Lack of privacy due to neighbour's extension - anything we can do?

nickig

Next door neighbours have built an extension that is just about small enough that they didn't need planning permission. However on the side of the extension that faces into our garden they have put a giant window. It goes up way above the wall in between us.The angle of the build means that when we are in our sitting room we are looking straight into their kitchen. The window also directly overlooks our patio area, meaning we have no privacy there. We have been neighbours for a long time and have always had a good realtionship- split building of walls between houses etc.My dad went in to speak to them before the window was put in, but basically got told to sod off and that there was nothing he could do. My parents are now looking at adding on to our living room in order to regain some privacy (within size limits- no planning needed), but have been warned that the neighbours could block it as it would interfere with the light going into this giant window and their patio doors. Is there anything else they can do if this happens?

Phill Ewinn

Put up a trestle, some climbing plants. Be grand.

ted1

how close to your existing windows is thre new window? the regulations don't just say that once its under 40m2 your grand, you also need to have x amount of gardem left and that windows can't be put within x distance of existing windows on neighbouring properties.

thegreatiam

walk around naked at meal times. they will regret such a big kitchen view soon enough

Shedite27

We have a problem like that too. 2 identical houses next to each other, neighbours built an extension that has no impact on our current house. However, we can't build any extension now that won't negatively impact their house with the extension.

Means nothing at present, but if we ever want to build an extension I'm sure they'd have huge complaints. Are there any rules that say anything like "if one neighbour builds x it automatically means the next house can too?

Kevo

You could get a large, fast growing plant and place it beneath the window in your garden. When they complain that it's blocking their window tell them to "sod off". It will piss them off but at least you get your privacy back.

Cuddlesworth

nickig wrote: »

but have been warned that the neighbors could block it as it would interfere with the light going into this giant window and their patio doors. Is there anything else they can do if this happens?

No entitlement to light within reason.

camphor

nickig wrote: »

Next door neighbours have built an extension that is just about small enough that they didn't need planning permission. However on the side of the extension that faces into our garden they have put a giant window. It goes up way above the wall in between us.The angle of the build means that when we are in our sitting room we are looking straight into their kitchen. The window also directly overlooks our patio area, meaning we have no privacy there. We have been neighbours for a long time and have always had a good realtionship- split building of walls between houses etc.My dad went in to speak to them before the window was put in, but basically got told to sod off and that there was nothing he could do. My parents are now looking at adding on to our living room in order to regain some privacy (within size limits- no planning needed), but have been warned that the neighbours could block it as it would interfere with the light going into this giant window and their patio doors. Is there anything else they can do if this happens?

It may still not be exempt from planning permission. Windows in an extension must be more than 1m from the boundary.
Part 1 of Planning Regulations 2001 - 438kb
SCHEDULE 2
Article 6
PART 1
Exempted Development — General
6. (a) Any window proposed at ground
level in any such extension shall not be
less than 1 metre from the boundary it
faces.

runawaybishop

nickig wrote: »

but have been warned that the neighbours could block it as it would interfere with the light going into this giant window and their patio doors. Is there anything else they can do if this happens?

Warned by who?

Extend your boundary wall to 6 feet, if it is not already that.

djimi

Kevo wrote: »

You could get a large, fast growing plant and place it beneath the window in your garden. When they complain that it's blocking their window tell them to "sod off". It will piss them off but at least you get your privacy back.

Is what Id be doing in the short term.

Id also be contacting the planning department because I fail to believe that what they have done is legal.

runawaybishop

djimi wrote: »

Is what Id be doing in the short term.

Id also be contacting the planning department because I fail to believe that what they have done is legal.

On the ground floor the windows have to be >1 meter away from the boundary - thats probably the first thing to check.

spockety

Have you got any photos? Is this a ground floor window and the houses are both level?

Sounds like your boundary wall isn't high enough, or is non existant?? Can't picture it...

The_Conductor

Kevo wrote: »

You could get a large, fast growing plant and place it beneath the window in your garden. When they complain that it's blocking their window tell them to "sod off". It will piss them off but at least you get your privacy back.

Leyland Cypress is good for this

ted1

runawaybishop wrote: »

On the ground floor the windows have to be >1 meter away from the boundary - thats probably the first thing to check.

they also need to ensure that the garden is kept bigger than 25m2

Victor

The city/county Development Plan will likely have minimum standards for opposing windows.

Victor

Moved from Accommodation & Property

Moderator

sydthebeat

Assuming your sitting room and their kitchen is on the ground floor, then this isn't an issue. A boundary can be erected up to 2.0m without permission.

It begs the question, why isn't there a proper boundary there already?