To report neighbour for illegal roof garden overlooking my garden?

[toddlermom]

Hi there,

Second time posting so not sure if this is in right place.

My neighbour built a roof terrace seemingly without permission (i can't find it but not sure if looking in right place on local authority website). Anyway, it's now been 5 years and it's been annoying me so much them looking into my garden and noise etc I think I now have to report it. They are nasty bullying neighbours and I've just had enough.

They also have 'taken' a small street/alley way adjacent to their house entrance and gated the end of it so it is now their drive way. Been about 10 years so it's probably legally theirs now?

I don't know if I should say anything or not? And who to? I have never done anything like this before. Thank you for any advice!!

Should have reported them five years ago.

Why on earth didn’t you report it five years ago??

You have a set amount of time to complain. If you have exceeded that time frame then cannot do anything legally.

What is the set amount of time to complain? Does anyone know? I didn't report it before as I didn't realise that I could or that it was illegal or not allowed!! I was young, buying house on my own and knew nothing about housing or rights.

Generally speaking, if you have been occupying lands that you do not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use in excess of 12 years (or in the case of Crown lands 30 years), without any objection from the registered owner, you can claim what is known as “adverse possession”.

It's more than 10 😉

It's more than 10

Get a move on OP!!

Not sure that you'd necessarily need planning permission for a roof terrace?? Prepared to be corrected though.

Is the alley communally owned or could it belong to the neighbours?

I don't think a roof terrace would necessarily be illegal but your council are the ones to speak to about it. You'll have a hard time convincing them it's an issue for you however if you've lived with it for 5 years.

Might be worth contacting building control about the roof terrace, if it is not properly supported ,and they are heavy, then it could be making the building structurally unsafe.

You should have complained to council at the time not decide you don't like it 5 years later. You will most likely have to lump it now. Just keep an eye on what they do next. Act quickly if they do anything else you don't like.

I'll call the council tomorrow just to check. I had no idea at the time that neighbours weren't allowed to build something that overlooks your garden. Only just found out (mostly via MN!). Will call them and see what they say! Thank you for help

Complain without delay