Velux windows overlooking a bedroom?

spacebug

My neighbour wants to do a loft conversion but this will result in 5 Velux windows overlooking our main bedroom as shown the the image below. We don't really want to be looked down upon when we are in bed.



It is not clear to me if these windows are on the side of the house or the front of the house and therefore subject to the need to be obscured. 



The house is attached to the end of a row of terrace houses. The bay window on the left is what I'd consider to be the front of the house. It faces the main road, is adjacent to the front doors of all the adjoining terrace houses and is where their front garden is. The conservatory is on the back of the house, where their back garden is, so I'd consider the side of the house to be where the door is. 

I am aware that they don't need planning permission. We get on well with them so I will be discussing it with them, I just like to have as much information as possible before doing so. 

Keep_pedalling

They will need to be standing on a chair or step ladder with the windows open to be able to see out of those, there are there to let light in and provide ventilation not to look out of.

MattMattMattUK

How far is their property from yours? Are you on flat ground or is there a height variance between the properties? 

Eldi_Dos

Are you sure planning permission is not required for the proposed works.

Swasterix

Keep_pedalling said:

They will need to be standing on a chair or step ladder with the windows open to be able to see out of those, there are there to let light in and provide ventilation not to look out of.

That’s not necessarily true…. If this is a vaulted ceiling then yes. If I had those windows in my loft, they’d probably be around waist high. It really depends on the geometry of the roof and what’s going on inside. 

OP - the first thing you need to do is just speak with your neighbour and share your concerns. If that doesn’t go anywhere, the second thing you need to do is speak to the council re. whether planning permission is required etc. 

Emmia

Do you not have curtains in your bedroom? 

spacebug

Keep_pedalling said:

They will need to be standing on a chair or step ladder with the windows open to be able to see out of those, there are there to let light in and provide ventilation not to look out of.

I'm not sure to be honest. The drawing they have is not a drawing that the builders will be working from so I'm not sure if the heights shown are guaranteed to how the final positioning will be. 

MattMattMattUK said:

How far is their property from yours? Are you on flat ground or is there a height variance between the properties? 

Around 11 meters. Flat ground. 

Eldi_Dos said:

Are you sure planning permission is not required for the proposed works.

Yep, pretty sure. The usage of Velux windows means you don't need planning permission. 

Emmia said:

Do you not have curtains in your bedroom? 

We have a roman blind. If we close it completely then that is fine, but we usually have it open about 1/3rd. When we do that you can see all of their roof when laying in bed. 

Unless we can be sure that they are not able to look out of them (i.e. they are above head height) then we will need to have our blind closed considerably more than we do now. I'm pretty sure getting dressed, coming out of our ensuite, etc etc we will feel conscious that we can be seen. Right now nothing can see into our bedroom. 

Forgive the crude SketchUp Modelling. We're the house with the person stood outside. Their current second floor window is a bathroom with frosted glass. 

Eldi_Dos

They look like quite new properties, can you look up planning permission that was granted then.May be details on there useful to you,even if it is only to clarify what is front and side elevation.

SootySweep1

Hi
Talk to your neighbours.
We had velux windows in our roof & to be honest you couldn't look out of them other than up to see the sky unless they were open because they’re in a sloping roof you struggle to stand / sit alongside & look out. 
Jen

mexican_dave

Maybe just carry on as normal in your own house, in the nude of whatever, and wait for your neighbours to complain about the nudity or whatever! Sorry, but I reckon worrying about this "overlooked" thing is a bit sad. Brits seem very self-conscious! Let your neighbours enjoy their home, and you yours, or before you know it you will drive yourselves out of your own home.

Doozergirl

SootySweep1 said:

Hi
Talk to your neighbours.
We had velux windows in our roof & to be honest you couldn't look out of them other than up to see the sky unless they were open because they’re in a sloping roof you struggle to stand / sit alongside & look out. 
Jen

Same.  Ours start 1m above the floor and we can't look down unless we're right in the window.  The slope and the amount of roof left before the eaves blocks most of the view. 

They are great for letting in good quality light, they are not good for views.