Our garden boundary, what are my rights? 7 July 2022 at 3:06PM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving 73 replies 9.5K views

Bendy_House

warby68 said:

I wonder if some blinds would help. You know the vertical ones, partly closed.  It would obscure the views both ways quite a bit.

You'd need to get on friendly terms to suggest it though.

I don't think I'd like the current set up if I was the neighbour either. You can see straight in as well.

It is just incredibly ugly, completely overbearing, and totally unacceptable.

With a simple solution.

Peasy.

If the neighb wants to take umbrage, that's their call - they have absolutely no right to. If they expect their windows to remain permanently uncovered, they are nuts, arrogant, entitled, deluded.

Ivy could fit a completely obscuring close-boarded fence right up tight against it if they wish. There is no 'light' issue here - they have a translucent roof.

Personally, I'd probably look to make it a green, dappled, screen, with some frondy shrubs - something that would effectively screen it unless actively looked for, and would also give a pleasant effect from their side. Provided they are nice folk. I'd also explain what my intentions were, why it's needed, and my choice of screening to them too, so they'll understand there are alternatives. :-)

I think there could always remain a risk - however small - that if the neighbs were to insulate their roof, therefore blocking out light from that source, they could accrue a 'right' to light via these translucent windows. I don't know if this is possible, but shouldn't be disregarded unless you know for sure. 

Brie

Bendy_House said:

I think there could always remain a risk - however small - that if the neighbs were to insulate their roof, therefore blocking out light from that source, they could accrue a 'right' to light via these translucent windows. I don't know if this is possible, but shouldn't be disregarded unless you know for sure. 

I didn't think there actually was a right to light.  Certainly that has been mentioned when there's been objections to a neighbour building a substantial addition or growing leylandaii.

Woolsery

I'm not sure a right to light applies to temporary structures, like porches and conservatories. It's a mysterious area of planning, involving angles and stuff, best left to architectural alchemists.

Bendy_House

Yeah, I thought it would be unlikely

carefullycautious

My way of solving this is to erect a shed in front of these windows. Problem solved

Bendy_House

My way would be to coat the glass with marmite, and to lick it all off, veeeerrry slowly.

Twice a day. And once during the night.

jvjack

 Frustrating to say least.  IvyFlood   Completeley see your prediciment.
Cant see in pic if that portch allows owner to walk in to it from outside either garden or other way.

Edit: just mentioned it as i saw an episode of American show Columbo where they blew up photo and more info made a difference. 

warby68

I know you're probably allowed to put a shed, fence, screen etc in front of the windows but its very confrontational. Probably difficult to hide those windows completely as well so everyone that comes in your garden will see what you've 'done to the neighbours'.

I agree the porch is a monstrosity as seen from OP's garden but its not always as simple as what you 'can' do when you have to live alongside people and the thing's already been there for donkeys' years. I also agree with @Bendy_House idea of developing some level of friendliness with the neighbours and aim for something that looks reasonable from their side too, even if you give up a few extra inches of usable space. You never know they might hate you being able to see into their home and are waitin for an excuse to do something

ashe

Ask them to put actual frosted glass in - we have this in all our bathrooms, and our front door and front door side window. It allows loads of light in but you cant make anything out on either side. The stuff they have in now is just slightly obscured. This is a win for both parties, except them paying for it, but I think they'd have to expect that. 

Mojisola

ashe said:

Ask them to put actual frosted glass in

Cheaper, and easier, to use one of the films that goes on the existing glass.