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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to ask if I can report my neighbour's bright blue house?

591 replies

Katey83 · 29/06/2026 13:43

I live in a terraced house. My neighbours have painted the back of their house bright blue (think swimming pool blue / like the Mikanos blue). It is horrible and looms over my garden. It’s really going to spoil my enjoyment of my space to have to look at this every day. I spoke to the wife earlier this morning and said it was not to my taste and would they consider changing and she said ‘the beige of your house isn’t to my taste but it’s your house. This is my house.’ And shut the door in my face. WIBU to report them to the council? Can I even do so? Surely you can’t just paint any offensive colour and expect neighbours to live alongside it?

OP posts:
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KrazyKatty · 29/06/2026 16:37

I have a large bright pink detached house with deep blue/purple sills. So far, all my visitors have been very complimentary about it. 😁

Weeellokthen · 29/06/2026 16:34

Livingthebestlife · 29/06/2026 13:59

Is her name* *Edie McCredie

When I honk ma horn 😂

AlphabetCucumber · 29/06/2026 16:34

Katey83 · 29/06/2026 14:17

The husband painted it and I expected him to be the one I’d have the discussion with. It didn’t occur to me his wife would have agreed with the choice as she seems reasonable and tasteful when I see them out and about. He is a bit of a lout. I really can’t do anything right by mumsnet standards!

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It didn’t occur to you that they’d have agreed on a bright blue colour before he painted the house with it? You assumed he’d done it behind her back and she would leap at the chance to change it when a neighbour knocked on the door? You’re nuts, or have a bizarre view on relationships.

TamarindCottage · 29/06/2026 16:33

SilenceInside · 29/06/2026 13:55

The only possible way you could complain to the Local Authority would be if the house is Listed or in a conservation area or similar with rules about appearance. A flat I used to live in was in a conservation area, the front door of the building had to be specific colours and the property itself painted a cream or white colour only.

Otherwise, your neighbours can paint their house however they like, a mural if they want!

A murial surely? IYKYK 😉

TransportNerd · 29/06/2026 16:31

Call 999 at once. 😂

wldpwr · 29/06/2026 16:27

Katey83 · 29/06/2026 14:05

I found it quite rude!

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She probably thinks you were rude.

wldpwr · 29/06/2026 16:26

It's her house. I don't think you have any say in the matter at all.

CaptainMyCaptain · 29/06/2026 16:24

Katey83 · 29/06/2026 15:35

The husband did it. I do admit that the job has been well done (in that it is neat and tidy), albeit I can't stand the colour. He does seem to do a manual job for a living (has a van, always dirty/ covered in cement etc).

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YABVU for expecting your neighbours to decorate to your taste, for referring to 'the wife' and for being snobbish about a neighbour's skilled manual job and calling him a lout. I could go on but I haven't read the whole thread yet.

TerfOnATrain · 29/06/2026 16:24

I’m on your side OP, unless I lived in say Notting Hill, or Copenhagen, where the coloured houses are iconic, then I wouldn’t want a brightly coloured house next door to me. A bit of Mama Mia, in the UK in December, when there’s three inches of snow on the ground and Christmas lights twinkling away, is an assault on the senses. It’s pretty shit in 37 degrees in the summer too, but marginally less so.

You have my sympathy, there’s no accounting for taste.

SleepingisanArt · 29/06/2026 16:23

I know someone who grew up in a pink house and it had to remain pink according to the deeds. Also on the way into Honiton (Devon) on the A35 there was a pretty pink house as you dame down the hill. It was a great landmark, especially when the children were young as they knew it was only an hour more in the car to our destination. It always made me smile. But 2 years ago it was painted white! I'm wondering if next time I am in the area I should knock on the door and complain. How do you think they'd react to me asking for them to put the cheerful pale pink back?

Elsvieta · 29/06/2026 16:20

Google Zipporah Lisle-Mainwaring and her stripy house. She won. Nothing you can do.

LeedsLoiner · 29/06/2026 16:17

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 29/06/2026 15:37

I wonder why he's not done the front as well? Perhaps he'll do that another colour.

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He will now....

placemats · 29/06/2026 16:16

Katey83 · 29/06/2026 15:40

The back was rendered and unpainted by the previous owners, so I had been expecting them to paint it. Just not blue. The front is brick with a bay window (white). I hope they don't paint that blue because it's a beautiful Victorian house and the white is traditional - though as I wouldn't have to look at it from my garden, so would be less bothered.

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Why would you stand/sit in your garden looking up at your neighbour's house?

LeedsLoiner · 29/06/2026 16:16

Katey83 · 29/06/2026 13:59

I don’t understand this

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What's the story in Balamory?

MonstrousRegimentRocks · 29/06/2026 16:15

Qualitypinnacle · 29/06/2026 16:15

If it's good enough for posh Chelsea it's good enough for anywhere! Paint yours a jolly colour and start a trend

I love this, all the contrasting colours.

Qualitypinnacle · 29/06/2026 16:15

If it's good enough for posh Chelsea it's good enough for anywhere! Paint yours a jolly colour and start a trend

AIBU to ask if I can report my neighbour's bright blue house?
MonstrousRegimentRocks · 29/06/2026 16:14

Bjorkdidit · 29/06/2026 16:07

Best not go to Copenhagen either:

A Guide to Copenhagen's Colorful Houses | stromma.com

Wow! Nyhavn is absolutely beautiful!

SaskiaWatkins · 29/06/2026 16:14

Paint yours pink and start a new Balamory.

DaisyDooley · 29/06/2026 16:14

My friend at the other side of the village green, directly in view from some of my rooms has a rendered house.
She told me she was getting it painted -I asked what colour.
She said “wait & see” with a wink.
I was really REALLY hoping for Tango Orange 🍊 -liven things up a bit.
She had it painted white. This was two years ago. I still feel ripped off.

Just sit with your back to it. There’s nothing you can do.

placemats · 29/06/2026 16:11

hourspassed · 29/06/2026 16:07

Where is that laughing emoji when you need it?

Come on Mumsnet - why did you get rid of it - what's the story?

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The reason is very upsetting, unpleasant and constituted serious abuse. Some people ruin it for others.

TheFormidableMrsC · 29/06/2026 16:08

Be grateful, there is a house near me which is detached and large and it is painted dark blue front, sides and back. It’s hideous but it’s their house I guess!

Boomer55 · 29/06/2026 16:07

Katey83 · 29/06/2026 13:59

We are in London! Not a posh part but obviously everywhere in London is expensive!! I don’t want to live near an eyesore.

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Unless it’s a conservation or regulated area, with regards to the outside, you have no say.

hourspassed · 29/06/2026 16:07

Livingthebestlife · 29/06/2026 13:59

Is her name* *Edie McCredie

Where is that laughing emoji when you need it?

Come on Mumsnet - why did you get rid of it - what's the story?

placemats · 29/06/2026 16:06

Livingthebestlife · 29/06/2026 13:59

Is her name* *Edie McCredie

😂😂😂