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Original poster

Neighbours Portaloo

17 replies

SpottyCamel · 02/02/2022 15:56

Does anyone know if there are any rules about placement of portable toilets? I have googled but there doesn’t seem to be much advice.

Basically neighbours are having some building work done and a portaloo has been placed right on our boundary line about 3 feet from my kitchen door. It doesn’t smell yet, but building works are going to be going on for a while and I suspect it might start to smell. Just feels really unhygienic and obstructive. The vents to the toilet are pointing into my garden and sit above the fence, so it’s very visible.

Any advice would be appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
SpottyCamel · 02/02/2022 17:01

Anyone able to help please?

OP posts:
tiredanddangerous · 02/02/2022 17:16

Have you tried asking them to move it?

Original poster
SpottyCamel · 02/02/2022 17:18

Not yet. It only arrived today and they are still at work. I just wanted to know if there were any laws about the placement before I go round and just say I don’t like it.

They haven’t lived there long and I don’t know them very well so I don’t know how receptive they’ll be to the idea of moving it just because I’ve asked.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 02/02/2022 17:19

I think you can ask them to move it if it smells Its not I your garden so I don't think there will be a boundary. How will it smell its an outside toilet which I'm assuming will be emptied by the company.

Original poster
SpottyCamel · 02/02/2022 17:28

@Mrsjayy I’ve used plenty of outside toilets at events that absolutely stink! I really don’t like the idea of eating my breakfast 3 feet away from a builder evacuating last nights dinner. I won’t be able to have my back door open at all. It’s so close that I expect I’ll be able to hear when they use it.

OP posts:
breakdown19 · 02/02/2022 17:32

I don't know the law but imagine as it's a temporary thing there may not be one??
if it's only been put down today it's prob not too tricky to move now. Sooner rather than later 🤮💩

GiantKitten · 02/02/2022 17:37

Not as intrusive as yours but our NDN had a portaloo behind her back wall for months last year while she had extensive building work done. It was about 25’ from her kitchen in a straight line, probably not much more from ours.

There is a head-height wall in between but fwiw we never heard or smelt anything (they have a sealed tank, don’t they?) Compared with a festival loo it got very little use.

Is there somewhere further from your kitchen where you could suggest it be sited instead?

Mrsjayy · 02/02/2022 17:38

I think you are going to have to bite the bullet and ask them to move it if it's goi g to upset you. Fwiw a neighbour of mine is getting an extension and the workmen portaloo doesn't smell.

Mrsjayy · 02/02/2022 17:41

Yeah I think they are sealed so it's not like a potrapott .

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 02/02/2022 17:41

I'd speak to them nicely before I started researching the legalities of its placement. A simple "would you mind asking the builders to move the portaloo? It's a bit close to our kitchen"

Mrsjayy · 02/02/2022 17:44

would you mind asking the builders to move the portaloo? It's a bit close to our kitchen"

This, you don't want to go round with boundary regulations you have Googled and start waving them about. I ,mean you could try and catch one of the builders and ask them.

Original poster
SpottyCamel · 02/02/2022 17:50

It isn’t my intention at all to go round and start quoting laws at them. Like I said, I don’t really know them so if I ask nicely and they say no, I just wanted to know if I could legitimately ask them because of a law or whether I’d just have to put up with it.

OP posts:
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 02/02/2022 17:53

@SpottyCamel

It isn’t my intention at all to go round and start quoting laws at them. Like I said, I don’t really know them so if I ask nicely and they say no, I just wanted to know if I could legitimately ask them because of a law or whether I’d just have to put up with it.
Why would they say no? Even if they do, they'll be showing you now what they're like so at least you'll know for future.

Ask them, if they say no then start looking at legalities

Suzi888 · 02/02/2022 17:56

It’s not a permanent structure, it doesn’t need planning permission. It’s not ‘illegal’. Obviously some people would have no choice where it goes, because of the size or layout of their garden.
Your best bet is to ask them to move it if possible.

YorkieTheRabbit · 02/02/2022 18:16

We had building work done last year and the builders had a portaloo on our drive. The hire company came once a week to empty and clean it, it’s fairly noisy when it’s pumping out to it honestly didn’t smell at all and I walked past it umpteen times a day.

Yarnivore · 02/02/2022 18:18

We had one on our drive for months, was emptied weekly and never smelt. I really wouldn't worry about this.

ClariceQuiff · 02/02/2022 18:24

@SpottyCamel

It isn’t my intention at all to go round and start quoting laws at them. Like I said, I don’t really know them so if I ask nicely and they say no, I just wanted to know if I could legitimately ask them because of a law or whether I’d just have to put up with it.
Could you just ask them to move it rather than take it away?
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