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

People seem to be split into two groups here:

Tell them then they have to "be kind" and take it down if they don't they're mean.
Don't bother, they won't take it down, I wouldn't.

Op says How is it fair that we sit in darkness to accommodate their heat solutions?
So: How is it fair that their flat gets overheated to accommodate Op's light issues?
That's a similar question just from the other side. A compromise isn't all on one side.

Currently they probably have no idea that their heat solution is causing issues - so they're not being a bad neighbour here.
But Op has no idea how bad the heat situation is. eg. One of my dc is on medication where heat causes her more issues than normal. It's the first year she's been on it, and she's really noticed the difference. So OP might go round and find that there is very good reason why they need to keep the heat down.

So rather than going round and expecting them to do all the compromising, I'd say that the OP should look and see if there are any simple adjustments they can do - blind, move sofa, put same stuff up etc rather than just expecting others to suffer the heat so they don't have to.

If there's genuinely nothing they can do, then a conversation would be the way to go. But the expectation should be that they're working together, whether it's an adjustment (eg if the window is slightly open, does that mean the light's at a different angle so doesn't come in.

It is you who has the problem, though; and one your opposite neighbours don't even know about.
If you do tell them, and I hope you do, please let us know the outcome.

Perfect. These are exactly what we need, thank you.

OP, if not already suggested, can you set up a mirror to reflect light back to them?

have you got a link please?
edit, seen it, thanks

Well because its you who have the problem?? Any why would you ask they take it down if it could be quite easily solved with like, a vase or a plant??

Are you this hard work about everything?

If it’s hot then your blinds will be down anyway if you have any common sense to help keep your house cool?

Thing is it won’t go into their house, it will just bounce back off their mirror film

We have Venetian blinds and have them down all the time, usually the slits are open or angled but It isn't dark even if the slits are fully closed. It just protects from the sun and provides privacy
It doesn't hurt to mention it to the neighbours but if they have paid someone to fit it they probably wouldn't be willing to pay again to have it removed but perhaps there is something else they can do.

Or you could invest in a blind and not dazzle your neighbours?

What blinds do you have? If venetian then you can just angle the slats upwards to direct light towards the ceiling? With vertical blinds you can just angle the slats in the opposite direction from the glare? If Roman/roller blinds you'll either always have to have them lowered while its so sunny out or part lowered with some sort of covering (reflective or not) on the lower half to still let light in?

But they don't know it's a problem cos you haven't told them ffs

Very odd that you are not willing to do anything to help. Sounds like a goady thread to be honest

The best thing we did on moving to this house was to have cream vertical blinds fitted throughout downstairs. It stops the sight lines (on a pavement), but you still have lots of light. That was before I saw the perfect fit, in frame ones, though. But they’re still the best money I’ve ever spent 🤣.

I would definitely talk nicely to them. But failing that, if it is a small beam could you put some sort of window decoration up to diffuse it? Like a stained glass sun catcher.

I honestly think loads of people here just like winding people up. I’ve just been accused of starting a goady thread…over window film?!

thank you to all who have given advice in good faith, much appreciated. I’ll talk to them.

But then equally why is your problem theirs to fix? It works both ways doesn’t it?Ask but don’t be a prat about it, and be ready to take a no,they have clearly paid out to protect or improve their property which is not unlawful or generally bad, it just happens your seating arrangement means it doesn’t work for you.

Ultimately that is a you problem, and making the change will actively diminish their position (in contrast to tweaking the angle of a misaligned security light) soi wouldn’t doit if you asked, but I suppose they might.

Why wouldn't you at least try to fix it?

If something easy like a vase would work (in the post you quoted), it would be unfair to expect your neighbours to remove the film they've just bought and be uncomfortable for you. If you can't find a suitable solution, then talking to the neighbours makes more sense.

It’s because it’s causing you an issue, it’s not causing them an issue. Normally if you wish your neighbours to do something that will cost them as it’s causing uou an issue, you pay and they deal with the inconvenience of sorting it.

you can ask, but they may say no, so decide how big an issue it is for you. If it’s not enough of an issue you’d pay them I guess why should they.

I don’t think I should necessarily have to respond to every single suggestion, but no a vase won’t work because there’s not enough room on the windowsill, it would have to be a bloody big vase to fix it, we have cats that would just knock it off, and I just don’t want a huge enormous vase in my living room

Well to them presumably so 🤷‍♀️

ask if you want but I doubt they’ll do anything

This is just completely backwards. If a neighbour is doing something that negatively affects another neighbour, it’s on them to fix it.

I’m just sitting quietly in my living room minding my own business and they’re the ones disrupting things

It’s not really though. Morally sure, but they are allowed the film covering, the issue is now yours.

it’s clear you don’t wish to pay. So I’d assume they will react the same. Which leaves you in the same situation,

I have no idea how lighting beams work in this street but I assume it’s not simply bidirectional and I’d run the risk of blinding someone else

They’re not really “allowed” the window film if it’s negatively affecting someone else. I suspect the council would agree with me.