Can i obscure a neighborss window?

nimbo

chamelious wrote: »

This is accurate. I plan to bring it up with the solicitor this week.

The boundary does seem to have an issue, i assume this is a relatively easy fix though, the windows/privacy are a bigger concern. Though as has been pointed out, the other neighbor has a conservatory too.

I don't think that there is always a quick / logical fix to boundary disputes... we'd probably all like to think there were but if you look on some of the MSE boards there are examples of crazy stories that cost people thousands...

StumpyPumpy

I strongly suspect there has been a critical misunderstanding/mistake by the OP which invalidates just about all the responses to this thread. Namely the opening statement that the house next door has had an extension done.

If it has, then it wasn't by the current owner, as it appears on the 1888-1913 OS map of the area graciously provided by the National Library of Scotland.
http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=19&lat=54.9244&lon=-2.9454&layers=6&b=1 (I assume this link will work, if not you'll have to search from http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore for the postcode and select the correct overlay maps.)

I think the OP should take a huge step back from the buying process and take a long hard look at what they may potentially getting themselves into. Judging by the OP's previous posts there seems to be a number of different issues with the property. Obviously, I would not tell them what to do, it is their money/life/house etc... but any one of the problems previously discovered would stop me from buying this house.

SP

Davesnave

chamelious wrote: »

By putting their windows where they are though, would they not expect a big fence or tree or something to be their eventual view?

You are making assumptions that the 'designer' of the extension was capable of thinking logically and considering all of eventualities.

However, one look at what they produced does suggest the above is unlikely.

The one thing none of us seems to know is whether they are the person(s) living there now. Edit: possibly answered above. Stumpy is wasted here; he/she should be out solving murders!

I know of a situation rather like this where the owner of the 'offending' windows, which are historic,has been content to renew them in obscure glass in return for the neighbour not blocking light with tall plants. That's worked for years, but it's not every situation where people can be sensible and agree a happy compromise.

sillygoose

I have had a neighbour that seemed to consider (my) land a communal resource for his pleasure and it was a nightmare (thankfully they moved on so probably someone else's problem), it got pretty unpleasant at times, what I learnt is some people just don't get it! a border is a border not a fluid rough guide. I would be back on the property websites looking for something else, 100%.

Mojisola

glasgowdan wrote: »

I read it that the neighbour's extension is ON the boundary and the fence is 2ft inside the OPs land.

If that is what's happened, a lot of land has been taken from the garden as the fence follows that line all the way down to the bottom of the garden.

Would the current owners really have let the neighbours get away with a land grab like that?

Silvertabby

“ This is accurate. I plan to bring it up with the solicitor this week.

The boundary does seem to have an issue, i assume this is a relatively easy fix though, the windows/privacy are a bigger concern. Though as has been pointed out, the other neighbor has a conservatory too.
Originally posted by chamelious

The conservatory isn't a problem - you could put up a fence or, say, a bamboo screen and they'll still get plenty of light through the roof and the other windows. The only thing you'd be blocking would be the view of your garden, so they'd have no cause for complaint. They may even welcome it, as it would make the conservatory more private.

The problem is the other side - as has been said before, it looks like your (possible) neighbours have done a land grab in order to give themselves access to the window. That needs sorting before you decide to buy. If the fence is in the wrong place, you'd be within your rights to remove it and then block the window - but if that is the only light source then you will have some very disgruntled neighbours to deal with.

I would be looking at other houses if I were you.

Aced2016

Are you 100% sure about this house ?

I don't mean to sound negative, but from that photo I honestly felt clostraphobic just looking at it.

I made the mistake in 2014 of buying a house I thought I loved, after a month in it I wanted out as had no privacy in back garden Etc. This looks like you would have no privacy at all ! And the neighbours might take offence to building fences etc.

I hope it all works out for you but really think if these things would annoy you, as I didn't and it became a huge problem. Which means after 19 months we ended up moving out.

Doozergirl

Mojisola wrote: »

In light of the other thread where the OP is planning to rip out what looks like an original fireplace because it's a "pointless, useless, space consuming hunk of black metal", it doesn't sound as if this is the right house for them.

:eek::eek: no! It's such a characterful little house!!

shaun_from_Africa

If the wall with the offending window is on the boundary line then if you complain to the council planning dept, they may well insist that the neighbour either removes the window totally or replaces it with a different type.


This is because the top of the window looks like it opens outwards and if this is the case, it's not allowed to open into neighbouring property as this classes as trespass.

Gloomendoom

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

If the wall with the offending window is on the boundary line then if you complain to the council planning dept, they may well insist that the neighbour either removes the window totally or replaces it with a different type.

That would depend on how long the window has been there. If it is old as the wall it is in appears to be, there isn't a lot that the council, or the OP, can do.

This is because the top of the window looks like it opens outwards and if this is the case, it's not allowed to open into neighbouring property as this classes as trespass.

As above, it may depend on how long the window has been opening outwards.

Not that it matters if the boundary is currently in the correct place, which isn't impossible.