New neighbours

[EWAB]

Last year our lovely neighbour died; the house had been empty for about a year before as she had gone to live with niece followed by time in a home.
We were pleased when the house was sold as its being empty for so long was beginning to impact negatively on ours.
The new neighbours have restored the house beautifully sash windows etc and the garden has been done. We were totally fine with noise etc early and late seeing it as just one of those things.
Another neighbour did complain and was given the details of the builders by the owners; the new owners didn’t want to know.
The house has an L shaped garden and the new neighbours have put 10 feet fences up ... the sort you might see in the park surrounding tennis courts etc. Two thirds of our garden now appear to be an exercise yard in a prison.
Because of Covid the usual introductions etc didn’t take place. And when my partner introduced himself when they were in drive they just smiled and went in. I have now written to them about the fence and its impact they wrote back suggesting we seek an impartial vies via a small claims court.
I have no intention of doing this.
What do people make of this attitude? I am stunned.

Totally illegal - we’ve been here with next door. 6ft is the limit. Report them to your local council - they’ll go round and measure them. They’ll be made to take them down.

Why don’t you have any intention of doing anything. Get em reported. Planners freakin’ love a planning violation they’ll be salivating!!

Yes, the attitude is totally off. You tried to be pleasant and they have been rude in response. A response mentioning court would have stunned me too. Of course, as someone else is said they are entitled to be cool with neighbours, but when you put it together with totally inconsiderate behaviour it's really shitty behaviour all round.

I can see why you wouldn't want to make a formal complaint. I've been there with noise and although it was successful ultimately comes at a price - added a lot of life admin at the time, escalated issues in the short term and of course has to be declared when selling.

However, I'm not sure I could resist in this situation. If you were to sell, the fence is clearly visible anyway.

Do you think there is anything you can do in your own garden to mitigate its effect? Our houses are all very tall and so next door looms over part of my garden and it's not very attractive (acres of bricks, basically) - we've made a sort of shaded area with pergola, which is the focus, in the most affected part. Could something like this be an option or is this fence dominating everywhere?