AIBU to set off their security light at night?

[SubparOwl]

Bit of an odd one.
New next door neighbours (detached properties) moved in just before Christmas and have done a lot of work on their home already, including installing a very bright security light outside their back door yesterday.

I have insomnia and am a smoker. I tend to get up around 4am and smoke outside about once an hour from that point onwards.

I am completely silent when outside, the houses are older so well spaced, and our patio door is virtually noiseless so I couldn't see any way this could disturb neighbours, until now.

I can't even step outside the door a few inches without their hugely bright light switching on. It stays on for a couple of minutes, so when I move again to go inside, it switches on again.

It is right outside their bedroom window. They usually get up around 6.

I think this could well disturb them, but don't want to ask as I am quite wary of them. I have got on well with all previous neighbours, but these are yet to acknowlege me at any point despite smiles and hi from me, and the day they moved in the woman was most miffed that I still had a bbq outside in the garden in winter.

They carried out work which affected our property without mentioning it to us and I've felt quite awkward since they moved in.

I don't really want to change my habits as I get most of my quiet housework and life admin done in the early morning before work..but I don't want to antagonise them.

Do you think it's unreasonable to continue to go outside?

Thanks.

It's unlikely they even know what's causing it. And it's not your problem. If they don't like it they can switch it off.

These lights go off , as others have said, for many reasons, a cat, a fox, the wind blowing a leaf past it, I really wouldn't be concerned and don't change your habits.

They will be able to adjust the light only to cover their garden if it bothers them. The fact they haven't done so suggests-it's not an issue.

Make them adjust their bloody light!
Our next door neighbour had one put in that was triggered by movement in our garden-we insisted it was adjusted as I didn’t want our garden lit up.

If you don’t feel able to ask them then I’d make a point if deliberately setting it off as much as possible so they get the message. Light pollution is rude.

Someone will know about this properly, but I think there might be something about security lights can only be triggered on your own property???

Caveat - this may be bollocks

I hate security lights. The arc should never cover beyond the boundary and that includes the light and the sensor. Too many fail to do this (I'm looking as I type at the bloody searchlight installed by our neighbours at the back). Why can't people who instal these have some basic decency and realise they're just being twats?

And breathe.

As they are relatively new, I wouldn't be surprised if things like security lights need adjusted. We had small ones fitted by our front door and had to adjust them a couple of times before they stopped going off when people walked along the pavement next to our drive.

I'd either pop around or mention when you next see them.

with a light as sensitive as that anything could be setting it off such as fox dog cat etc on the prowl dont change your routine if the light disturbs them then they need to adjust it

They don't sound very welcoming.

I'd probably be going out and doing the Hokey Cokey every time they annoyed me, but I can understand you not wanting to provoke them.

However, their light, their problem. Enjoy your midnight smoke.

Ca you smoke outside the front door? Or smoke less (win-win)?

There's one at the front too Saturday.

I would be the annoyed one if I was you. Their light is their problem, they can adjust it or turn it off if they want to. Sounds like they need to angle it away from your garden too. But if it's not bothering you, I wouldn't give it a second thought.

Just make occasional fox noises when you're out there OP

Had similar (bar the up at 4.00 to go out for a smoke) a few years ago

People over the back had a security light, with the strength of a bloody foglight I swear, and the first few nights it shined into my bedroom window . I was going to go round but come Night 3 it ceased to shine into my room so they might have realised themselves . Perhaps your neighbours will do too OP , especially as the light is outside their bedroom .
Best of Luck.

YANBU

you’re quietly doing something on your own property. IF it’s disturbing them (and you don’t even know that it is) it’s because they chose to install an over sensitive bright light that is triggered by movement on your property as well as theirs. They can adjust the light settings if it bothers them.

It shouldn't be coming on if you're in your own garden: it's scope is clearly too wide and it needs adjusting.

Don't worry about it - if they complain point out that it is their light!

And can I be the first to post this

www.27bslash6.com/halogen.html

I echo the 'their light their problem' no you do as you wish and they can adjust the settings if its worrying them, as it doesn't upset you and you could say its a heightened security for your premises too then no problem, anyway I feel spring is on the way soon you wont even notice- or is that simply too optimistic?

I would not change my habits for them. You are not disturbing them, their light is!