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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbouring treehouse

518 replies

Spooked7 · 12/11/2020 13:27

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?

OP posts:
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DeRigueurMortis · 12/11/2020 19:17

@S111n20

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

So you think parents have a right to build intrusive structures that breech planning regulations on the basis it makes children happy Hmm and shouldn't remove them if something comparable can't be found?

FakeFlamingo · 12/11/2020 19:22

@Spooked7 even if you do mask it and the kids, the fact remains that they could still see into your garden and house. That's a huge loss of privacy. I would rather consider plants in my own garden which can be grown thick enough to create a green wall. I'd also consider 2-3ft trellis with a creeper to make the view impossible. It should be something in your control so that you can protect your privacy.

Before the neighbours cut their trees you probably didn't have privacy to begin with as the kids could've seen your house easily through gaps. You just didn't know you were being watched at the time.

S111n20 · 12/11/2020 19:22

I never said it was selfish but why not screen it. If the op wants long running problems with the neighbours then fine go ahead get it taken down.

Spooked7 · 12/11/2020 19:23

@S111n20 because I'd need a 10ft screen..

OP posts:
EvilPea · 12/11/2020 19:23

Future reference you can cut the overhanging branches yourself.
I always think this is better to do it yourself as you are the one that has to look at what’s left not them.

Spooked7 · 12/11/2020 19:25

@S111n20 in fact 12 feet if I don't want to see their heads peering over the top. I'm sure spying on us is not their priority, but that's hardly the point.

OP posts:
Spooked7 · 12/11/2020 19:26

@EvilPea yes but I would have had to pay someone to do it, for a tree that's not mine. I don't have money to burn at the moment. They were up there with ropes and chainsaws. Hardly doing that myself!

OP posts:
CannibalQueen · 12/11/2020 19:27

Plant a couple of these fast growing trees that everyone hates. The view into your gearshift will be secured again within a year. Lleylandi..

AnotherBoredOne · 12/11/2020 19:27

Sorry OP you have every right to be annoyed. I agree try to chat first and show the pics up see what response you get.
If they can't see the issue go to planning.

And yes it's new and selfish those neighbours don't care about neighbours.

We had a deck built like this along our side fence, we are sloping so there new back deck was at fence height. I had room to grow bamboo type trees that now block this. We will renovate soon and those trees will go but I will get a two storey instead so I'm ok with that!

Good luck and ignore the silly comments here

Spooked7 · 12/11/2020 19:28

@EvilPea and it's not as though I could have foreseen this being an issue. I had no idea the thing was there.

OP posts:
CannibalQueen · 12/11/2020 19:28

Bloody autocorrect. Garden. Not gearshift.

MiddlesexGirl · 12/11/2020 19:28

10ft screening really isn't an issue. Plenty of options.
But if the tree guy has just pruned back the existing trees then they will grow again and save you the job. For the sake of neighbourly relations I'd put up with it for a couple of years- maybe put one of those sail structures up as pp have suggested.

DeRigueurMortis · 12/11/2020 19:28

@S111n20

I never said it was selfish but why not screen it. If the op wants long running problems with the neighbours then fine go ahead get it taken down.

Why should the OP pay to screen something that should not be there in the first place?

That point aside how the hell do you screen something that big/tall and intrusive?

Skyla2005 · 12/11/2020 19:32

We planted eucalyptus trees i a row at the bottom of our garden to screen the house at the end of our garden They have done really well and are very tall now

CannibalQueen · 12/11/2020 19:34

You never know, you might grow to love the little bobble heads and become friends. You could plant something to block the view our just ask your new neighbour if they could screen the side of the treehouse that over looks your garden as you find it difficult to get used to. If they get shirty about it then you can get firmer. But chances are it was a big selling point for them. It'll keep their kids out of the house for hours and I bet it's not going anywhere.

Spooked7 · 12/11/2020 19:34

Thank you for all the really helpful comments. I'm mulling over my options and will try to speak to the neighbours over the weekend. I have to log off now so won't be replying for a while (if at all)...

Good night! :)

OP posts:
CannibalQueen · 12/11/2020 19:34

Eucalyptus grow crazy fast.

Sootybear · 12/11/2020 19:35

Maybe just suggest that they make the end wall of the treehouse solid, so the children can't see into your garden. I'm sure their children don't want to be overlooked playing either.

SilverOtter · 12/11/2020 19:36

I think if you're planning on selling up again within a couple of years, I'd go down the council route. That definitely needs PP and is unlikely to get it retrospectively. They may suspect it was you, but if you're going to be gone within a couple of years who cares?

IwantToDatePicard · 12/11/2020 19:36

Perhaps you can show them the photo and ask them how they can give you your privacy back. It is unreasonable for you to have to put up with being watched all the time.

Eckhart · 12/11/2020 19:36

The way I see it, OP can approach the neighbours and risk bad feeling or just report the structure to the authorities anonymously and that'll be the end of it.

I can't believe some of the responses here. There's viewing gallery over OP's garden a foot from the fence. 'Find a way to pretend it's not there' is ridiculous. And 'You should have noticed before you moved in' is equally silly. Was OP supposed to inspect the neighbours' property? The tree house wasn't visible at that point.

jambeforeclottedcream · 12/11/2020 19:38

Yabu

The tree house was their first and it got alll the planning that was needed but it was the previous occupants and they were fine with it.

You need to make it overgrown again to mask it.

If that's big it must have been a lot of overgrowth to have masked it completely

hashbrownsandwich · 12/11/2020 19:49

My husband is an architect and says if it was built within the last 3 years they would be breaching planning unless they have the relevant permission.

He suggests you get naked and parade around in order to shock the kids into not using said treehouse anymore.

My husband is a professional. I promise.

Miljea · 12/11/2020 19:50

They're your back neighbours, so no danger of 'the awkward thing' out on your driveways.

I've lived where I am 12 years and know all but nothing about the people who live behind me; tho we're friends with the people beside us.

Go Council.

Eckhart · 12/11/2020 19:53

@jambeforeclottedcream

it got alll the planning that was needed

How do you know? Is it yours?