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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Next door's new decking area created privacy issues! AIBU?

47 replies

kerrycgeorgie · 12/05/2019 13:27

We are the end of a small terraced block of houses (4) with all the back gardens built at a gradient where the top of the garden is higher than the bottom by the house (new homes for you - but that's another issue)! Our next door neighbours who have been there for just over a year have now built a decking area which covers the whole width and top half of the garden. To accommodate the gradient (I assume) the decking is really high to the point that when they are on it I can see them up from their waist level so they can obviously see completely into our garden now and because of the layout of our house into our living room which is at the back of the house.
AIBU to be annoyed at this? I was hoping to get some tips on how best to handle this, reasonable steps to resolve. Obviously i don't expect them to dismantle it but higher fence or trellis could help. TIA

OP posts:

GreenTulips · 12/05/2019 13:28

Trellis and climbing plants

spanieleyes · 12/05/2019 13:29

Well, you can put up a higher fence or trellis on your side but you can't expect your neighbours to do it for you.

JaneEyre07 · 12/05/2019 13:33

Higher fence and plant some bamboo on your side.

And get some voiles for the house until you've grown a screen.

LIZS · 12/05/2019 13:35

If it is so high that fence is now waist high it may need planning permission. You could put trellis up your side and grow climbers. Or bamboo ( but contain the roots) .

LittleAndOften · 12/05/2019 13:37

There are restrictions for how high and big your decking can be. We checked this when we built ours. It has to be no more than 30cm high. Check the details here www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/11/decking

Alizzle · 12/05/2019 13:40

I may be in the minority but can you just have a word with them?

floraloctopus · 12/05/2019 13:45

I'd say talk to them as well and ask them if they have any plans to raise the fence with a trellis and to plant some screening plants.

yabadabadontdoit · 12/05/2019 13:48

I would ring planning dept and check it’s allowed. Then I would talk to the owners, if they’re not the neighbours from hell, and ask them, politely, if they’re planning to address the privacy issue they have created. Hopefully they’ll immediately do something about it, even if they weren’t until you mentioned it. It not, cheapest solution is a fast growing climber on trellis, or lots of tall bamboos ( sometimes cheap on groupon). A nicer looking solution would be those trees that you get that are grown to be just the trunk to 6ft ish then wide but flat out! You can tell my gardening knowledge, I’ll look it up!

quizqueen · 12/05/2019 13:48

Your mistake was buying a house with a garden that wasn't flat- it's always asking for trouble of some sort if it's higher one end.

Raver84 · 12/05/2019 13:49

I'm in the same situation. It's horri le being so overlooked from a hill. I started a thread about this in gardening and got some good suggestions for trees and plants. If it's like what you say though they do need permission to build. My neighbours haven't had any permission either.

Yorkshiremum17 · 12/05/2019 13:50

We had a raised patio several years ago and whilst we loved it, felt very exposed and so we increased the height of the fence - much better for everyone involved!

Just put up some kind of screening, be it a new fence or tall plants

yabadabadontdoit · 12/05/2019 13:54

Pleached trees, look it up on Pinterest if you’re interested, take up little room at the bottom but totally screen off neighbours at the top.

Original poster

kerrycgeorgie · 12/05/2019 13:56

Thanks all - definitely want to go down the civil route so of course I will have a word with them first. We will be a bit restricted on the plants/trees we can use as we have a slate chipping borders on that side with pots rather than traditional borders.
Raver84 - how have you managed?

On a lighter note they now have to put up with my over social 5 year constantly trying to engage in conversation with them every time they go in their garden!!!

OP posts:

AdobeWanKenobi · 12/05/2019 13:57

Council. They can't do that and if it's as high as you describe will require planning permission.
OP should not have to spend a fortune on plants to disguise a structure that by the sounds of it shouldn't be there.

Raver84 · 12/05/2019 13:59

I have put a trellis on top of the fence to increase the height and planted some taller trees. They aren't fully established though so it's still unpleasant. We don't tend to go out there if they are on the raised bit as it's just weird.

yabadabadontdoit · 12/05/2019 14:01

Bamboo in massive pots then, but it will cost a lot, and as pp says, you shouldn’t have to spend money because of their decking. I would definitely start by ringing planning dept and see what they say.

MustardScreams · 12/05/2019 14:13

Please don’t let your kid talk over the fence constantly, it’s a fucking nightmare and a sure-fire way to make sure you never have a good relationship with your neighbours.

Check the legalities of the decking. In the meantime bamboo in pots alongside the overlooked edge.

Dagnabit · 12/05/2019 14:35

I'd be more inclined to encourage the 5 year old to talk to the neighbours - or certainly not prevent it! Might encourage the neighbours to put something up to enable more privacy for both parties.

TheInebriati · 12/05/2019 14:38

The problem with plants is they take time to grow, and unless they are evergreen they don't provide any privacy in winter.
I would put up a screen, made of something like bamboo canes. Then cover it with climbing plants. Theres an everygreen honeysuckle which has a lovely scent in summer.

IncrediblySadToo · 12/05/2019 14:40

Let’s hope for a lot of nice weather so your 5 yo is out there a LOT 🤣

How high (roughly) is the decking off the ground in their garden?

Is it really close to the ground on the top of the slope?

IncrediblySadToo · 12/05/2019 14:41

Please don’t let your kid talk over the fence constantly, it’s a fucking nightmare

Yep. Perfect in this situation.

and a sure-fire way to make sure you never have a good relationship with your neighbours

What, you mean like building a viewing platform to turn your neighbours garden & lounge into an exhibit?

choli · 12/05/2019 14:42

On a lighter note they now have to put up with my over social 5 year constantly trying to engage in conversation with them every time they go in their garden!!!
Just lost all sympathy.

SmellsLikeAdultSpirit · 12/05/2019 14:45

Let the 5 year old out every time they are there
Hopefully it will encourage them to put a higher fence up. At least its free entertainment for your child 😁

longtimelurkerhelen · 12/05/2019 14:47

I think the op's 5 year old only chats to them now that they see them on the elevated patio.

Troels · 12/05/2019 15:45

Go online to your local council site and see if they got planning permission for it. If not alert the council and they will make them lower it or remove it. Job done!

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