Adding trellis to stop neighbour intrusion

[RosesAreRed85]

I live in a 4 in a block. I'm top floor and my garden (private) is the one shown on the left of the photo, surrounded by the fence. Neighbour is beneath and the window shown is her bedroom window. Both fences are mine, previous owner paid for them and for them to be erected.

I get on well enough with downstairs neighbour however the issue is that every time I go out to the garden, she comes out and chats, for a good half hour. She's elderly and I get that she just wants to chat, I have no problem with a short chat now and then, but last time I was out there, I had a whole day free when DC was at their dads and so wanted to get cracking on the garden, she came out 5 separate times, 3 times to chat for ages and will sometimes stand watching me from her bedroom window, which is a little awkward.

I'm not sure if it would be unreaonable of me to heighten the fence a little to give me privacy? I don't want to completely block her light, just her view into my garden! I was thinking of popping a trellis on top, so that light still gets through. Maybe pop some climbing flowers on it. The taller fence that can be seen is 6ft tall, i was thinking of matching the trellis height to this. Local planning permission dictates 6ft 6 inches is the limit that you can have fences, so I don't think I would be breaking any local laws. I'm sure she will complain as she's quite fixed on how she thinks things should be, so I'm not sure if it's unreasonable of me to do this?

I'm not sure if it would be unreaonable of me to heighten the fence a little to give me privacy? I don't want to completely block her light, just her view into my garden!

Going by the photo it would not only be unreasonable, it would be extremely unkind. Downright nasty really, to block her bedroom window deliberately. Presumably you rented/bought your flat knowing that window was there.

These comments are bizarre. It isn't unreasonable to block someone's view if that view is into someone else's garden and violates their privacy. No one has a right to an unobstructed view and a 6ft fence won't 'block her light', that's not how the 'right to light' works. It's not ops fault that the boundary is so close to the house.

If it's a legal property boundary to the back of the property then 6ft fences are perfectly legal usually. Worth checking of course with planning.

Use the trellis you linked to, screw it into the existing fence and it's easy enough to remove if things get problematic for whatever reason.

I do think that PPS ideas of installing screening planting is good and you should actually do both. Bamboo (in pots as it will spread) up to 6ft is a great idea or a thin laurel hedge or similar.

Completely blocking her view would be ruder than not engaging in chat every time she wants too. I think that fence is way too close to her window to add anymore height to it.

This is the most sensible approach.

I am surprised your planning authority allows a fence at all so close go a window. Ours doesn't. I think it's completely unreasonable to block either her light or her view. I get that you don't want to chat though. Can't you just start saying something like - "`Sorry Mary, can't stop to chat today - I've got so much to do, I need to get this done before (whatever excuse you like - friends come round/appointment/etc)". Okay, that'll only work once or twice. Then you say something like "Sorry Mary, no time to chat ... need to get this done". Then you move on to "Just let me get this finished - why don't you come over for coffee and a chat (name a time)". You've got this- you don't need to make an enemy, or spoil her view, just be more assertive.

I would plant a hydrangea - many of which grow to 2.5m tall.

IIRC for there to be a Right to Light easement, there has to have been uninterrupted light access for at least 20 years. Additionally putting up a trellis might not be enough to trigger a legal action.
OP it seems to me that whatever you do will annoy/offend this neighbour so you might as well just go for it. She sounds like what i would call a "vampire neighbour" We had one at our first house, luckily another neighbour warned us!

The specific trellis you have linked to would not take out much lighter, though plants on it might. However it would give the impression from the inside of having bars at her window and would impact on her room, which could feel more like a cell with wooden bars at the window.

I too think if you want her not to talk to you, then you need to say so. You are a friendly neighbour and take her places. It's not rude to say that you would love to have a cup of tea together sometime, but would she mind if you didn't chat in the garden, as that is your family time/relaxing time/gardening time. Be prepared to repeat. I'm not being rude, Betty, but I'm not chatting in the garden. Smile, wave and then enjoy your garden time.

PS you could put a large trellis fence covered with pretty plants in front of the trampoline, and then the kids could sit on it/make it a den/you can sunbathe on it entirely privately.

oh DO NOT really do not, invite her for coffee

I get that your neighbour obvs enjoys chatting to you but this would drive me nuts too. I think the only thing that’s not going to cause massive upset is something temporary but ongoing. A clothes line for drying/airing sheets on to block her view when you’re outside, can also double as a tent for kids - throw old blanket over & peg out.
If she complains - ‘it’s an ideal spot & only for few hours Doreen, must crack on’

You can’t really be annoyed if you haven’t made it obvious.

