Can I ask my opposite neighbours to remove their reflective window film?

[fartotheleftside]

any time there is sunlight it just reflects directly into our house and somehow always directly into my eyes :(

would I be wrong to let them know and ask if they can find a different solution? I’ve never spoken to them

No. Don’t you have any blinds?

You can ask, I might.
I did once ask a neighbour opposite if he could change the setting on his garden lights to stop hem constantly flashing....and he did.

Yes you would be wrong. I have similar film on the front of my property to stop people seeing in from the road when the gates are open. Invest in a blind.

Speak to them

Be prepared to have them pop round to see how annoying it is.

I completely understand why they want it but there are other solutions.

I thought OP was talking about the mirror reflective stuff?

There's lots of privacy window coverings, but they aren't all mirrored.

Maybe get some reflective window film for your windows.

Yes and we’re having to have them down them all day every day when there’s even a bit of sunshine… doesn’t really seem fair?

I’d speak to them but expect them to refuse. I find the “don’t you have blinds” comments bizarre. Who wants to plunge their home into darkness?!

Presumably I’d just be passing the problem on to someone else if I did this and that seems pretty mean

Very bizzare, but then some people have no consideration for others.

Talk to them and offer to pay for an alternative solution.

They won't take it off. It's excellent for reflecting the sun so the house doesn't heat up as much. Means you don't have to have the blinds/curtains closed.

Absolutely no way, why should I pay not to be blinded in my own home?

If it was me I would speak to them, I suspect they are completely unaware of the issue it’s causing you.

Maybe I didn’t explain it properly. It’s my opposite neighbour to the side, and due to the angles there is a concentrated beam of light that goes directly from one of their windows right into our eyeline level when sat on the sofa.

it’s genuinely blinding, it’s not just that their windows are a bit too shiny for our liking

I understand completely what you mean.
If you don't talk to them about it, they can't do anything about it, can they?

Thank you 💙 sorry just a bit surprised by all the people saying I shouldn’t ask them!

I’m worrying now that they’ve had it done professionally and therefore won’t want to remove it. Everything I’ve read says that these kinds of films should be applied on the outside of the window for heat protection. We’re in first floor flats so unlikely to have done it themselves if it is on the outside of the window.

Is the reflective covering new? Or have you rearranged your room?
if it is new, then at least go chat with them. They can’t do anything if they don’t know there’s an issue on that one window,
Alternatively, can you switch round your furniture?

It’s new, it’s only been up for a week or so.

unfortunately we can’t rearrange the room as we have a fireplace and fitted shelving on the opposite side of the room to the sofa.

There may be an easy solution to the problem.
In my experience, if someone knows they are causing neighbours problems (like the flashing lights in my opposite neighbours garden) as soon as I pointed it out, he changed the setting....job done, and we remained on the best of terms.

Oh, it's probably on the inside then

It may well be the stuff that they just bought themselves.

I don't know why people are being complete wankers on here - possibly they don't know exactly what you're talking about because it is absolutely fierce and it's not good for passing motorists either (you may not have any anywhere you are though)

I would definitely talk to them. It would probably help my flat but it would absolutely blind the people opposite!

i'm on a development. We did have somebody who put in tinfoil up in desperation. The people on the whatsapp group who are being blinded by it pointed it out and the guy took it down straight away.

not everyone is that nice, but some people are.

There’s a blind system that clicks into the frame of the window, very neat and compact, and you can position it partway down the window which would solve it for you. you get all the light, but block the spot that’s causing the problem.

Obviously if they’ll do something, great, but they chose and paid for the film so won’t be keen to remove it.

No harm in asking! BTW if a concentrated beam of light is coming into your house be careful as that can be a fire hazard

You can ask but I doubt they will remove it , I wouldn’t if I were them .

It can damage your glass as well.