regarding the animals, I've seen the local squirrels basking in the light. Before going down the legal route is it worth just sticking a nice letter through the door asking if they could point the light more towards the ground

The Sweeper

Yeah, I agree with CE, before you do anything dramatic ask them to turn their lights away from your windows.

the suggestion re the football for the dogs by the way. If and when your neighbour calls around to return the ball, you can simply say "no, I bought it for your dogs, they bark a lot and they seemed bored to me, this way they're quieter".

tbh

Minesajackdaniels wrote: »

Yeah, I agree with CE, before you do anything dramatic ask them to turn their lights away from your windows.

the suggestion re the football for the dogs by the way. If and when your neighbour calls around to return the ball, you can simply say "no, I bought it for your dogs, they bark a lot and they seemed bored to me, this way they're quieter".

they don't sound like the type of neighbours who would be bothered returning a ball. OP, if you are worried about going to the cops or council, don't be. You've said that you tried to reason with them before and they were not responsive, so you owe them nothing, IMO. If you talk to the cops and they tell you there's nothing you can do, fair dues, buy the black-out curtains. But you shouldn't have to live like this and there are laws that can protect you, so you should use them.

The_Conductor

I did up a little document on noise pollution a while back- please find it attached here. Re: lights- not a whole lot you can- buy some thick curtains?

dodgyme

SarahSassy wrote: »

Buy ear plugs!!!

.

i really wish this would stop being the standard answer to ever issue someone has with neighbours????

MugMugs

dodgyme wrote: »

i really wish this would stop being the standard answer to ever issue someone has with neighbours????

I came up with the best one yet and no recognition !!!

None at all at all at all !!!

SarahSassy

AngryPerson wrote: »

I would complain to them, only we've had to complain to them about a number of things already

Hence my lack of 'respect' for the complaint. I get the impression they complain about everything and its a bit Irish when you complain about the neighbours causing the birds to sing..... Perleassseee

BTW I live in a built up area and people make noise.... They dont care if I am doing exams or have an important meeting the next morning... I have bought ear plugs so if I want to enture that I have a great nights sleep I use them... I would rather not have to use them but its my choice to live where I do... Its a practical solution as well..