To think my neighbour can drill a whole in my house to permanently hang a 15ft tarpaulin?

[Euro21widow]

So, name changed as obviously outting as pretty sure this isn't a normal occurance!

My neighbour has drilled a hole in my (grade 2 listed) building so she can permanently hang a piece of tarpaulin about 15ft up (as high as my 1st floor roof) for "privacy". Surely she can't just do this? Where do I go from here? It blocks all the light out to my ground floor windows now. Have included (bad) diagram.

[Euro21widow]

@MangosteenSoda a bit of both. One of those sail shade things but she says can be lowered when it is windy so it isn't technically permanent as will only be up weather permitted if not too windy. If not windy it will be up though she says. I wanted to harvest opinions first as my first instinct was she was taking the piss, but wanted to check!

[Chapsview]

Blocking light is also an issue. Contact planning officers immediately and consider a strongly worded letter from your solicitor. CF!!!!!

[Keepingthingsinteresting]

Call planning at the local authority, they won’t be impressed. Is no joy them just take it down. Did she come on to your property to drill the holes? You might be responsible for the damage legally, so reporting protects you too.

In terms of right to privacy, it’s not like it’s new building erected which overlooks here. She is talking rubbish.

[RightYesButNo]

@MrsTulipTattsyrup

Damaging a listed building carries a potential unlimited fine and up to 6 months in prison.

If you want to go nuclear, contact the Planning Enforcement team at the local planning authority.

I don’t even think this is nuclear; just what should be done. I mean, eventually it will come to light that a listed building is damaged, and if you don’t report her, it could end up looking like your fault.

Also, I would have called the police (I’m sure they’d say it’s not under their purview and not come anyway). But it’s one thing if the neighbor does something to your fence (3 out of 10 - annoying), your plants (5 out of 10 - cheeky fuckery), something in your yard (7 out of 10 - arseholes), but she’s damaged your actual HOUSE (10/10). It could cost thousands upon thousands of pounds to fix. If someone stole that much, the police would come. What the bloody hell is she playing at. And I’m not usually one of those people who says you should phone 101 because someone looked at you funny.

[billyt]

[quote Euro21widow]@MangosteenSoda a bit of both. One of those sail shade things but she says can be lowered when it is windy so it isn't technically permanent as will only be up weather permitted if not too windy. If not windy it will be up though she says. I wanted to harvest opinions first as my first instinct was she was taking the piss, but wanted to check![/quote]
But the fixings are permanent!!

Idiot is definitely extracting the urine.

Report asap before she knocks a doorway through for a shortcut

[Euro21widow]

Before we bought the house it was empty for years so she isn't use to anyone being here which I think is a big part of it. We are a large family and she isn't used to sharing her space. Glad it isn't just me who thinks this is prime CF territory.

[denverRegina]

"If you want to go nuclear, contact the Planning Enforcement team at the local planning authority"

That's hardly "nuclear". It's simply the logical next step after asking her to make it right.

[LittleTiger007]

@SpeakingFranglais

I would knock on the door, remind her that it is YOUR house and then she has just caused criminal damage to your listed building and insist she removes it immediately and makes good the damage or you will remove it and charge her.

What a cheeky fucker.

This.

She needs to remove it and make good the damage immediately or you need to contact the appropriate authority.

[Euro21widow]

Oh she says it isn't just our house wall but her garden wall so she has a right to attach stuff to it. I would have thought surely not without discussing it as that is the outside of my kitchen if that makes sense? That is without the fact it is a grade 2 listed building.

[TheQueef]

Wow.
She's a fool.
If windy it will effectively be a sail attached to your house.
Bad enough if she erected a arbour to attach it, that could still do damage.
She needs to shift it.

[Bluetrews25]

I'd go straight to planning, with it being G2 listed.
You don't have a right to sunlight or view, I believe, so no grounds for action there.
But drilling into YOUR G2 listed wall? She can GTF.

[roobicoobi]

She thinks it's har wall? When it's your house

People. Honestly, take this as far as you can. What a CF

[Collaborate]

It's unlikely to be a party wall but probably best to check your deeds just in case.

Then as everyone else says, escalate it.

[LaurieFairyCake]

No, it is solely your house wall

I would take it down immediately and send a cease and desist letter from your solicitor- and I'd contact planning at the council

You are allowed to go on her property to attend to YOUR wall - and you wouldn't have to if the silly fucker hadn't attached something to your wall

GO AND TAKE IT DOWN

[Euro21widow]

@Collaborate nothing in our deeds about it being a party wall.

I have taken some photos and filled in the planning breech form on the council website. She is insistent she is allowed to have it and I can't remove it without entering her garden so I guess my only option . Glad I am not just being petty!

[FreezerBird]

I think my first step would be to see if your local authority has a building Conservation Officer and see if you can have a quick chat with him/her. They will probably be more au fait with the listed building aspect than the general Planning team bods.

Not all LAs employ a dedicated CO any more though, so if there isn't one, straight on to planning.

[SirVixofVixHall]

She has to remove it and repair the damage.
Unbelievable cheek !

[Roselilly36]

Very odd, who would think that was an acceptable thing to do? Sounds like a MH issue, don’t engage, report to the council and let them deal with it. It may prevent your neighbour doing anything so ridiculous again.

[Tirediam]

Extreme CF

[SpaceRaiders]

Tarp fixed on a listed building?…good luck with that one!

Ask her to kindly remove it and make good or you’ll go to the council to seek enforcement.

[HeronLanyon]

It is your structure not her garden wall - you own it. Any eg trellis she may have or want would need your permission.

She has caused damage to your wall. Tell her to take it down.
As for light she will be in breach of planning - she would not eg have obtained planning perdition for an extension of that height right on the property line fir exactly that reason - loss of light to your ground floor window.

I don’t think it is nuclear to contact planning enforcement about both issues if she doesn’t remove it pronto. Just common sense.
For privacy she can get a sail with its own legs/poles within her own garden.
Good diagram btw.

[DumpyDonkey]

You are doing the right thing, cheeky mare.

[MrsTulipTattsyrup]

@FreezerBird

I think my first step would be to see if your local authority has a building Conservation Officer and see if you can have a quick chat with him/her. They will probably be more au fait with the listed building aspect than the general Planning team bods.

Not all LAs employ a dedicated CO any more though, so if there isn't one, straight on to planning.

It’s the planning enforcement team who deal with breaches, as I set out above. They will take advice from the conservation officer, but the enforcement team remain responsible for the case.

[SofiaMichelle]

Good god! She's utterly batshit!

You can go onto her property to effect a repair on your property, OP.

There's a thing called the 'Access to Neighbouring Land Act' which covers this.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

Call your district council and ask to speak to the person who deals with listed buildings and ask them for advice.

She's nuts, by the way. That's damaging a listed building. I own one and I can't do that to it myself!