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?

So you asked them to trim their trees, then got upset when they’d trimmed them and you could now see their treehouse?

YABU and sound like a potential nightmare neighbour.

@Poorpigletsrevenge
So you asked them to trim their trees, then got upset when they’d trimmed them and you could now see their treehouse?

Thank you for taking the time to read my thread. You've summed it up nicely.

YABU and sound like a potential nightmare neighbour.

Yes, not of course like a perfect neighbour who builds 2.5m tall platforms overlooking your garden. Maybe I should be one of those perfectly nice neighbours hey?

@Poorpigletsrevenge

So you asked them to trim their trees, then got upset when they’d trimmed them and you could now see their treehouse?

YABU and sound like a potential nightmare neighbour.

Are you always this ignorant or do you just save it up for a Sunday?

Spooked7, just another example of a thicko who can’t read.
Don’t waste your energy bothering to reply.

It's a good sign that they dealt with the overhanging branch when asked. Might mean they take action when you raise this issue with them.

But to be honest I would just let the council deal with it. I would have thought they will find in you favour, and it will be removed. Otherwise the neighbours might come up with a solution like walling the back of the treehouse, and you'll still have a big structure to stare at.

Shame for the kids but that's not your responsibility and sounds like they have lots of options for less intrusive garden fun.

Funny anyone suggesting that a 3m wide viewing platform staring directly into their house wouldn’t be annoying. Or that the OP could have seen it, given the previous photo (very much doubt it was there at that point).
No way they would get planning for that. Call the council. I wouldn’t even bother talking to them about it, not like they gave any consideration to you when they put it up.

@Thatusernamewastaken
Add to that, on windy days such as today, two very large sheets of "camouflage" netting and canvas are flapping around in the tree like big green ghosts at a rave.

I have filmed it, to use as evidence of how awful it looks.

I haven't read the thread, but you had a screen for this; the trees before you had them cut back.
I don't understand why you would do that and then want to complain.
Please don't.

Ahh, sorry, I see now that it was your neighbours who cut back the trees.
Please ignore me.

@HotSauceCommittee

You don't understand why I'd ask them to remove a very large split branch hanging 5ft into my garden where my children play, or have you just not read the thread?

@HotSauceCommittee
Ahh, sorry, I see now that it was your neighbours who cut back the trees.
Please ignore me.

Yes, and I skipped the bit where you said you hadn't actually read the thread!

I think you should go and talk to them first, they may not have thought about it and be happy to add a back to it. Be polite and explain how it affects you.

If they don't do anything, you are justified in talking to the council but thinking of your own barrier might be a better option.

Or the childish route, whenever the kids are out, do something anti social at the bottom of your garden that they don't want the kids witnessing.

It sounds like the OP’s garden is quite small. The screening plants might take up a lot of her small garden.

A friendly chat first sounds like a good idea, but the risk is that if it doesn’t work, then the neighbours will know it’s her, if she goes to the council.

If she just goes to the council, will it be on record that it was she who complained?

It's actually a bit of a nightmare and I would find out before speaking to them if it should have planning permission.

Anyone that says they wouldn't mind their garden being overshadowed in this way I think is being untruthful or has no imagination of what it looks like in real life.

Op this sounds a nightmare. Totally get that you don’t want to see neighbours kids when you are in your garden and in your house out of your window.
If this were me -
Not sure I’d talk to them as a first step. if they put up a backing on it It would be even worse in some ways ?
I’d ask planning to take a view.
I’d then maybe think of a shade sail or similar. In green. Basically dark green tarp on tension rods to ensure privacy from their structure for your garden and house.
Good luck. No one is in the wrong the neighbours and elderly woman no doubt may have had no issues at all and of course she will hardly if at all have seen it. Neighbours have every right to be furious with their tree surgeon !

@EmpressoftheMundane

It is a very small garden, yes.
The neighbours will know it was me either way, because it only overlooks my garden.

So you started this thread Thu it’s now Sunday & you haven’t yet spoken to your neighbours? Is it still raining OP? No one here can help you, you need to speak to them & hopefully come up with a solution that will suit both parties.

@Roselilly36

We're under lockdown. I doubt they'd like me calling at their door just now!

@Roselilly36

And it has been raining since Friday night.

Definitely either speak in person or if you think you aren’t going to get the reception you want and are absolutely sure you want it down then go to the council.

We have friends with a tree house in the middle of the fence so the children from both houses can enjoy it. It works well for them. Would you be up for this? How old are their children? Are they likely to outgrow it in the next couple of years? If so it probably isn’t worth the angst?

When are you intending to move?

@getitdonesharpish
Their kids look about 8/9 and a toddler, so I expect it would be used for many years to come.
We will need to move in about 5 years.

Law changed a few years ago doesn’t matter if it is temporary or permanent they need planning consent. Major consideration is overlooking and loss of privacy for neighbours. Presume you’ve checked your local authority planning application site to check they didn’t get it ?

Ha, wasn’t being a cunt or antagonistic. I think it’s fair enough if OP asks for it to be taken down. I was just curious. And no I haven’t read the entirety of a 20 page thread on a tree house.