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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to put up 8ft bamboo screening to block next doors extention from overlooking me

88 replies

pettywitchinlondon · 01/06/2015 10:29

Really pissed off that my previously overlooked house is now.

Was just going to put it up temp by concrete in builders pots and posts and gradually move it towards the boundary.

It will block some light from their side windows but far less than their extension blocks for the other neighbours.

I'm totally reasonable right?

OP posts:
Collaborate · 01/06/2015 12:39

If the garage is entirely yours (i.e. the boundary wall is not a party wall but was built on your land, not straddling the boundary) you must, absolutely, stop him rendering it. He may acquire rights over it if you're not careful. If those rights then extend to joint ownership, would you be happy to see him use the wall as the side wall of a further extension, perhaps with him building on top of the wall to make it higher?

What would you think about the rendering causing damp in the wall? It could happen (particularly if it's either not breathable or it bridges the DPC). He wouldn't care would he?

You should get him to remove the cabling too. What if you want to demolish the garage wall? If he's acquired an easement by prescription (long use) you'd have to make provision for his cabling. Perhaps you wouldn't be able to take the wall down without his cooperation due to safety issues.

If you're planning on selling up soon, stand up for yourself. I would steer well clear of buying a house with such issues.

TwerkingSpinster · 01/06/2015 12:44

Bamboo, as a grass not a hedge, is not subject to any height restrictions.... So I'd be buying a 50 foot giant!!!

Original poster
pettywitchinlondon · 01/06/2015 12:54

OK now you've panicked me. How can he acquire rights to my guarage? It is on the boundary. He's attached the new fence to it without asking me, when I come to sell someone will probably develop it and knock down the guarage. Would he be able to stop this?

OP posts:
fearandloathinginambridge · 01/06/2015 12:59

Google 'Party Wall Act' there is a good guidance document on what your rights are.

FinnJuhl · 01/06/2015 13:03

Hi petty, we've recently put some bamboo screening up, and it provides far less privacy than I was expecting! You can still see through it quite clearly, although it does provide some screening, but I would consider a proper fence if I were you, which you can still have to same height with no planning issues.

Original poster
pettywitchinlondon · 01/06/2015 13:05

Ah thanks, I'm pretty sure my guarage is not a party wall - its detached and solely on my side. That means he can't acquire rights on it right?

OP posts:
oddfodd · 01/06/2015 13:10

OMG if it's not on the boundary, you need him to take the fence down. Otherwise I think he could argue in time that the bit of your land between the boundary and your garage now belongs to him (I don't know that for sure but think there might be some kind of legal thing if you let it go for years on end).

You've been far, far too nice and he's massively taking the piss.

TwerkingSpinster · 01/06/2015 13:13

If he has unchallenged use of it for long enough....he could I think! This is why a recorded letter asking for attached wire to be removed will be your proof that you challenged him??

Collaborate · 01/06/2015 13:14

He can acquire rights by treating it as if he owns it. Like attaching a fence to it. Or rendering it.

3littlefrogs · 01/06/2015 13:17

He should have got planning permission and possibly issued you with a party wall agreement.

Are you renting or do you own the property?

You might find it very difficult to sell if there is no planning permission/party wall agreement.

3littlefrogs · 01/06/2015 13:21

It is a party wall if it is within a few metres of the neighbouring property I think. Not sure of the distance - I would have to look it up. But a party wall does not just mean an adjoining wall for the purposes of planning or building.

I think you need to look into this very quickly.

Original poster
pettywitchinlondon · 01/06/2015 13:26

I own it outright. I bought with cash so skipped the basic survey Blush

Its only a inch of the boundary so not worried if he does stake a claim to it. Actually just thought about it the guy the other side has taken down a fence before I was here and takes up a meter with stuff he has done and uses it to store his bins. I wouldn't mind but he bangs the bins on my house just where I sleep. That's reminded me to put up some fence back there.

The only thing I'm worried about is him objecting to planning permission to pull down my guarage to extend the house if he has rendered it and attached a fence to it. Could this happen?

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 01/06/2015 13:28

Yes - it could.

3littlefrogs · 01/06/2015 13:29

If the guy on the other side has pinched a metre of your land that could be even more problematical if you want to sell.

ScorpioMermaid · 01/06/2015 13:30

I agree with pp get his fence removed from your garage or you'll end up losing the land over time, I'd take his nails out aswell seeing as he's gone over the boundary.

ScorpioMermaid · 01/06/2015 13:31

x-post there sorry

GiddyOnZackHunt · 01/06/2015 13:32

You do need to be firmer or he is going to take the piss. They haven't even moved in yet!
The letter only has to say something like 'To avoid any issues please make sure we discuss and agree in writing any changes that have the potential to affect my property before work is carried out.'

TwerkingSpinster · 01/06/2015 13:36

Omg op.....get your property in order quickly! You are being land grabbed on all sides!!!! I think you might need to become less of a pushover tbh.

Original poster
pettywitchinlondon · 01/06/2015 13:37

Yes I need to sort out the guy the other side too. His extension is about 6 inches away from the side window and totally covered it! Sadly this was done before I moved in so I have kept quiet, I probably should of done something about it.

The other side of the fence has been attached to me guarage for years, before I moved in. Should I try to get that end removed also?

They are already in their house, been there for 10 years,, me less than three.

God this thread is stressing me out!

OP posts:
RiverTam · 01/06/2015 13:38

you absolutely need to start asserting your rights over your property. Do not allow him to attach anything to your garage and get him to remove anything that is. Get a solicitor or that council involved if necessary. Do not allow him to render it or basically touch it at all. Get him to fix anything that has been damaged.

With regard to screening his extension, I bought get some actual growing bamboo in pots, what your picture is looks like a fence to me.

Lambzig · 01/06/2015 13:39

Yes he could. We have just removed a small lean to at the side of our house as part of major work, one wall of which formed the boundary with our neighbour. He has had wiring to serve his greenhouse attached to the lean to for the past twenty years with the permission of the previous occupier of our house. Luckily he was fine about us paying for an electrician to move the wiring, but he could have stopped us demolishing the building.

RiverTam · 01/06/2015 13:39

with regard to the other side, if their extension was done within the last 4 years and didn't get planning, get the council to check it out, because if it breaks any planning regulations they have to correct it.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 01/06/2015 13:42

Also go round and take pictures of your house and garage in case he changes things so you have evidence of how it was.

Original poster
pettywitchinlondon · 01/06/2015 13:47

I do take all your advice. But I just want a quiet life, letters like this and demanding sounds like the start of e neighbours from hell fude.

I might just put up the fence one side to stop him putting his bins there. He's been using it for years though.

The other side just nicely ask him to remove it from being attached to my property and ask me before doing anything that affects my property.

What about if got it in writing and paid him 1p to render it?

OP posts: