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Original poster

Neighbours have no blinds

251 replies

FaFoutis · 04/03/2019 20:23

My neighbours at the back have built a huge glass extension, the size of a petrol station, and it is lit up with bright white light. They have no blinds (they said they can't put blinds in it) so I have watched them have their breakfast and dinner and had the white glare all winter.

At the moment the woman is putting away the dishes from dinner wearing a pink tracksuit. I can see this from 5 of my 6 windows. It used to be dark and private before this eyesore and I'm finding it so depressing. The woman who lives next door but one to me has the same view, she talked to me about it and she cried. So not just me.

What should I do?
Option 1. Aim to piss them off so much that they get blinds (I don't believe the blind thing). I don't know how though. Install faulty security lights in my back garden? Get a massive sign that says 'get some fucking blinds'?
Option 2. Somehow screen them off. Their house is raised above mine and the extension is huge so I can't think how.
Option 3. Get therapy to stop being bothered by it.

I do shut the curtains, but there the fucker is again when I open the curtains.

OP posts:
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Original poster
FaFoutis · 04/03/2019 21:12

Thanks Girlz that's just how it feels. There's no point getting attached to a house. This has happened to me before too.

OP posts:
RockysMa · 04/03/2019 21:12

Well you've got my sympathies Op. We have "the viewing gallery" back neighbours. Theirs is raised so they can see into all of my back garden. And they're noisy bastards too 😳

I've an elder tree that blocks out some of their windows but it's taken a few years to get a decent height. Bamboo too has helped but that needs to be contained or it will take over.

Hope you get sorted, it feels like an invasion doesn't it

Nancy74 · 04/03/2019 21:13

I can imagine it's very annoying, but I doubt you can do anything other screening it off. I'm assuming your property faces the back of theirs. I. Which case there must be some sort of fence between you. Can you build this up with shrubs or something. Llandii perhaps? Wink

VelvetPineapple · 04/03/2019 21:14

Hornbeams retain their dead leaves all winter until they get new ones in spring. So they provide screening all year round, but technically they’re not evergreen so they’re exempt from hedge legislation.

Original poster
FaFoutis · 04/03/2019 21:15

It's huge. Big enough to fit in a mini M&S.
Not in the least jealous, I would hate it.

OP posts:
Lemontwist · 04/03/2019 21:15

It actually does sound pretty intrusive. Is it possible they dont realise how it looks from other houses? Can you ask them to pop round to yours so they can see quite how visible they are?

CoachBombay · 04/03/2019 21:15

I would just stand in a window with a cup of tea and stare at them....all evening. Every night till they fitted blinds, I'd even wave at them when they spotted me. I'd make it so socially awkward and creepy 😁

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 04/03/2019 21:16

How about some exceptionally bright lights in your and neighbour’s gardens aimed in their direction? They might feel inclined to get blinds then.

RockysMa · 04/03/2019 21:16

@CoachBombay haha love that idea Grin

Howzaboutye · 04/03/2019 21:16

Bamboo definitely.
But read up on it. The RHS website has some good info on how to contain it, as it spreads. (even if it's a variety that says it's non spreading- it's not and it will spread)

If we don't cut ours regularly it can easily get to 15feet.

While your lovely new bamboo is busy growing you could install flood lights in your back garden. Oops so they might be sensitive. Pity isn't it. Wink

Big sympathy here.

Maybe go to the planning department and ask them if it is legal. Take some photos. There might be light pollution rules that could apply?

StrongTea · 04/03/2019 21:17

Must be like having a giant tv at the bottom of your garden.

Nancy74 · 04/03/2019 21:18

I know. Get yourself a dozen shop dummies and and face them from every window in your house looking straight into their house. . Just occasionally change their position so they look like they have moved.

Nicknacky · 04/03/2019 21:18

My neighbours stare in at us as we don’t shut the blind at night. I don’t give a fuck what they think and just think how weird they are to stare at us all night.

So yeah, do that. That will show them.

Original poster
FaFoutis · 04/03/2019 21:18

Sounds good velvet, I didn't know that. I'm looking into a 3 layer approach, hornbeam, bamboo and leylandii.
Eyesore is at the back but more to the side, so I need an L shaped screen.

Yes Rockys, an invasion. My sympathies to you.

OP posts:
HennyPennyHorror · 04/03/2019 21:19

I think if you're used to looking out at nothing, then this sort of thing comes as a shock.

I have a lovely view from my back garden...tonnes of trees. Next door is an old, derelict house and we live in fear of some bugger buying it, knocking it down and building a 2 storey. Currently it's a single level house as we're in Oz but more and more people are building two storey homes.

If someone does that, I will be sad...but OP...you've just got to do as Ripple says and you will slowly adjust.

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 04/03/2019 21:20

How about a huge cock and balls picked out in fairly lights along your boundary?

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 04/03/2019 21:20

Light pollution is very intrusive.

Really not a nice thing to deal with, OP.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 04/03/2019 21:20

Leave a note: please refrain feom having sex in your kitchen in full daylight, my children saw it!!

That should let tha cat among the pigeons Wink

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 04/03/2019 21:20

*Fairy not fairly

HexagonalBattenburg · 04/03/2019 21:20

I do empathise OP as our neighbours out back (well the previous lot - this lot just like to leave the buggers on) have a load of garden lighting that shines right into the rear of our house and they leave the fucking things on all night most nights. They also like to sit on the patio and sing and play McFly songs on the fucking ukulele so I get more annoyed by that (she thinks she's on the X Factor and absolutely belts it as well) than the garden lighting as a general rule... but it does wear you down over time.

I can offer to lend you a couple of very nosy loud kids with no filter between brain and mouth who'll just stand there and comment on everything they're doing until they crack and haul their backsides to the nearest blinds showroom though.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 04/03/2019 21:21

They’ll each be thinking that the other is doing the gardner, etc.

Smidge001 · 04/03/2019 21:22

Interesting knowledge velvet! I will remember that if I ever end up in this situation.

Though I quite like the idea of security lights that point in their windows that get set off by their own movement.

TrendyNorthLondonTeen · 04/03/2019 21:22

Excellent bait op

Original poster
FaFoutis · 04/03/2019 21:22

When it first became clear that there would be no blinds my neighbours invited them over to have a look at how the eyesore affected them. I sent them photographs. They know.

I am at the point where I will do prolonged staring with a cup of tea quite comfortably. I could invite my friends over to join in.

OP posts:
ChardonnaysPrettySister · 04/03/2019 21:22

Can you spell something rude in twinkling fairy lights?