Neighbours erected HUGE decking outside our back window....

[huffythethreadslayer]

Would you complain to the local authority and enforce planning permission???

Half of me thinks I am being unreasonable and should just let it drop...half of me wants to just move.

We live in a 3 bed semi with nice green views across the city. The house is 3 stories at the back, 2 at the front because of the hilly ground.

New neighbours moved in a while ago...don't hate em, don't love em...they're just neighbours, so this isn't a grudge thing.

This weekend they've erected (and half completed) a raised deck area that takes decking from the base of the garden (ie the bottom of the house) up to the first floor window.

From the new decking, once completed, they'll be able to look straight into our living room/kitchen, especially as the decking extends quite a way out, iykwim.

DH says it's not our problem and we should leave it alone, as he hates to cause trouble, but it's driving me nuts. I can't bear the lack of privacy it'll cause. And I know it contravenes the rules for decking without permission as it's well over 12 feet tall!

What would you do?? report or not report???

Realistically they must have known it would cause upset anyway - nobody could be stupid enough to think that decking overlooking somebodys windows or garden, at height, would not be offensive or require pp. They probably half expected you to complain if that makes you feel any better. If they didnt think - then they should have done.

It is worth remembering that they're not building it so they can look in your windows, and if they've got any sense they'll consciously avoid doing so. You could wait until it's finished then getting the neighbours round to see it from your side?

Today dh went to speak to the neighbours today and they were really apologetic. They said they hadn't even thought about what they were doing and they were really naieve. DH said he hadn't wanted to stop them completely and they talked about what they'd be doing next. Neighbours were really glad we'd gone to talk to them! Then they started talking about what they wanted to do with the garden and DH (being a sweetie) offered to help them out.

All's well that ends well. And I supppose it just goes to show that talking to people often does sort things out. And not talking to people really can give you weird ideas about what people are thinking and how they feel.

Thanks for the support anyway everyone