Neighbouring treehouse

[Spooked7]

I will append a diagram if it helps, but AIBU to ask neighbouring family to take down large wooden treehouse that sits above the level of our fence and dominates the view?
I don’t know the neighbours and don’t want to start a dispute with them, especially as we only recently moved in. However, we had no idea there was a treehouse overlooking our garden. It was disguised by overgrowing trees as the previous owner of our house had passed away over a year before we viewed the house...and the trees hadn’t been cut back for a while. After a few days living here we started to see heads of small boys popping through the trees about 4 feet above our fence. I still didn’t realise it was a treehouse. Then a month later they employed a tree surgeon to cut back the trees as they were overhanging our (small) garden and blocking light from getting in. This exposed the entire, very large, wooden treehouse. It is a platform about 5.5ft off the ground, with a see-through fence panel about another 3 ft in height around its edge. The whole structure sits above the level of our fence. It has some bits of camouflage netting and a sheet of canvas loosely attached, that flap and wave in the wind. It is both intrusive and unsightly and I have no idea what to do about it without angering the neighbours. I have had advice from the council who said they will happily go round and investigate anonymously whether they should have sought planning permission for it, but it would be completely obvious that we instigated it, as it doesn’t really affect anyone else. I know that if/when we decide to sell our house this treehouse will put a lot of people off. It dominates our very small garden.

Has anyone managed to resolve a similar issue without it leading to a dispute?

I would be inclined to try and speak to the owner directly and say that you appreciate all the tree work they've had done but you hadnt realised how overlooked you'd feel and would they consider some screening or happy for you to put some up.

I agree with the suggestions that you show the neighbours the photos and ask them to put up some decent looking screening eg tall bamboo in troughs, while letting the trees grow back longer term. There’s plenty of options short of taking the treehouse down. If they don’t respond well to that, I would contact the council about planning permission.

@Seeline

Tree houses can and do need PP.

I have dealt with several applications in the past.

And that tree house is not temporary - it couldn't be taken down at the end of each day. It's as permanent as the OPs fence.

The regs are clear - any deck or platform that is more than 30cm above ground level requires permission. I am fairly certain that this one wouldn't get it because of the impact in the neighbours.

Rubbish! My outdoor table is higher than 30cm. So you're saying I needed planning permission for my outdoor dining table?

My daughter has a timber climbing frame with a little platform at the top of the slide and that didn't require planning permission!

Take up naturism. Your dh wandering around with his balls dangling may see them placing covering around the tree house....

I agree it's a monstrosity. But you aren't for selling for a few years bu which time it'll presumably be pretty much covered again. Presumably your kids will be at the same school? Do you really want to be the mum who insisted the kids treehouse got ripped down?

I am mystified as to why anyone should object to a neighbour's tree house. Personally I would be happy for the children especially in lockdown.
Being overlooked in suburbia is part of life, get over it.

Being overlooked by some kids on a bloody zoo viewing platform isn’t part of living in suburbia!

I’m sure all the posters saying ‘won’t somebody think of the children?’ wouldn’t be happy!

We have a v large treehouse at the bottom of our garden. It was installed by previous owners and has temporary planning permission. Drop a note through their door, politely asking if a solution can be found? If they're not helpful, then the council is the next step.

@DC3Dakota

Your table is not a structure - don't be ridiculous.

Your climbing frame however could actually require PP. Did you check with the Council?

Put an archery target on the fence and start practising.

actually that may be a bit harsh - best put rubber suckers on the end of the arrows.

OP if you have no problem with it when it's covered by the trees maybe you could ask the neighbours to put screening along the side that borders your garden so you have some privacy until the trees have regrown sufficiently to cover it again. It won't affect the children playing in the treehouse but would make a big difference to you, it looks really intrusive as it is. I'm amazed your neighbours haven't been proactive and shown some consideration by trying to at least screen it once they saw how hard the trees had been pruned back as surely they must know it need planning permission.

Is it possible to put high trellis up and then grow climbers?

