Stupidly high Wendy House

oxfordmark

Hey

So, our neighbours has just installed a Wendy House on top of some wooden legs, the windows are above our 6ft fence and importantly can look straight into our kitchen, also means they can look down our garden which is less so important

It just looks ugly!

I spoke to him about it and he said it's just up for the kids this summer and he was going to block the window that looks into our kitchen. So we are still not happy.

What can we do from here? Re-approach the neighbour or contact the landlord?

martinthebandit

Move to a house that doesn't have any close neighbours perhaps?

Aylesbury_Duck

What do you do in your kitchen that requires such privacy?

Surely if the neighbour blocks the overlooking window that will be ok? If he's true to his word it'll only be there for six weeks anyway and even if it stays there, the kids will hardly use it after the summer.

Doozergirl

Look for your happy somewhere else?

Live and let live.

shortcrust

oxfordmark wrote: »

Hey

So, our neighbours has just installed a Wendy House on top of some wooden legs, the windows are above our 6ft fence and importantly can look straight into our kitchen, also means they can look down our garden which is less so important

It just looks ugly!

I spoke to him about it and he said it's just up for the kids this summer and he was going to block the window that looks into our kitchen. So we are still not happy.

What can we do from here? Re-approach the neighbour or contact the landlord?

Accept that there’s nothing you can do about it, resign yourself to life with next door neighbours and get support for your control issues?

Seriously though, from what you’ve said the neighbour isn’t doing anything wrong. Stop hassling them.

oxfordmark

I have not hasseled him. Anyway, I have been reading and the structure is more than 8ft which goes against regulations.

Doozergirl

oxfordmark wrote: »

I have not hasseled him. Anyway, I have been reading and the structure is more than 8ft which goes against regulations.

So? It isn't against regulations to build it. It might need planning permission, but really? Do you think you'll be doing the local community a big favour by complaining and using tax payers money to deal with enforcement on a wendy house?

Nobody is going to know unless you tell the planning department and decide to ruin the children's summer and your relationship with your neighbour.

Imagine how excited they must be to have such a lovely thing. And you want to ruin it because you think the kids are interested in what you're doing in your kitchen? You know that they're not. Dad has offered to block the window, they're not even going to be in it that much. Take joy in their happiness and that their dad has done such a nice thing for them.

Imagine how you'd have felt about it as a child. It would be like Christmas. And think what a nice neighbour you are to allow them to enjoy without a planning application. They're not kids forever and the novelty will wear off.

Aylesbury_Duck

oxfordmark wrote: »

I have not hasseled him. Anyway, I have been reading and the structure is more than 8ft which goes against regulations.

There’s your answer then. You don’t need reasonable advice from us, just get on and enforce the law. If it stops the kids having fun it’ll at least give the planning office a giggle.

maisie_cat

the permitted development rules around garden building have height restrictions & raised platforms more than 30cm above the ground requires planning permission. I believe this is national planning policy to avoid over development of gardens and invasion of privacy.
There are lots of stories around of parents being forced to reduce the height especially if the structure is within or 2 metres of the boundary. You could just contact the planning department, who wants somebody else's kids looking over the fence?

sevenhills

maisie_cat wrote: »

There are lots of stories around of parents being forced to reduce the height especially if the structure is within or 2 metres of the boundary. You could just contact the planning department, who wants somebody else's kids looking over the fence?

It would be strange if the OP thought children playing in this wendy house were snooping on people making tea and do the dishes; more likely he just thinks it looks like an eye-sore.
If he is a control freak he may take it further, or he may just let things be.

MovingForwards

Complain to the council if the structure is outside what they allow, bear in mind it is a wooden structure so rules may not apply as it wont be deemed to be a permanent structure. Dont forget any disputes need to be declared should you sell.

Another option is put up a bigger fence so you dont see it....