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 suppose all I would say is that childhood is short and within a few years that house will be covered in ivy and no one will go near it.

Our neighbours had a eucalyptus tree and butchered it. Topped it and cut all the lovely leafy bits off. We thought it would never be the same again. It is now lovely and bushy again but much smaller so don't worry, it will grow back and then the treehouse should be disguised again. Did take a couple of years to get fully bushy again though.

I wouldn't complain- they won't take it well. There's nothing worse than not getting on
with your neighbours. My friends had exactly the same issue and they complained. The tree house is still up and now everytime they go into the garden the boys in the tree house insist on playing their music loud!

Don't take all your decking up....just a long strip next to the fence along the back. Then plant some bamboo it will shoot up and spread out in no time. Then you can trim all the leaves off the bottom part of the bamboo and leave the top bushy.

Bamboo is a good camouflage plant and I believe has no limit to high it can be grown. Check this though!

I'd put a large trellis fence topper along the back fence and grow a creeper up it (this might itself require PP as the total fence height will have to be super tall but you are hardly going to get challenged by treehouse neighbour who almost certainly doesn't have PP for their structure).

We and our next door neighbour both have this on top of an already tall fence to prevent the overlook from the house above and everybody is happy, we spoke to overlooking house before we put it in and they had no issues. It's got a nice wisteria on it now which everyone seems to enjoy.

Generally it is really CF-ery to build without planning permission and think you can get a way with it. I would just go with reporting to the council option. If you fall out then so be it, you can't be friends with everybody

Considering they have cut back branches that were overhanging your garden it sounds like they are probably considerate people who you can have a chat with about the tree house. Rather than get the council involved which might upset them, explain with the branches down you are considering putting up some screening for privacy to hide the tree house as you can’t sit outside in your garden without the kids peering in. They may have already thought about this privacy issue and in process of doing something. Remember it is winter approaching and come the spring the leaves will be out providing some screening.

Invite them round for a cup of tea, preferably in the garden. They would then see the problem from your point of view. Try to keep the discussion friendly and ask them for suggestions as to how to disguise the eyesore.
How old are the boys? They may outgrow it soon.

Only solution is to block of the side that looks over your garden, be pleasant and explain the situation and have drawings of solution. Keeping fingers crossed for you

You can ask, but it was there before you and I know what I would say if were your neighbour, so long as it is legal, height etc then you can't do anything. I have a double height shed with playhouse on top of storage bit, not quite full height but well within legal height etc. It overlooks the next door neighbour and the one after them a bit. No one said anything 17 years or so when it went up. Put some nice tree or big bush in front of it and make friends with the neighbours!

I agree with soupdragon. Take a pic and go to the council - try online first . It is intrusive . It was covered and could not be seen when you brought the house. If you had known the tree house was there would you have bought the house? You can tell the council all of this . Good luck

You're getting some really odd responses to this OP! I'd absolutely hate this and would want it sorting too. Definitely have a friendly chat with them first; if you ask planning office to investigate the chances are they'll know it's you anyway because you haven't been there long, and their first question will be 'why didn't you just talk to us'. If they're reasonable they'll understand how invasive it feels now the trees are gone.

I don't think people need planning for a tree house! Surely?? I didn't for my double shed, which is like a tree house and is in the middle of two trees. So long as regulation height I am sure you don't need planning.

Does anyone understand the benefit of the new proposals relating to changing the University Application process??

I don’t see any benefit in these proposals. DD is applying for uni this year so won’t impact her but DS applies in 4 years so may impact him. I genuinely can’t see how these proposals are better for anyone. Any help in understanding this would be appreciated. Thanks!

Sorry forget the above!! Sorry for posting on this thread / thought I was starting a new one. Sorry! X

Don't complain about kids' treehouses - sign of a kill joy.

@marktayloruk

Don't complain about kids' treehouses - sign of a kill joy.

It's more like a viewing platform at the zoo than a tree house! Surely you wouldn't be happy with some kids looking in your house?

I would talk to the neighbours about screening it. If they don't want to, bamboo will grow to well over 10 foot in a large pot. It's a bit crap but I'm not sure I could make the kids lose their tree house.

A house that overlooks our garden has a huge 2 storey playhouse. When we moved in we went round and and said hello, then asked who built it as we wanted one in our garden so our kids could look into their garden too!! (Sorry we were somewhat sarcastic)

Unbeknown to us they were already in the middle of a legal planning wrangle as there had been lots of complaints from other neighbours!!

I really do see your point and that it’s intrusive.

However you could turn the argument around and ask if between you and the neighbour can look at how everyone’s privacy.

The kids in the playhouse often sit up there and watch us when we are in the garden. We spend summer in our swimwear in the garden which they frown upon!!

Have a quiet word with them and explain that as naturists you worry about their small children looking into your garden and see what/how quickly they come up with some solutions.
May as well have a giggle with it and give the neighbours something to talk about!

Pleached trees - does not need planning permission as it’s a plant. We are thinking of using these to cover a very ugly extension that’s gone up next door to us and very close to our fence.

Plant a hedge or screening trees at the back of your garden. Problem solved. M

If you complain, these neighbors will not like you and the whole neighbourhood will take sides. You may someday like to have the neighbors goodwill, assistance or understanding. Better to plant some attractive screening plants.

It’s difficult but erecting a large high structure that overlooks someone else’s garden is selfish and not neighbourly. Ask yourself would I do that? They are banking on people letting them get away with it for fear of a neighbour dispute. Given that when selling you have to declare a neighbour dispute, I agree just tell the Council and ask them to try and protect your identity. You are wel, within your rights to investigate if i5 breaches planning law on the overlooking issue. The solution may end up being that they have to screen it so it may be worth asking the Council first before you proceed. Because the trees were screening it before and could again once they grow back. Unfortunately there’s no protection for loss of view or reduction in light or sun unless it’s extreme. There are guidelines on the height of fences though. All worth a chat with a planning officer before deciding how to proceed. Good luck.

You don’t need planning permission for a shed.

Can I suggest that you should take a little more time before you decide to buy something as significant as a new house??

YABU. Put up your own screen. Trying to get them take down their kids’ treehouse after you’ve moved in will start a war with your new neighbours.