Neighbours built Avery overhanging my garden

FreeBear

The gardens do not appear to be very large.. There are rules on how much garden can be used for extensions & outbuildings. Assuming you are outside a conservation area or AONB, you are limited to no more than half the garden. See - https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/43/outbuildings

Jeepers_Creepers

They've sorted out the main issue - the overhang in to your land. Cool.

I'm hoping that the aviary roof slopes slightly towards their garden, and that's where the gutter will go. Your last photo seems to indicate that is the case - if you look at the far roof edge against the windows in the house behind it? In which case 'all' you'll get falling on your fence are literally 'drips' coming from the end fascia board on your side - so nothing to worry about.

Although we'd all rather these sorts of weird things didn't happen by weird neighbours, it would appear that this neighb is within their planning rights to build this - it ain't over 2.5m high, for example. And I guess you gotta let folk have their toys...

I think what I would personally do is (a) see how it goes.  (b) If excess water is coming on to my fence or land, I'd mount a flat board - 6x1 timber or similar - along the top of my fence, at a slope to deflect any water back on to their land or shed side. (c) If the birds cause a noise nuisance - and I'm speaking as someone whose neighb used to have a large aviary with Parakeets in it - jeeeez, the multi-decibel racket - then I'd report it to Environmental Health. (d) Ditto if you start being pestered by rats - report this instantly.

Hopefully it'll only be a lovely sound of happy chirping birds, and no other issue will arise.

FtbDreaming

Hi thanks for the replies. I haven’t been out myself to look but OH has said it slopes off down towards the shed and into our garden. They have put felt over it but not stuck it down yet and with the storms/ winds they’ll be lucky to have any left tomorrow it’s flapping everywhere. As for the garden size theirs is a corner house so it’s a massive garden so I don’t think I’d have a leg to stand on complaining about the structure. 

They have 60 budgies in it. They had about 20 in the summer in a smaller aviary and the noise didn’t bother me but rats will. Tbh I thought I seen a rat in the garden in September but OH said I was imagining it so it’s deffo something I need to keep an eye on. 

I can’t really be bothered arguing about it if I’m honest. In an ideal world there will not be rats, no rotten fence or water logged garden and we’ll live in peace but I suppose time will tell. 

Suseka97

Been reading this with interest and all I wanted to add is that, many years ago, we lived in a terraced property and the house next door had two huge aviaries.  They housed all sorts of different birds, which was a huge interest for my cats.  But we never had an issue with rats, never had our girls bring one in or deposit any dead corpses in the garden.  So hopefully it won't be an issue for you  

Mickygg

Surely with the rain we have had you can see where the rainwater is running off to. You will though of course have dripping onto the fence. When it’s dry whack some fence protector on it to keep it going. 

I would say now is the time to approach about the gutter, not later. We have a flat roof garage that goes to boundary of neighbour, but it has a lip all around to stop water pooling on their side. 

GDB2222

To improve the life of the fence, it might be a good idea to fit a capping rail.

https://www.avsfencing.co.uk/fence-capping-3000-x-65-x-38mm-pressure-treated-green-timber/

tigerlily74

FtbDreaming said:

Hi thanks for the replies. I haven’t been out myself to look but OH has said it slopes off down towards the shed and into our garden. They have put felt over it but not stuck it down yet and with the storms/ winds they’ll be lucky to have any left tomorrow it’s flapping everywhere. As for the garden size theirs is a corner house so it’s a massive garden so I don’t think I’d have a leg to stand on complaining about the structure. 

They have 60 budgies in it. They had about 20 in the summer in a smaller aviary and the noise didn’t bother me but rats will. Tbh I thought I seen a rat in the garden in September but OH said I was imagining it so it’s deffo something I need to keep an eye on. 

I can’t really be bothered arguing about it if I’m honest. In an ideal world there will not be rats, no rotten fence or water logged garden and we’ll live in peace but I suppose time will tell. 

60 budgies! Good grief.

FtbDreaming

Hi thought I’d resurrect this thread instead of starting a new one.... the overhang was cut back. Now as predicted I am absolutely overrun with mice 😭😭😭 I was awake since 2am last night because I could hear scratching in my bedroom. I ended up going downstairs at about 4am and one ran out at me. I am so close to a nervous breakdown. We’ve bought traps and poison and those supersonic plug in things so hopefully they’ll start to go but I’m going insane. 

My question is do the neighbours have any environmental health responsibility as it’s their Avery and decking that’s caused the infestation? They’re breeding the budgies to sell, there’s hundreds of them now. Can I report them to anyone for the mouse issue it’s causing or do I just need to deal with it myself? Thanks. 

GDB2222

The council may help, but cats definitely will help, and much more rapidly.

Mojisola

FtbDreaming said:

Hi thought I’d resurrect this thread instead of starting a new one.... the overhang was cut back. Now as predicted I am absolutely overrun with mice

My question is do the neighbours have any environmental health responsibility as it’s their Avery and decking that’s caused the infestation? They’re breeding the budgies to sell, there’s hundreds of them now. Can I report them to anyone for the mouse issue it’s causing or do I just need to deal with it myself? Thanks. 

I would report it to the EH.

I don't know if they would act but it might be worth talking to the council department who issue animal selling licences as well.  A breeder who isn't controlling vermin might be of interest to them.