Neighbour refuses access to land

markin

Do you not need planning for a new window??


Anyway fit one that can open inward for cleaning, or fit a light tunnel up to the loft.

Doozergirl

markin wrote: »

Do you not need planning for a new window??

Not if the house has permitted development rights. Most do.

It should be non-opening with opaque glass.

Building it right on the boundary is a liberty, though.

Davesnave

markin wrote: »

fit a light tunnel up to the loft.

That's a long tunnel!



IMO they're pants at the best of times, but maybe tolerable if there's no other option.

Mojisola

Tessam wrote: »

Our neighbour who we thought we had a good relationship with just refused us access to their land to fit a window on the ground floor non-opening with obscured glass looking out onto a brick wall with no windows there as she just doesn’t like the “change”.

we are gutted as our middle room has no external light whatsoever

Would the neighbour find it more acceptable if you added a high-level window with obscured glass?

You might be planning on fitting a non-opening window but there's always the possibility that you or another owner would change it to an opening one which would affect them - there have been threads on here started by people who have had this happen to them.

G_M

Access to Neighbouring Property Act 1992

Tessam

No, sadly, her reasoning is that she wants no opening at all as if we ever sell the next people could make the opening bigger or into a doorway (illegal to go onto her property which I told her) or change the glass. We proposed a non-openining obscured glass but she wasn’t having it. What I find so frustrating is that she has no legal right to object to the window and can only practically do so because of the right to access.

Mojisola

Tessam wrote: »

No, sadly, her reasoning is that she wants no opening at all as if we ever sell the next people could make the opening bigger or into a doorway (illegal to go onto her property which I told her) or change the glass.

I can understand her position. Just because it's illegal won't stop some people from changing your window into an opening one with clear glass or even a door.

How much would your neighbour have to spend on legal costs to get it put right?

davidmcn

Tessam wrote: »

she has no legal right to object to the window

I think she might do if what you're effectively doing is trying to establish a right to light. Like I said above, do you think she wouldn't be allowed to block the light to your new window?

Mojisola

Tessam wrote: »

Any advice massively appreciated as we are gutted as our middle room has no external light whatsoever and it is not readable to knock through the wall for various reasons.

Have you considered putting in "borrowed lights" (there's probably an official term for them) - basically a window over the door in an internal wall?

G_M

There seem to be two separate issues (well 3 including the gate).

* your right to install the window. Permitted Develeopment? Planning Consent? Valid objection by neighbour?

* your right to go ontoher land todo the installation.

Access to Neighbouring Property Act 1992