Neighbour's security light

[Hcolhcsra]

New neighbours, who I've posted about before, have reactivated security lights on the front boundary of their property. They are very bright and seem to be on 50% of the time day and night.

I opened the front door this evening (a good 10m plus) from the circular lamp only to be caught in Colditz style glare without even setting foot outside of my house. We have security lights but mounted on the house behind a pillar so that they don't spill out on to neighbour's (opposite) property but instead are useful for helping us find keyhole etc. We live on a lane with no street lighting.

Neighbour is quite excitable (I'm being polite) with a wide variety of Anglo Saxon phrases which he deploys as punctuation. He also appears to be scared of the dark as he never draws his curtains (there are definitely curtains to be drawn). We've successfully avoided speaking to him since he tried to claim our drive as his personal turning circle but the light thing is really irritating.

Would you a. Try to speak to him and if he breaks down in tears, starts shouting obscenities, or hitting himself (all possible based on previous interactions) just walk away as calmly as possible b. Pop a nicely worded letter in the post advising him it's a nuisance and risk him then hammering down the door in an even more agitated state c. Contact the local council direct as its clearly a nuisance and leave them to deal with him or d. Say nothing and invest in higher quality pyjamas so when I do forget to put the bins out I don't end up looking like I'm recreating a scene from Chicken Run.

If the light helps you see what's going on over your frontage - it's HIS electricity, but doesn't impact your rooms at night, I'd not bother complaining, you might be glad of it going on when the catalytic converter thieves come round

Man has security lights that also benefit your property too. Nightmare neighbour!

Apart from being spotted in your PJ's while putting the bins out OP what is annoying?
Did you ever think about why he has them? I'm sure he has reasons other than bin watch.
Just saying.

Are they a nuisance? Do you mean that it's kinda blinding as you step outside front door and his security light leaking into your rooms at front of your house?
Is it keeping anyone awake?

Is it an angle thing that he can just tilt them down if so?

Unless it was keeping me awake (in which case I'd be investing in blackouts), I'd be delighted to have my property illuminated in a place with no street lamps, particularly if neighbour was paying the bill.

Not really getting the issue, you only spotted the lights because you went outside, and you youtself have security lights?

Speak first and if that does not achieve a movement of the lights to stop the glare then speak to the council (check if such things are in their remit as I know noise pollution is).

Forgot to say they shine directly into the bedroom and are affecting our sleep. We could get blackouts but why should we spend money replacing blinds that we like. Possibly forgot because we are reaching the point of sleep deprivation brain fog. They are particularly irritating as they are on and off all night.

Equally, we've got security cameras with infra red so his lights are of little benefit to us other than being an irritation. It's probably hard to understand if you live on a road with street lighting but one of the attractions of the property was the lack of light pollution and in fairness even street lamps go off. These lights are on and off all night.

We too have security lights beaming at us from the neighbour, it really is like a prison searchlight! Saves us turning on lights. My DH gets unreasonably pissed off at it, but I don’t really see the issue, it’s at the back so not affecting the bedroom.

Oh and our security lamp is hidden behind a pillar so gives us light to see someone at the door but doesn't bathe the neighbour's property in glaring white light.

Well, you've now identified your problem more clearly OP.
Just ask them to change the angle and the settings - the bulb will go soon anyway if they are on that long.

I'd speak to them but rehearse what you're going to say first.

It should be possible for them to adjust the lamp to cast the light in a different direction.

I can understand your frustration as we had similar, neighbouring house, slightly downhill from us and their back security light was shining directly onto our dinner table space. It was really off putting. Like a theatre spot light.

Our neighbours are reasonable and did adjust it when we asked.

The guy hits himself and is excitable?

Are you sure he is not autistic or something and your missing communication differences due to a disability?

He hasn't identified himself as having a disability but we think, given behaviour there are mental health issues. There are obvious signs of self harm. Hence the concerns about speaking to him directly as he has already had stand up screaming match (him doing all of the shouting/swearing) with other neighbours on a different issue. They were very measured considering it involved damage to their property that has still to be rectified.

Ok
Forgot to say they shine directly into the bedroom and are affecting our sleep. We could get blackouts but why should we spend money replacing blinds that we like. Possibly forgot because we are reaching the point of sleep deprivation brain fog. They are particularly irritating as they are on and off all night.

So it is artificial light pollution from your neighbours security lights really affecting your sleep and home...

Will this link help, if you are U.K.? ->

www.gov.uk/guidance/artificial-light-nuisances-how-councils-deal-with-complaints#what-can-cause-artificial-light-nuisances

You can report up your local council, they'll investigate and can require he alters it if they consider it an artificial light nuisance. That is likely to be most effective way, to see if he's in the wrong, as you describe him as unable to talk to/ reason with.

We have the same problem with our neighbours. The most piercing white security light that can be seen for miles around (rural area) flashes on as you drive up the unlit twisty lane and burns your retina. Really dangerous.

I hope that OP can seek help where they need it, as opposite ndn sounds a bit over the top and it's impacting in their life and home.

I live in a small rural st. I have a long back garden which widens behind other properties. I can really see dark sky there. I was born after WW2 and my dps bought a house when I was 2. The blackout blinds were left up and it was 'bedtime' in my room even in summer at 6:45 pm - when the Archers started - so as an adult I need lined or blackout blinds to sleep. I remember daylight lamps being installed and having to reline curtains. But what I would find difficult would be the lights flashing on and off.