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.

No matter what they say, its your wall. You have the right to tell her to take the fixture off YOUR wall.

If it’s a plastic tarp it could be a fire hazard particularly if you light a bonfire/ barbecue next to the wall. A stray spark from a flame thrower might do the trick.
Alternatively, I would buy a whole load of nerf guns for the kids and let them use it as target practice. It would be great as a practice wall for a budding cricketer.
Our annoying neighbour had two unruly teenage boys when she moved in 25 yrs ago. DS has been payback many times over for the hassle her boys caused. He spent hours kicking a ball or throwing a ball against her wall, she didn’t dare complain. Fortunately he has not become the awful teenager hers once were.

So I was hoping to solve this without paying for a solicitor, but we may have to suck it up. I really think it would put off any potential buyers in the future so I need to try and solve it if possible.

Surely someone can't just drill into your property - listed or not? Doesn't make sense........we could all wake up tomorrow with some random neighbours washing lines attached to our houses!

@StoneofDestiny

Surely someone can't just drill into your property - listed or not? Doesn't make sense........we could all wake up tomorrow with some random neighbours washing lines attached to our houses!

They can't, it's criminal damage. It needs to be reported to the police.

Speak to your insurers first.

OP - why don't you just unhook it and remove offending hook altogether - then deal with the issue of damage?

I would need a very large ladder to reach the hook. I also can't get into her garden or back out of her garden easily. She is always home and curtain twitching, if I stepped foot in her garden she would be out there in seconds losing her mind even if I did have the balls to try and remove it. I am going to call my home insurance company tomorrow and see what they suggest.

It's nothing to do with the Parish Council. It's a planning matter and needs to be dealt with by the District Council if the OP lives in a tiered authority, or by the Unitary Council if she lives in a unitary authority

Parish Councils are very good at advising and bringing problems to the attention of the relevant departments.

My neighbour did some work to his listed property without getting permissions. The council took him to court he got a criminal record, lost his teaching job as his criminal record failed his police check, couldn’t get car insurance, credit card or mortgage thereafter. Listed buildings are considered very important. Don’t hesitate OP.

If you don't want to use a solicitor because of future buyers, how about a planning consultant?

We used one when our neighbours built in our shared garden and he totally brought the council on our side (whereas they'd just dithered before when we approached them).

He knew all planning law, but also referred to council's own 10 year plan re conservation and gardens in his argument to the council.

You can get specialist heritage planning consultants too.

@Euro21widow do you have a Parish council? I spoke to OH about this today, and after several questions about 'where does one even get a giant red Dorito?' He has confirmed they would be on the minibus in a flash for something like this, and nagging the right people on your behalf. We're having all kinds of drama here this week because someone put up the wrong sort of fence next to a public byway over their own land.

If you can't reach the hook to remove it easily could you not wait for the next windy night and then tape a knife to the longest broom handle/pole you have and cut a rip it?! Oh look the wind ripped it!

@Yesitsbess I just checked on my council website and when I put my postcode in it says I am in an unparished area. As someone said earlier I am not allowed to have a sky dish so I am a bit surprised they seem so chilled about her drilling into MY wall. Although I guess the heritage team, or whatever he called them, maybe might come back with a more positive response, but the vibe I got from his email wasn't promising. I will contact house insurance people and see what legal advice I can get through them. As temping as it is to damage the bloody pirate ship sail thing, I think it would escalate the situation and she is the type to just keep replacing it and I need it resolved officially and once and for all really.

Unparished? Oh no!

I wouldn't damage it either, it sounds stressful enough being faced with an angry Dorito every time you want go out.

I do so want a photo of it though, then every time someone asks whether "X" behaviour is a red flag, I can just reply with a picture of the Dorito sail. The biggest red flag in all the land.

Keep going OP.. I agree the fixtures are a problem.. hopefully the Heritage people have some really annoying officers looking for something to get stuck into ☺️

I wouldn't be disheartened by what the planning person said. If listed buildings aren't his remit, then he can't comment.

As someone said earlier I am not allowed to have a sky dish so I am a bit surprised they seem so chilled about her drilling into MY wall.
He's only said that the tarp isn't against planning. The right people to adjudicate upon the fixings into your listed wall haven't yet had their say so don't despair just yet.

Even if it doesn't require planning because of it's temporary nature, it's still a bloody eyesore on a listed building in a conservation area. I'll be gobsmacked if they let it stay there. It may be allowed for a fixed period, because it's temporary, but it surely can't be allowed to stay there indefinitely.

And I also find it hard to believe that it's ok to go around fixing shite to other people's walls without their permission, or party walls without the agreement of the other party, but that's probably a matter for m'learned friends.

@Lakielady you'd be surprised our neighbour has been doing for years and blocking access, no one is interested sadly and there are an awful lot of sloping shoulders, we seem to be stuck with it.

Even if it doesn't need planning permission, surely someone can't just come along and drill a hole in the side of your house and attach something to it..

Please speak to your local Councillor. I have over 30 years experience of planning authorities - it really is the quickest way to get things moving.

The planning guy messaged me back first thing and said the heritage lady is on leave but they will get back to me as soon as possible. I have emailed my Councillor but not had a reply as of yet.

There are 2 strands to this though. The heritage aspect which you have covered now, but also the attaching to your building without permission, in one or more places and subsequent potential damage. I presume either your house insurance or solicitor need to intervene, particularly as she is claiming that is her boundary.

It really doesnt matter if planning and/or heritage people dont want to get involved. That was just an easy way for you to get it sorted without it costing you any time or effort.

If it isnt within their remit, that doesnt stop you dealing with it because it is stil a neighbourly dispute; just not a public one.

It is your house. Your wall. Your property. She cannot attach anything to it. You need to take your own legal action to sort that out.

She may be right that it isnt against planning regulations or against the listed building status. But she is wrong about being allowed to do it, because it is not hher property. But no department will sort that out for you. Check your home insurance for legal cover and engage a solicitor to contact her about removing anything on your property and make good the damage.