My fucking neighbours

[CindersCatsSister]

We have just finished a kitchen extension. 6 month build with all the attendant stresses. Older neighbours (late 60s) next door have for the hump because we raised the floor meaning that now they can see into our kitchen. We can’t see into their house at all. They’ve been on at us throughout the build to have the window frosted over, I’ve said no, I’m putting in plain glass and if needs be I’ll put some film over it.
Build finished 5 mins ago, I’ve been up to my ears in fucking homeschooling and working and life and all the bullshit and she sends her husband over to shout at us because there’s no film on the window and ‘I don’t want to see you in your kitchen, it’s like a shop window’. Said window is 135 x 50cm. Also, it’s facing onto their garden which is about 20 metres from the window. So it’s not in their face. I don’t necessarily think they’re wrong, if it’s pissing them off it’s pissing them off and ITS ON MY FUCKING LIST but just FUCK OFF YOU CUNTS WHY DOES IT MATTER??
Many thanks, I feel better now.

Wow! Thanks for the link. Shows you that the grass may not always be greener after all.

I would put up a row of pleach trees. Not for them, but for me! I would hate to look over at them and their sulky faces every time I went to make a cuppa

Maybe net curtains or lower half curtains that stops looking into the bottom half of the window, i know not everyone likes them but may he a solution as you can still look out but they can’t look in.
As someone else said if they build a wall or put up a fence on their boundary and that is close to your window , then that could be a problem for you.

I genuinely don't get the level of anger on this thread. 🤷🏼‍♀️

My bedroom window faces into my next door neighbor's kitchen window. We both have nets up as we really don't want to be looking into each other's houses. It's really not a big deal or something to get so worked up about.

@BlackCatShadow have you actually read any part of this thread??!!

No way I'd be putting film up. Tell them that if it bothers them, then they can put film up in their own Windows or pull their own curtains.

[quote Littleposh]@BlackCatShadow have you actually read any part of this thread??!![/quote]
Yes, every post!

This is what I read. OP has had a kitchen extension which took 6 months to build. The neighbors asked while it was being built if they could install a frosted window in the window that faces their house and the OP said no.

Now the build is finished the neighbors asked if the OP could put some stickers to block the window as they were being bothered by being able to see in the OP's house at night when presumably it's dark outside but the lights are on inside.

The OP didn't think the neighbors could really see into her house and it was all a fuss about nothing, but agreed to put up the stickers.

It's such a small and minor thing. I don't get the need for all the "fucking cunts" comments and "Put up stickers giving them the finger" comments.

BUT, perhaps I missed something important, so would love to hear what it was.

I will admit though that I'm from a different culture and I hate people looking into my house. I would never have the curtains open at nighttime, even if they are open a chink, it just really freaks me out, so perhaps I'm just odd in that respect. It obviously bothers the neighbors for a reason, so a little empathy wouldn't hurt.

Bonkers.
If it doesn't bother you, don't put up anything. If they ask, say no and suggest they could put up nets or frosted glass themselves. If they don't like the view, they don't need to look...I'd be telling them that, too.
Otherwise, put up what you like, in your own time.

@CindersCatsSister

The window has always been there!! It’s just it looked into a garage that was never used.

I don’t understand this comment. I thought said window is on the boundary. Are you therefore saying that your now kitchen window used to look into your neighbour’s garage, which they’ve now demolished?

Surely the simple solution is just to put up some blinds?

I wouldn't put film up.

The window has always been there!! It’s just it looked into a garage that was never used

I'm assuming OP means that what is now her kitchen used to be her unused garage.

Clearly, they have too much time on their hands, so they complain. If they feel overlooked, then they must plant trees or build privacy screening. Some people live to cause stress to others, others are too busy living.

Ah thanks Max. Yes that makes more sense.

I presume this is a side window in the kitchen. They’re making such a mountain out of a molehill and have decided not to fence in their garden, which is unusual.

Just do it they could put any random shit on there drive blocking your window and theres nothing you could do. Pissing them off over this could be a complete home goal.

I do appreciate your frustration but I am somewhat with @LIZS here - we had to have the frosted film thing over a kitchen extension once - even though it was not directly overlooking a neighbour - depends what PP or building regs say. So I would check with both those & depending what they say then might come the time for frying eggs topless or whatever else you may care to do Hope your kitchen etc is lovely & it's just the last bit on the building road. ( Other stressful things aside )

Plus they’re Daily Mail Brexiteers. That’s relevant because it shows they’re cunts

Do not put any kind of covering/film on your window.

Do not put their bins out or accept parcels on their behalf.

Stick to your guns OP

@BasiliskStare yes!! I really don’t get this!! If planning permission/building regs state frosted glass then do it. If it’s all been passed then you don’t need to do it, and give them building controls number so neighbours can discuss it with them!! This is so simple??

Take the film down and start walking around naked.

I'd love this if I was your neighbours. I'm dead nosy.

@MaxThePasta

The window has always been there!! It’s just it looked into a garage that was never used

I'm assuming OP means that what is now her kitchen used to be her unused garage.

Yes, that’s correct. There has always been a window there but a) we have raised the floor and b) it was our garage so the light was rarely on.

They looked at our plans loads of times before the conversion happened and did say they’d like the window frosted but to me they were stating a preference which I could choose to go with or not. I hate frosted glass anyway so that doesn’t help.

Have just remembered that NDN bollocked me a few years ago for the former window being shabby!! Like I say, can’t win. CUNT WIN!

@CindersCatsSister

The window has always been there!! It’s just it looked into a garage that was never used.

So the window was there when it was a garage and they had no issue with it, but now you have converted the garage into living space they have a problem with it.

Stick some oil cans in the window an tell them you've turned it back to a garage.

You can get film with bird and/or flowers on it - if you like that sort of thing - quite cheery looking some of them!

@ZoolInMyFridge I just agree with you - pretty simple . If planning or building regs require frosted / translucent glass or a film which is similar - just do it , If they do not require it then purely a matter between neighbours - Oh I get the Op's frustration , but really - either you have to have it or you don't ( according to council planning dept. ) if not then you need to either make peace with your neighbours ( or not ) ( & sometimes it is not about overlooking it is that plain glass can create a sort of light box which could ( could - not saying in this instance ) be a nuisance to neighbours.

@CindersCatsSister

• I do wish you well with this - I have been through building projects and I appreciate the stress - let alone what else you have to put up with - but honestly I would just check with the council what you must do ( according to planning & building regs ) and once you know that you know what your options are .

But I do wish you well - I realise it is stressful - & within your stress I detect a grain of humour - well done you
Honestly wish you well - Basilisk

But... if you frost your window you won't have a view out your kitchen?

I'd get one of those IKEA curtain rail wire things, with clips to hold a curtain and hang a piece of linen. Cheap solution, easy to remove the curtain on a whim, and pull it across at night.