I’d be reluctant to complain about something that is already there but would object much more if it was brand new and you’d been living there a few years.

You can look at planning applications yourself online. Go to the planning section of the council's website and find the "See or Comment on Planning Applications" section. Put in their address. If they have applied for permission you'll see it there.

Well then, plant some trees and be done with it.

No need to @ me.

@BlueBirdGreenFence no my kids are at different schools.

@Crapbuttrue planning office already checked and they didn't ever apply.

That's very intrusive and must overlook you considerably, id ask them to move it lower or ground level ... So it in writing , make a copy so if they refuse then you can go to the council with proof you've tried to resolve it amicably and reasonably .... I have a very large wooden play centre in my garden , you can See into both neighbours gardens (not houses) from it it's not close to the walls but it's tall .. Before I brought it I discussed with both sets of neighbours with the design drawings of how it may block any light /children seeing in , both said they didn't mind but I still made sure it was in the best possible place for the neighbours light and that the children couldn't see into Windows etc..I don't understand why people don't do this it takes your neighbours into consideration and people are much more likely to say yes/come to a fair compromise if you speak to them first ... I'm really sorry your neighbours have been so selfish, no one wants there privacy infringed on .. If you leave it like others are saying then your garden will be pretty unusable in the summer holidays /halfterm/weekends in the warmer weather as youl have someone else's children staring at you /talking to you .. It will drive you mad ! X

[quote Seeline]@DC3Dakota

Your table is not a structure - don't be ridiculous.

Your climbing frame however could actually require PP. Did you check with the Council?[/quote]
Yes I did, of course! They laughed before telling me it's absolutely fine!!!

@woodyLdn

We have a v large treehouse at the bottom of our garden. It was installed by previous owners and has temporary planning permission. Drop a note through their door, politely asking if a solution can be found? If they're not helpful, then the council is the next step.

The problem with that approach is that the only solution is to remove it.

Putting a side on it, or screening it somehow still isn't acceptable.

So the OP really should be upfront about the end result she wants to achieve.

Hopefully they are reasonable people and on seeing a photo/ viewing in person they will understand the issue.

If not, well the fact of the matter is that a structure of that height/size/proximity requires planning permission and unless they have it, it needs to go.

For those criticising the OP how would you feel if your neighbours put up a large structure on your boundary that breeched planning regulations, substantially impacted the enjoyment of your house/garden and devalued your house - would you just suck it up?

No and if you say otherwise you're being disingenuous.

The structure absolutely looks newly built and may not have even been there when viewings were done so the idea "it was there first" is moot - there's no reason to know that's the case and again regardless it's an illegal structure the timing of its implementation isn't relevant.

What's telling on loads of threads like this is in nearly all cases the structure/trampoline/play set is invariably positioned as far away from the parents home as possible presumably to protect their enjoyment of their garden with zero regard for that of their neighbours.

So no I don't feel sorry for the neighbours or the kids.

Planning regulations are there for a reason and if you break them don't whine about it.

@Fromthebirdsnest I doubt it was visible to anyone when they had it built, so probably didn't think to ask how it would impact on neighbours....however I can imagine the old lady who lived here before us may have enjoyed the company of small children in the trees.

I may suggest they get something like this media.screwfix.com/is/image/ae235/6744X_P?$p$
and put it in the middle of their huge garden rather than along our fence.

How does that compare to what the children have ? Just to suit you.

I totally understand you want privacy in your own garden which you are entitled to but you asked for the trees to be cut down. You now have to fix the problem by screening. If you go to the neighbours with another problem sorry but your never going to get along.

@S111n20 It wouldn't be overlooking my garden?

How does that compare to what the children have ? Just to suit you

It's hardly selfish not to want a viewing gallery over your lawn. Otherwise there wouldn't be regulations. Would there?

@S111n20 Blimey...for the tenth time...I didn't ask them to cut anything down other than the large branches that were overhanging our garden by about 5ft and were very dangerous.