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AIBU?

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To ask for advice about right to privacy from our neighbours

138 replies

Colourofspring · 04/05/2024 14:12

I have posted about this before but the situation has got worse. We live in terraced housing with small back yards & our neighbour has built a massive garden room that fills the whole back yard pretty much and looks directly into my 12 year old daughters bedroom.

The neighbours have teenage boys and yesterday (and for the last few weekends) there have been large groups of teenage boys in the garden room looking straight into DD’s bedroom so she has to sit with her curtains drawn all the time. I feel like it’s not on on multiple accounts - it’s also really noisy and impossible to sit in our back yard quietly too but I am more bothered about how much of an invasion of privacy it is for my DD.

Aibu? Anyone got any advice? Am feeling pretty pissed off and resentful about it to be honest - I feel like our peace and privacy is being invaded. It’s really tricky in terraces anyway as it’s such a small space!’

OP posts:
MyRobotFriend · 04/05/2024 14:19

Get some privacy film. Then DD will still be able to see out but they can't see in.

rwalker · 04/05/2024 14:19

One way privacy film cheap and take about 5 minutes to do problem solved

Colourofspring · 04/05/2024 14:19

menopausalmare · 04/05/2024 14:16

I must add that planning permission would be refused if a new window looked directly into a bedroom. Do you need planning permission for a garden room?

They made a big deal of it being ‘permitted development’ but I don’t think it is to be honest

OP posts:
Colourofspring · 04/05/2024 14:18

TheFlis · 04/05/2024 14:14

How does a garden room look into a bedroom? Is the bedroom downstairs? Do you have a fence?

Their yard is kind of raised and they built they room so it looks directly into Dads bedroom - it’s hard to explain without a photo but we have tiny yards and their wall is low. I’d send a picture if it wasn’t so revealing of who I am!!!

OP posts:
WonderingWanda · 04/05/2024 14:18

I think a garden room is like a conservatory so under a certain size it's permitted, assuming it has some sort of sunlight roof.

Build the fence up and sort some screening. I don't think you can object to them using their house any more than they could object to your dd being in her room. If you genuinely think it's not permitted get some photos and email it to your local planning departmen, they will be able to let you know. Our neighbours built a 9ft high fence and the planning dept came out and made them reduce it.

Colourofspring · 04/05/2024 14:16

AgnesX · 04/05/2024 14:14

Unless you can change bedrooms the only alternatives are privacy film or blinds. The neighbours are in their own property so I'm not sure what else you can do really.

I take it that they did get planning permission?

No they didn’t get planning permission- all done under ‘permitted development’

OP posts:
menopausalmare · 04/05/2024 14:16

I must add that planning permission would be refused if a new window looked directly into a bedroom. Do you need planning permission for a garden room?

menopausalmare · 04/05/2024 14:15

You can buy rolls of cheap plastic film that cling to the glass and create a translucent effect. We have it in our bathroom as it was once a bedroom. Still need to close curtains at night, though, when the light is on.

OneFrenchEgg · 04/05/2024 14:15

Colourofspring · 04/05/2024 14:12

To add- the garden room was built under ‘permitted development’ but i question this!

You can easily check what's allowed. We have one being built and there's size and height restrictions

TheFlis · 04/05/2024 14:14

How does a garden room look into a bedroom? Is the bedroom downstairs? Do you have a fence?

AgnesX · 04/05/2024 14:14

Unless you can change bedrooms the only alternatives are privacy film or blinds. The neighbours are in their own property so I'm not sure what else you can do really.

I take it that they did get planning permission?

WonderingWanda · 04/05/2024 14:13

Get some of that one way glass fitted. Get one of those daylight blinds from dunelm or the day /night one from IKEA, you can't really see through them. Put some trellis or better fencing up.

Colourofspring · 04/05/2024 14:12

To add- the garden room was built under ‘permitted development’ but i question this!

OP posts:
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