To think my neighbours are either creepy or have no sense of personal space?

[Hidingtheworld]

I live in a ground floor flat of a converted house. I think there’s about 7 flats in total and we all share the freehold.

There’s a patio area outside my bedroom (owned by everyone) but I don’t use it. Two of my neighbours use it a lot in the nice weather.

Fine. Except they have a table and chairs right outside of my bedroom window to the point that he could turn his head slightly and just be staring straight at me, (I’m currently in bed getting over an infection)

It freaks me the hell out. I don’t want a stranger staring at me in my own flipping bedroom

Oh for goodness sake it is Friday night and a Bank holiday. What happened to a sense of humour! MN has changed!

OP, if they won't move, you can close the curtains and play that famous movie scene out loud every time they sit there. Mix it up a bit with the backing vocals from Je t'Aime :D

If the patio is right outside your bedroom window then it's not their fault, it doesn't make them weird - bad planning in the original layout of the garden. Could the patio be moved? Otherwise you will have to accept people will sit there, if that's the only patio there is, and either get opaque glass fitted or good blinds.

It is weird, but I'd definitely have drapes or protective film if my bedroom were on the ground floor overlooking a communal garden.

@adaline yes, I recall reading it too.

I agree it's odd to put it outdoor your window rather than theirs (but I assume it's because it's sunnier) but can't you just ask them to move it and if they refuse just move it yourself?It doesn't seem to be that complicated.

shinycat I knew I'd read this before!

I swear there was a post just like this last year? Maybe check what they did??

If its a shared patio can you go and move their table and chairs and put a pot plant/garden ornament by your window

Get curtains?

Why hasnt the OP responded about whether there is an actual reason why they’ve put the furniture in that spot?? It makes me think there is an obvious reason (eg sunny spot) like several people have suggested. In which case to not just speak to them or indeed just accept this aspect of the shared space is the OP being very unreasonable. Accusing these people of being pervs right from the outset!

Just go and move it under their window? Are you allowed to attach a window box outside your window?

That would drive me nuts too.

But I think I would start with the softly softly approach. Although how they think sitting right on top of someone's window is beyond me, but it seems boundaries are gone once the users are happy! Maybe they don't realise the impact it is having on your personal space.

I think if it were me, I would just say something like "Hi there, gorgeous day, I was just wondering if you would mind moving your table a foot or two out, to the right/left whatever, as that is my bedroom you happen to be sitting right outside". And be jolly, friendly and hope they will be accommodating!

If not, I would raise it as an AOB at freeholders meeting.

People can be strange. They do not like to be asked/told what to do, so a measured approach with a friendly smile and so on might work.

What you have to do is prepare for battle if they don't care! Hmm, let's see.....

Ask them to move it as it is affecting your privacy

But surely it would also mean if you have your bedroom window open which most people often do then they would be able to hear you inside etc. So a breach of privacy also. Move the table away and set stuff in front of the window

can't you just ask them to move it and if they refuse just move it yourself?

And then what? If they've refused, do you really think they'll react well to the OP muscling in and moving it?

FFS, people just need to talk in a civilised way to each other.

Thanks for link Shiny, thought I recognised this!

@tomravenacroft, exactly, speak and explain her issue. If they decline to move the table, then it seems the only option would be to move it herself. Of course, they could move it back and a game of patio tennis will commence. .

Go out there and shift the lot to under their window, the longer you leave it there the harder they will push to keep it there. I have learned to push back when neighbours start treading on my privacy. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself

@cees,

I'm guessing the bedroom patio warriors are not in a downstairs flat accessible to the patio.

If they are, well then, their table outside their window. But I doubt they are on the ground floor at all.

I thought this was a zombie thread because I thought it was that one from last year!

Even your diagram is the same from last year

Just out of curiosity, why didn't you take any advice from your last thread last year?

Very similar diagram too 🤔

It's very weird. Is that the only spot that gets any sun? You could try actually asking them to move. Or buy table and chairs and place next to their window so you can peer in at them. Or place big bushes in pots outside your window to block their view.

If none of the above works, put a shower curtain up at the window and reinact the murder in the shower scene from Psycho with accompanying screams

How about getting a lovely mature shrub/small tree in a pot and place it outside your window. It will be really nice to look at and heavy to move.