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?

@IdblowJonSnow I don’t think they specifically asked the guy to cut them back that much as it affects their (kids’) privacy too..The kids are primary school age and toddler.

@DanceWMe thanks, much appreciated

You are the one coming into the situation. You didn't move in and then the deck was put up it was already there when you chose to move in. If you kick up a fuss be prepared to be run out of town

Befriend the children and perhaps ask them to only play in the treehouse at certain times. If you have DC ask if they can join in.
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.

@HallieKnight ok, helpful 🤣

In that case it might just be a case of a friendly request to let them grow back?
I've got kids but if I had that in my garden I would not be surprised to receive complaints!
As an aside it sounds a bit high for the toddler.

Oh dear. All the really helpful comments are coming now...

@IdblowJonSnow the toddler doesn’t use it but obviously the kids aren’t going to outgrow it any time soon.

Even I you end up being in the right in terms of permissions and the council you will turn yourself into a social pariah and you won't live a happy harmonious life there.

You sound like a nice person. They sound reasonable if not inconsiderate/oblivious.

You'll have to have a conversation.

The eucalyptus and laurel will grow back quickly, but as you say, now you know it's there it's an issue.

So really, all you can do is go over, ask them into your garden and show them the view from your kitchen over a cup of coffee.

@Strawberrypancakes yes, probably Emily's other half!

@HallieKnight the here and now isn't the issue. It's if and when I want to sell it I will have a problem. If I leave it too long to address via the council they will lose power to do anything (although that time may have already passed).

@contrmary

Generally you'd need planning permission to build a treehouse, and part of the consideration for this would be whether it would allow them to look into other people's property. Ask the council to look into it and hopefully it will be taken down.

There is a risk it will sour neighbourly relations, but is that worse than having your quality of life diminished?

Failing that, now it's getting darker in the evenings, could you wait until they've gone out, hop over the fence and pull the thing down? Use a windy night as cover.

Are you serious??? Or are you actually advising OP to trespass and commit criminal damage???

That looks very new. As a pp pointed out, the brackets are still shiney and new. My money is on that structure not even being there when you looked around OP.

@NoSquirrels
I think I will message them and ask for a socially distanced chat about the treehouse and I'll show them the photos. I'm sure they are perfectly lovely and have no idea what it looks like from our side. They're probably surprised I've said nothing so far, however I was waiting for the planning people to get back to me with advice.

I am mystified as to why anyone should object to a neighbour's tree house
I wouldnt object to a treehouse either, I would however object to a viewing platform into my garden, and that's what we are talking about here

A friend of mine built a tall tree house in some woods they owned by their garden. Neighbour objected and they had to remove it. You could actually breach rules yourself if you put up trellis or screening as you are not allowed to put fencing up either above a certain height.
Instead of feeling sorry for the neighbours, they put this up at the end of their garden so as not to disturb themselves and it does breach planning rules. Why should you have to suffer. It looks new and may have been put up between your viewing and moving in - so why should you have to put up with it.

OP,
It's hideous.
YANBU.
The tree surgeon butchered the tree and now you have been left with the eyesore.

They may have stuck it up whilst the house was empty.
It's the type of thing opportunistic people do.

It is surprising that they didn't monitor what the tree guy was doing considering what he's left them with.

Given the different dimensions of the garden, it's interesting and telling that they built it as far away from their house so the noise is on top of you.

I absolutely believe it would put a buyer off.

I would follow @DeRigueurMortis excellent advice.

With loads of photos.

Fyi bamboo in large plastic pots could cover this eyesore at THEIR cost.
Lime trees are another expensive solution.

The pots are crucial to stop the bamboo going mad, it spreads quickly.

You can buy bamboo that is 6 or 7ft, but they are obviously expensive.

When the treehouse had coverage from the tree it was acceptable but this eyesore is awful and horribly intrusive.

They remove it or they come up with something that restores your privacy.

Get this sorted before the spring.

This will ruin your summer.

From those photos it's easy to see how it was missed.
But I really bet it isn't up long.

@CakeIsMyFavouriteAndBest Quite possible. We viewed in Feb, bought in June and moved in in September.

[quote fabulousathome]I wonder if it will escape PP as it's more of a platform than a tree house?

It would be ideal if they strapped some kind of opaque screening to the fence type rails that are adjacent to your garden. I guess you could offer to pay for some and see what happens.

This sort of stuff: www.primrose.co.uk/-p-133158.html?gclid=CjwKCAiA17P9BRB2EiwAMvwNyBf5ErL7yW8crb6Wh8eAJ_Ye_tdXt3d7w6ZxiB2LP0Ayd5xgeJdcwBoCzEgQAvD_BwE[/quote]
Dont recommend primrose even to look at- they’re a shocking company..loads of social media complaints 😡😡

That’s terrible. I’d definitely ask them to remove it and if they don’t I’d report them/tell the council to enforce it if they should have had pp.

If all that fails I’d be naked sunbathing and possibly shagging in the garden.

Bamboo screening !

Reverse this. OP builds a platform that directly overlooks the neighbours garden and sits there watching the kids playing.
We are all entitled to privacy, it works both ways.
The tree will grow back though, the kids will grow out of it...

Okay, haven't read the whole thread, but I have read all OP's messages, and looked at the photos.

I think showing them the photos and asking what to do next is the way forward.

Part of me is very much team kids, because I always wanted a decent tree house as a kid, it is one of the best things ever. (Instead I had a kind of arial den constructed with bits of old carpet nailed to the tree hammock fashion - but oh my goodness, the sheer, aching desire for a decent tree-house). But as an adult I can absolutely see your problem - seen from your garden it is hideous, and the last thing you want is to feel you can never relax in the garden without being overlooked.

Is there any sort of compromise that would work? A screen on their side to stop the kids peeping, plus some sort of fairly high, rapidly growing climber to then cover the screen and give a nice cover with foliage until the eucalyptus trees grow back a bit?