neighbour giving grief

janbabe

This is a bit long - sorry!!
Our neighbour has built a huge log cabin at the end of his garden, which is on a slope (upwards). It is now level with our bedroom window and overlooks our garden over the 6 foot fence that he actually put up ages ago!! It is a well built cabin, which is on a raised decking/veranda of about 28 inches. He has insulated it, and now put in a tv and stereo which as soon as the sun shines he has the door open and music on which we can hear in the garden and in the house! Now we don't mind some music and have had afternoons in the garden listening to his music mainly as we've had no choice!

We had a decking area in our garden (not overlooking anything) and a small summerhouse which we have always had (7 years) but now as soon as we go to sit out he turns the music up! :mad:

Also when they have friends over,if we happen to be in the bedroom getting changed - or even just walk in to the bedroom, I feel like I need to hug the wall to stay out of their sight!

I'll finally get to the point!!! is there some sort of law against building this with privacy etc. We didnt' even know he was doing it, he didn';t even say we came back from our hols and there it was!! It is a proper well built log cabin, though there are no foundations it definately isn't a tempory structure. He is very unapproachable, but i am going to go around later this week and try to see him to at least try and see if he can move his speakers so we don'tget blasted so much - but i won't hold my breath on that one. We havent said one word to him about the lack of privacy (not that he seems to care) but now even if we are already sat in the garden talking, having a drink,say when he comes home from work he storms into the cabin, turns up the music then slams back in doors!

It sounds funny but now its getting too much - just wondered if anyone has any ideas our rights or how to approach this. Had an estate agent in last week to value the house as I said to my hubby I'd have to move if it carried on - but agent said the cabin and its postition may affect a sell.

Spoke to planning enforcement and they want it all in writing before they come to inspect, even though all we want is someone to come out and have a quick look from our house to tell us if we have a case or not - not send letters to next door as well!!

thanks for reading!

lincroft1710

The most likely law that could have been broken is planning law, did the cabin need planning permission, but none was obtained, or does its position/size/ construction not conform with what is allowed.

olly300

Get in touch with your local council's planning office and ask them about building sheds and the like in gardens. There is a limit to the size and hight etc that you can build.

Once you have obtained all the information verbally put a formal complaint in to the council about the structure in writing with pictures, and make sure you send your letter recorded delivery to ensure the council knows they have to act.

pinkshoes

Try reading HERE

(it keeps coming up all funny when I try to paste the text in the forum!)

sunshinetours

Does the cabin have windows on the back then or is it facing your garden?

There are certain sizes (floor area) and height (4m I believe if an apex type roof) above which planning may be required. The fact that it is a raised structure may also be a planning issue but can;t remember what height it is.

Biggest piece of advice is be careful not to create a neighbour dispute if you are thinking of selling so be careful about getting council involved if you think you are likely to go the selling route. You certainly shouldn't be buillied out of your own house however

Its a shame these things have such a detrimnental effect on people own enjoyment, so hopefully you can talk and come to some arrangment maybe with trees or bushes at the end of you garden to get the privacy back, although if you choose to live on a hill you always have the risk of loss of privacy if somene lives higher than you

Good luck

tanith

I was also going to say if you are thinking of selling then you don't want a neighbour dispute as you will have divulge that to potential buyers... but having said that you shouldn't have to put up with it, I don't know what the answer is but we did have a noisy neighbour and made great progress by being friendly with him, he now always warns us if he is having a BBQ with music and I feel able to speak to him nicely if he gets out of hand with the dog or music.. :j

janbabe

Thanks for your replies. I will try and catch him to speak to this week I hope but I'm prepared for the worst!

We've always tried to stay friendly, but he will get on and do what he wants regardless.

The total height of the cabin from the ground to the roof is about 11 or 12 ft could be bit more as he dug out the top of his garden to make it level then built it up at the front by using decking thats about 28 inches high. The cabin is on this with a verandah they sit on - level with our bedroom window. There are windows in there facing our house. It just doesnt seem right somehow. I know we don't want to get council involved in case we want to sell. Horrid situation.

eileenfromplaistow

Seems to me, the cabin itself will put off potential buyers, never mind a dispute! At least if you contact the Council there might be some hope that it proves at least to have broken a planning law.

Pitlanepiglet

If it's a leisure building then it's probably OK within the permitted development regulations. We've just built a huge shed in our garden (tucked in to the hedge so not affecting anyone else) and that doesn't require consent as long as it's only a leisure building and it isn't over a certain height from ground level to the eaves and doesn't cover more than 50% of their garden.

I'd ring the planning officer again and get them out, ours was on the doorstep within a couple of hours of our building starting because our neighbours complained (we have consent for an extension and they thought that we were building it in the wrong place :rolleyes: )

Google GPDO and see what you come up with.

The noise is a nuisance issue so talk to the environmental health officer.

mwahaha

The permitted development rules on 'sheds' changed fairly recently. If at any point the eaves are above 2.5m above ground level I think he'll need planning permission, sounds like the front where he's built it up to level the ground is. They're even harsher if you're within 2m of the boundary. Like others have said, seems like a call to your local planning dept. may be in order.

michaelkav36

from the sounds of it he has not got permission, if he had you would have recievced a letter from the council asking if you objected to the development, also some councils put small signs up on the lamposts outside the property with the planning letter on. Even if it is a shed, new planning laws restrics the size and location of such a building.

Think carefully about if you report them, the council will check an require them to get planning permission which will probably be refused and require them to demolish the building (which has probably cost alot of money). Although this is their fault do you want an angry neighbour when selling? Could you possibly ask them to frost the window so they cant overlook you, stating that you are being civil and you could actually get it knocked down if they dont?

If this is that bad, report them because it may effect your sale, but remember the above if it isnt.