You just say, “Lovely chatting with you Linda, I’ve got to get on with this now.”

I would honestly be really hurt and annoyed if someone was angry at me for taking up their time chatting, assuming I must be lonely, when in actual fact they had made absolutely no effort to indicate that they were done with the chat. Give the woman something to go on for heaven’s sake!

You don’t have to go along with everything everyone else wants, without making any indication of your own needs.

All these "social butterflies" On here moaning , I wonder if they would like someone coming to chat everytime they stepped foot out of their door. Do they give up their time to go sit with the lonely people for chats?

It would drive me round the bend and it would make me want to avoid my garden so anything you can do to try to ease the interruptions will be helpful. The screen sounds a very good idea.

You kids could run around it/behind it. Plus could store their toys there etc.

Just thought it was a good option to give you some privacy.

Of course I wouldn’t like it! But I would start by using my words. “Really busy today Avril, got to get on.”

It’s honestly not normal to go for a physical barrier as a FIRST resort. I know we’re British but really.

One of my neighbours has a marquee tent covering half the garden all year round. If don't mind losing a bit of grass (it may die), you'd have privacy for some of it. The added bonus is even on rainy days, their little boy can play outside.

I think though putting much more up you may block her light or upset her. A trellis won't stop her watching you or give you privacy but it may serve as a barrier to stop her chatting at you over the fence while you want to get on with things. Tbh, it's just a really badly laid out flat.

I have never seen a fence sited so close to someones ground floor flat. Surely it is a fire hazard, how would your neighbour be able to escape safely?
Is the flat side onto your garden or is that the rear of her flat?

It looks like there is barely any room to walk alongside the GF flat even for window cleaning. Bizarre

I’d hope that regulations would stop you from putting a 6ft fence right in front of her window tbh.

You need to talk to her.
Learn to say ‘I’m sorry but I need to get going and do my gardening’
Grey rocking.

So far, you’ve talked to her every time so,the only you’ve done is to tell her you’re ok with having chats!

Check very carefully regarding the height restrictions on fencing as the criteria might vary between a boundary fence and one that would potentially block a residents view and light.

As for the constant interruption when you’re in the garden……throw a deafy…….just say hi when she appears and crack on with whatever job you’re doing……you don’t have to listen to her all the time and you could put headphones on and pretend you’re listening to music, better still actually do listen to music.

Give the neighbour a break though, if she lives alone you might be the only person she sees from one week to the next……loneliness is a killer.

So let me get that right.

Youre uncomfortable talking to her, redirecting, telling her you dint have time
But somehow comfortable to put treilli in front of her window thatvwill bliack her view. Not just of your garden but the sky,m whatever is further away and most importantly a sense of space.
Bit that’s ok because…. You won’t have to talk to her and you’re hoping she usnt going to complain about it (in which you’d have to talk to her again)

Cone on. Put your big girl pants on. Rehearse what to say if she comes and chat and just do it. You dint have to be rude. Just consistent

You can't put the trellis so close to her window, it would be like putting her in a cage!! What about a tilting umbrella to give some screening? Maybe if you could show us a plan of your garden someone could give you some suggestions. There are ways of doing staggered planting of wispy plants and trees that give privacy without being too harsh.

Let us know how the retractable screen goes if you use that. I don't think your specific trellis is that bad, people will be thinking of smaller holes/denser panels. I also think it's ok to be a bit rude/cold!

Far less confrontational is an already fairly mature apple or blossom tree slightly forward of the fence.

YADNBU OP. Ignore the 'contrarians'. Don't reply to them, they love attention. Sad. Get that screen out. She will soon get the message. 💐

You say she made her displeasure known about your lil ones trampoline,how did she do this ? If she has no issue with being upfront or blunt and voicing any issues she has them you should return the same energy op in the same way . Sorry I can't chat I'm busy with DC or I've got to get this done before I pop out and chatting distracts me ,polite but firm

I think the trellis is a bad idea tbh.

If you really aren’t assertive enough to just pop headphones on and train her out of it, then I would go with the washing line option.

That would also stop the staring as well as the talking. Plus it is really useful!!!