neighbours have just put a window in their new garage that totally overlooks my garden

[nettlewine]

I assumed when they were rebuilding the guarage they were just doing as before but further back. However they have plonked a triple window in. As its now further back our garages don't align and as they are much higher up it totally overlooks my garden. It is right on the property border.

Aibu to ask them to make it bricked? And if they don't is it wrong that they have done this?

One word... Gymbalow.

If I were you I wouldn't like this, but unless they were supposed to get planning permission and didn't you don't have a leg to stand on arms you really ruining any neighbourly feeling you share. If i were your neighbour I'd be 1) embarrassed to have disconcerted my neighbour, 2) a bit shocked at the notion you would expect me to cover a legal window and 3) suggest you do what you need to in order to create the privacy you seek.

This kind of thing isn't on imo. Where we are the council always stipulates there are to be no windows in elevations which overlook neighbouring houses when they grant planning permission. It seems plain wrong that under permitted development someone could do just that. Why didn't they just put windows in on their side of it?

Maryz did Plannign not say anything?

Seeking advice from Plannignand/or Building Regs is NOT the sort of dispute that you would have to declare if you wanted to move, it is just part of the process.

*Planning

And I would, as people try to sneak all sorts passed them and Planning don't know unless they are told.

Aha, now, I think if you contact local planning you might have a case to get them to change to obscured glass.

A relative replaced a frosted window with a clear one not long back, and was asked to put a frosted one back in by The Council or have a £300 fine or something.

I don't know if that was because of the original planning as relative got a bit arsey about it

Well this is interesting. I've just got planning permission to build a house and we had to negotiate all kinds of obstacles regarding privacy of neighbours. And I wanted to make sure we didn't breach my neighbour-to-be's privacy too, so have no windows on one side of the house.
I think our LA also says no windows within 12 ft of a boundary, although they also seem to relax that rule when they feel like it too.
I'd be pissed off too, why couldn't they put windows on their own side?
And as far as I understand, permitted development doesn't overrule other planning rules.

My neighbours did this. My private sun trap was spoilt by a huge window that was put in the end wall of the gymbalow garage. The builders waited until I was at work before installing it, using (without my permission) my garden for access. I put fast growing bamboo in pots along the entire width and it obscures my view of the window and their light very successfully.

They should have had to apply for planning permission and you should have been informed they were planning this window OP. Talk to council. .

I thought you didn't need planning permission if the building (eg garage or garden shed) was less than a certain size, or a percentage of the area of the main building on the property.
But if it is used as a gym or living room then that will prob be different.

You dont necessarily need PP for a garage. There are certain rules.
Our neighbour complained about our window in the back of the garage.
I think we were then told to put up a fence (which we were going to anyway) and frost window.
I do think though their complaint was unreasonable as the garage we took down had windows all along the back (plus the overlooking aspect was not a rule under the permitted development).
(The council gave us dodgy info on where we could put the garage and we ended up 1ft forward of our house, but behind the building line of the road the garage was on)
We dont hardly use garage. Certainly not a gym or utility room. Can see neighbours garden from upstairs rooms anyway and NDN didnt query the window in the side of the garage which would have just as good a view.
So yes you could complain, but council may not do anything.
The neighbour probably wont care if you ask for the window to be frosted.
Possibly they are too close to the boundary ours was over 1m away.
In fact it could have backfired as with PP we could have gone closer to boundary.
It was a little annoying as the issue the council picked up was nothing to do with that neighbour
I would suggest looking at the planning rules for garages in your LA.

You have no right to a view, but 'overlooking' is a legitimate planning ground for objection.

Liking GERTI's pots of bamboo.

I've caLmed down a bit. Mary's Maryz that looks very annoying, without trying to misery trump mine is much worse as there's is about 6ft higher and overlooks my previously private garden.

B and q sell bamboo. Not cheap -35 quid a poquidt. But might splash out on it, then after it grows another 3ft will start to block out their windows.wwil

nettle

A family of four will probably be moving in
I like the idea of the bamboo though, definitely call planning dept and check the garage is legal.
it does sound like a change of use. What do they do for a living, could it be a new workshop?

Not sure why people think it's strange that the garage has a windows in it... We have 4 windows in our garage and its used as a garage. Windows let light in which help us see when we are in it.

Chances are they have put it on your side because they know no one can see in it and as a such is secure yet will provide light.

Rubbish, I feel for you. This happened down the road from us, the over looked people put up a washing line in front of the window. There was a super king size sheet on it all year round.

My DD's detached side neighbour built a 2 story extension and had to apply for planning permission for it.

DD was given the plans to approve and there was a window on her side that she objected to as looked into her garden.

They agreed to change the normal glass to obscured. But planning dept had initially allowed it .

In our road a semi detached neighbour was automatically denied planning permission for their new porch due to spoiling their neighbours view and light that they had enjoyed for more than 20 years. Neighbours had not even objected.

Hmmm I can see why you'd be pissed off if you've not been previously overlooked and now it looks like you might be.

If it looks like it's still going to be used as a garage then I don't think I'd be too bothered. I'd presume someone's going to spend time with a hobby therefore they are going to be too preoccupied with than looking in my garden - they'd soon be bored!

We are very overlooked here. I knew this when we moved in and it's never been an issue. I never stand looking at what the neighbours are doing because a, I'm too busy and b, I don't care.

They need planning permission and you need to call enforcement at your council ASAP and tell them you object re overlooking and privacy.

Planning or building regs can not do anything now it's been built but enforcement can. They will probably be asked to change it to obscure glazed glass so they get the light but won't overlook you as opposed to taking the window out and placing it higher up which is also an option.

In fact you to need to go on to your council website under planning, put in their address under the enforcement link and write what the issues are. They will then investigate. You will need to give your name, address and contact details but it will anonymous to the property you are complaining about.

I really think you need to speak to planning permission to check they're ok with this.

From someone who has a neighbour who encroaches on my privacy I can see where you're coming from, and that's just a garden that overlooks mine as it's higher and so the woman next door peeps in to my garden (and my house) a fair bit. Having a whole room that overlooks would annoy me even more.

love the idea of a washing line with a king size duvet permanently on it! no waiting for bamboo to grow now OP?