Net curtains are not a legal requirement!!??

[NetcurtainProblem]

Have had a visit from the person whose house backs onto ours. We have small gardens so it’s very close (new build estate).

She asked me to get net curtains! Apparently it’s a legal requirement for privacy and modesty reasons when houses are so close together ?
That they can see me eating in my kitchen and can see directly into my bedroom.

If I’m getting dressed / changed I shut the actual curtains??

In the morning I do like to open them and have tea / breakfast in bed. I’m not doing naked pilates or anything!
My kitchen table faces out towards the garden but I fail to see how them being able to see me eating is a modesty issue ?

I explained I don’t like nets. Also I can see that they have nets????!!!!!

She told me she will take it further as it could be seen as a nuisance issue ?

I wouldn’t want to be on show to my nosey neighbours. Neighbour won’t be able to see in, but the view out will be uninterrupted. Nets look awful, so unless OP prefers to be an exhibitionist, it’s a good option.

How ridiculous! Neither us nor our 'back' neighbours have net curtains or blinds at the back, we have a low stone wall between our gardens and have never had any issue over seeing each other! We both can, and its openly spoken about as the neighbour noticed when we decorated and complimented it, and we have both asked where the other has been away to when we've noticed absence.
If someone has privacy concerns they can use blinds or nets, but you cant enforce others to!

Anyone who's had net curtains knows that you can see through the holes in them very easily - it doesn't take much effort.

I can't stand people who leave their curtains wide open for everyone to look in.
It smacks of exhibitionism. Look at me - look at my home.

I have neighbours who watch TV in their front seating room with no blinds/curtains and anyone walking past can see them all on their sofa.
I don't get it - they must be constantly distracted by people walking by.
(It's a short distance to the footpath).

When they're not in the room, they switch on the light in the evening so everyone can check out their sitting room. I can only imagine they are very proud of their sitting room and want everyone around to see it (it's vanilla).
It certainly helps potential burglars as the pull down the blinds when they go away for a few days...

Sounds like neighbour's DH is perving on you.

Law degree here 🙋🏻‍♀️. I can honestly say in my studies that I have not come across The Net Curtain Act 2025!

We couldn’t be more opposite 😂 I don’t get passers by and love that about my house.

There ought to be a law against net curtains - they're ghastly. I used to have them in my north-facing living room and was in permanent gloom. I replaced them with vertical blinds which I rarely use but they are there if needed e.g. to avoid prosecution for indecent exposure (not likely in the living room).

I would play her at her own game. Ask her for proof. Get her to share her “evidence”. Once you have the emails or texts, report her to the police and say that she is a peeping tom.

If no one likes nets, who is buying them, I really struggled to get the William Morris voile panels I wanted as they were sold out in the right size and patterns in Next and John Lewis.

Ignore her she's a nutter.

Imagine the police visit. 'Allo madam, you shall aff to accompany me to the station. You are arrested on suspicion of 'avin' no net curtains and waving your bagels about provocatively'.

Go for Lord Lucan or Shergar instead…

I’m a woman just to clarify !

🤣🤣🤣🤣 well, it's given me a laugh! Your neighbour is batshit crazy! Of course, there are no laws regarding net curtains, and no normal person would think there is!!

I'd love to be a fly on the wall if she rang a solicitors and asked them to 'take it further' and 'implement the net curtains law'!!! 🤣🤣🤣

We have black out blinds in our bedrooms (as well as curtains) and vertical blinds in our dining room. Net curtains are old fashioned and dust magnets. You could get blinds if you think perhaps they're sat watching!!

Here's some - I believe that they are Home Office approved.

No this is not the law. Infact, a lot of current legislation is aimed at driving the population towards being Net Zero.

I knew if I hung about on this thread for long enough the puns would start. But enough is enough, I think it is time to draw this thread to a conclusion before more people track it down and get hooked.

Is this a thing? We don't have it (council house)

On a similar theme to @TwoLeftSocksWithHoles you could cover your windows with these scary stickers
https://www.joom.com/en/products/67161289d0c06901298ccda9?openPayload=%7B%22position%22%3A2%7D

Window stickers

This is why our prisons are full to over-flowing

You're welcome!

Yes, I think it must be fairly recent, we had windows replaced about 20 years ago and just had clear glass and there was nothing mentioned then, (30s house). I found out about it when I was looking for window coverings for the awkward size landing window. I don't know if it's one of those things that only affects newer houses or all houses when the windows are changed. It's so you can't gaze into the neighbours house or garden.

I’d ignore her for now, but if she comes back I’d have to be telling her that if she continues staring at you whilst in the comfort of your own home then in fact you’ll be taking it further for stalking

I'm 100% convinced the issue is her huband has noticed you and she is jealous / emotionally unstable about it. You get it all the time with Mums of teenage boys complaining to parents of teenage girls about what they wear. The issue is of course the boys who decide they have to look, but the parents always blame the other parents. All you can do is ignore it or counter-complain saying that the neighbour is a stalky peeping tom and the wife watches you constantly. They of course are the ones in the wrong.