Household Covenants - New Build < 2 years

15 Posts

Maybe, I just need a dose of reality so I thought I'd post on here.
Basically we moved into a new build property little over a year ago. Our reasoning for doing so was because we like the ease of the new builds, all pretty much already set up, newer so easier to maintain for the next ten years whilst we're busy at work, the aesthetics of the new builds appeals to us and the fact that they all look the same whilst not most peoples cup of tea is actually what we want at this moment in life.
Within the last 6 months our neighbours have opted to change the grassed area in front of the house, they've put down Yorkshire cream gravel (I think, but basically that colour) and it completely doesn't fit in with the rest of the street, we are the last on the estate with some people being on 3 years, no other front of house has been changed other than this one. It doesn't look good in the slightest - they are slightly older so garden maintenance could be considered a factor but that's not the case considering they are into gardening. They literally don't like anything about the new build and want it to have character (the opposite reason of buying a new build).
They've also chosen to adopt some land that definitely isn't theirs, the management company refuse to discuss it with me but the neighbours even told me they'd land grabbed, they'd done it because they don't like the size of the drive way (we all knew the size of the drive ways before buying).
At the time I wanted to say something but my partner sort of persuaded me not to as we don't have any rights.
Anyways fast forward several months and the same neighbours have had the developers put a tree in the back garden smack bang in the middle which will now obstruct my views (one of the big house selling points), especially the more it grows, the plans show the tree in the corner of the gardens which would be absolutely fine so I don't understand the rationale by the developers to agree.
I am completely torn by it, part of me knows / thinks that anyone should be able to do anything to their own property that they wish but then part of me is gutted that some key reasons for buying this place have been eroded away (it wasn't cheap in the slightest for me). Another part of me thinks / worries that this could just be many of a number of issues I'll have with this neighbour, the neighbour has battled with the developers from day one often trying to get other residents to join in, I'm baffled as to why they've bought a new build as they hate everything about the cardboard box no characteristic style of houses, they've even mentioned adding trellis boards to the top of the fence at the back for extra privacy which will completely destroy the valley style views - it's baffling as these are all the selling points - I don't even want to consider the selling appeal loss when comparing my house to others on the estate that have kept features and views, I wouldn't opt for mine over the others now.
What I now know is the covenants of the property stipulate that the grassed areas at the front should be kept grassed.
I'm just wondering how to deal with it.
Do I
A) Use the covenants and try and get the front sorted
Use the covenants as leverage with the neighbour in order to request they move the tree to the corner
C) Try and have the hard discussion and just explain my feelings and see if they'll move the tree
D) Just let it go and accept it, their property let them do what they want.
Also, the problem with the adopted land is if down the line they decide to create privacy from the left of their property they could potentially put hedges up on the adopted land which would ruin the view from the front (we're next to a load of farmland looking in the distance to a village).
Am I being precious?
Basically we moved into a new build property little over a year ago. Our reasoning for doing so was because we like the ease of the new builds, all pretty much already set up, newer so easier to maintain for the next ten years whilst we're busy at work, the aesthetics of the new builds appeals to us and the fact that they all look the same whilst not most peoples cup of tea is actually what we want at this moment in life.
Within the last 6 months our neighbours have opted to change the grassed area in front of the house, they've put down Yorkshire cream gravel (I think, but basically that colour) and it completely doesn't fit in with the rest of the street, we are the last on the estate with some people being on 3 years, no other front of house has been changed other than this one. It doesn't look good in the slightest - they are slightly older so garden maintenance could be considered a factor but that's not the case considering they are into gardening. They literally don't like anything about the new build and want it to have character (the opposite reason of buying a new build).
They've also chosen to adopt some land that definitely isn't theirs, the management company refuse to discuss it with me but the neighbours even told me they'd land grabbed, they'd done it because they don't like the size of the drive way (we all knew the size of the drive ways before buying).
At the time I wanted to say something but my partner sort of persuaded me not to as we don't have any rights.
Anyways fast forward several months and the same neighbours have had the developers put a tree in the back garden smack bang in the middle which will now obstruct my views (one of the big house selling points), especially the more it grows, the plans show the tree in the corner of the gardens which would be absolutely fine so I don't understand the rationale by the developers to agree.
I am completely torn by it, part of me knows / thinks that anyone should be able to do anything to their own property that they wish but then part of me is gutted that some key reasons for buying this place have been eroded away (it wasn't cheap in the slightest for me). Another part of me thinks / worries that this could just be many of a number of issues I'll have with this neighbour, the neighbour has battled with the developers from day one often trying to get other residents to join in, I'm baffled as to why they've bought a new build as they hate everything about the cardboard box no characteristic style of houses, they've even mentioned adding trellis boards to the top of the fence at the back for extra privacy which will completely destroy the valley style views - it's baffling as these are all the selling points - I don't even want to consider the selling appeal loss when comparing my house to others on the estate that have kept features and views, I wouldn't opt for mine over the others now.
What I now know is the covenants of the property stipulate that the grassed areas at the front should be kept grassed.
I'm just wondering how to deal with it.
Do I
A) Use the covenants and try and get the front sorted

C) Try and have the hard discussion and just explain my feelings and see if they'll move the tree
D) Just let it go and accept it, their property let them do what they want.
Also, the problem with the adopted land is if down the line they decide to create privacy from the left of their property they could potentially put hedges up on the adopted land which would ruin the view from the front (we're next to a load of farmland looking in the distance to a village).
Am I being precious?
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Replies
What I am trying to say is if you have a good relationship it wouldn't have been a problem to point out that the tree would block your view and a good neighbour might consider putting it somewhere else.
I will be more polite than some of the others but I do agree with their point of view
It's their garden and falling out with next door, even if its not handbags at dawn every day, life can become misrable.
Live and let live, IMHO
Thnaks
Before you spend, remember the MSE Money Mantras. Ask yourself, do I need it? Can I afford it? If the answer is NO to any of those questions, DON’T buy it. (Quote from MSE 15/11/22)
Politeness & courtesy are some of the few things in life that are free. Please remember that when posting, I may ignore permanently the unpolite, tedious, unconstructive and deliberately obtuse comments. Many thanks.
I understood the responses in the thread, my guess most will be by people who live in older houses.
Whilst, I also understand the "you don't control what your neighbour does" argument I'd like to counter that with a point that there is precedence for things like this (whilst admittedly slightly different but similar), councils will not allow shops to change shop fronts in order to keep in line with the high street, this is a similar thing, all the new builds look a certain way, this is a feature, the covenants I would assume are put in place because of this.
Don't get me wrong, if this was five years down the line I wouldn't give a monkeys as that would be understandable, it's because it's so new, it's completely changed the look of the street.
Do you see the difference in what you've said, your neighbour came and chatted to you. At no stage as this neighbour done this other than to complain about my other neighbour or try and get us on side to argue with the developer about a few things. If they'd have asked me about the front I would have explained my concerns and it may have meant they still get it done but at least a conversation would have happened, same with the tree, it's the complete disregard.
Also, whilst stating that I can't control my neighbour you are 100% correct but that's why law and covenants exist surely, so I don't have to?
How my private road looks is my business is it not? Am I not merely talking about exercising my rights?