Neighbour increasing boundary fence/hedge height

Mutton_Geoff

I've lived in my current house for 3 years and don't get on with my neighbour. If I trim any overhanging branches, they are straight round to complain.


I recently had some building work done and a dressing room was converted to an ensuite. The dormer window was existing since this part of the house was built in the early 1950s.


In the last two years, the neighbour has been constantly adding to the boundary such that the total height is now 4.6m from ground level on my side (slightly less on their side as they are uphill from me).


They are not open to any discussion and contact between us has always been abrasive. Before I turn up the heat, I am interested in views of the experienced here on whether their actions are legal and whether I'm being too sensitive about "right to light" etc.

The strange thing is, I don't overlook any of their windows, only their garden in this area.


2.1 metre wall with added fence, trellis, plastic decoration and hedging:





View from first floor ensuite window being obscured. Boundary is approx 1 metre from window.

m0bov

For starters, any overhang should be thrown back over, unless that want to come round to your side and trim it.

I would contact your local planning office, its above permitted height for sure and needs planning permission. I'd do this pronto.

laptop80

It's not just over the permitted height before needing planning permission, it's way over. Anything >2m needs planning permission - that boundary looks like something from King Kong.

getmore4less

If it is just the ensuite I would not bother.
Does it not have obscured glass anyway.

If you want more light get your side cleaned up and painted white.

bertiewhite

Mutton_Geoff wrote: »

I recently had some building work done and a dressing room was converted to an ensuite. The dormer window was existing since this part of the house was built in the early 1950s.

Where does this come in to it?

need_an_answer

I'm sorry I'm not being helpful Geoff...but don't you just want to play jenga with it.....

Especially when you look at the positioning of the bricks on your other thread.

Mutton_Geoff

getmore4less wrote: »

If it is just the ensuite I would not bother. Does it not have obscured glass anyway. If you want more light get your side cleaned up and painted white.

The ensuite window is on the first floor, view from it in pics 2 and 3 so painting the wall white will have no advantage.

bertiewhite wrote: »

Where does this come in to it?

Because the neighbour only recently became awkward about this since they saw change of use of the space as part of a much larger planning application. They even had the cheek to say they decided not to object to other work on the complete opposite side of my house, none of which is visible to them and only involved internal hollowing out of 3 rooms into one and insertion of new French doors!


My point was the window has been there for over 60 years but they have only recently become difficult. The neighbour has upset all others around her and complaints/comments about them are regular in my neighbourhood.

pulliptears

m0bov wrote: »

For starters, any overhang should be thrown back over

Cuttings should be offered back to the neighbour but disposed of by yourself if they refuse.

Throwing over the overhang is likely to inflame the situation more and could actually be seen as fly tipping so please don't do that.

G_M

The wall/fence cannot be increased to above 2m high without planning permission.

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/20/fences_gates_and_garden_walls


Enforcement has to be within 4 years, so don't let this slide!


Unfortunately hedges do not require planning consent, so if that hedge is planted in the ground, removing the trellis and additional wall may not help you.......

getmore4less

Mutton_Geoff wrote: »

The ensuite window is on the first floor, view from it in pics 2 and 3 so painting the wall white will have no advantage.
.

If you want more light paint everything included the trellis white.

If I wanted views from my bathrooms while on the toilet in the shower or bath I would not want it overlooking anything occupied.

Who owns the wall?

pulliptears

getmore4less wrote: »

If you want more light paint everything included the trellis white.


Who owns the wall?

Need to establish the second before doing the first as they won't be allowed to paint the trellis or the wall if both being too the neighbour.