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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

659 replies

Euro21widow · 18/06/2021 13:34

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.

To think my neighbour can drill a whole in my house to permanently hang a 15ft tarpaulin?
To think my neighbour can drill a whole in my house to permanently hang a 15ft tarpaulin?
OP posts:
everythingcrossed · 18/06/2021 16:51

Isn't it a party wall as it is along the boundary so it's her wall too? (Apologies if this has already been mentioned.)

Original poster
Euro21widow · 18/06/2021 16:53

To access her garden I would literally have to scale the fence and then back again. There is no other access. I can't reach where the tarpaulin is attached to the wall without being in her property and without a very large ladder. She employed trades men with scaffolding to attach it, I wrongly assumed they were working on her roof when the scaffolding went up not drilling into my wall. I came home and it was there! Also I fear if I removed it she would just reinstate in, I think the only way to permanently solve this is to get "officials" to tell her to remove it. Due to covid there is no way to call planning, just an online form, so am at their mercy for a while. I promise to update, I wasn't expecting so many replies.

OP posts:
mayaknew · 18/06/2021 16:53

Your NDN is a complete CF!! I have nothing to add other than marking my place for the updates I feel this could go on for a while!

Also, your diagram is amazing! 🏅

FeatheredHope · 18/06/2021 16:55

Each one of your updates makes your neighbour sound even more CF.
She had workmen and scaffolding to put this in???!

Dixiechickonhols · 18/06/2021 16:57

I’d write to her asking her to remove from your property within 14 days and rectify any damage to your property. You don’t want to be seen to be accepting or allowing this. Especially if council take months to respond. If council come after you for damage to grade 2 building you need to show it was done without your consent.
Remind her it’s legally your property and grade 2 listed so any works require approval.

daytriptovulcan · 18/06/2021 16:57

Send a solicitors letter if she wont remove and make good, as shes damaged your property.

Doris86 · 18/06/2021 16:59

Seems strange she has live there for decades, but only felt the need to do this now you have moved in.

Original poster
Euro21widow · 18/06/2021 16:59

@yesitsbess she wrote me a note complaining about the children's noise from playing in the garden and said in the note she would be erecting an awning for privacy. A few days later she shouted over the wall about the awning and I didn't really think much about it as we don't really care what she does in her garden! Then the scaffolding went up and she had men working on her roof so didnt think anything about it. Then it appeared and when I asked her about it when I saw her outside the house she was really defensive and said it wouldn't be coming down as she is entitled to her privacy and she is allowed to have non-permanant things in her garden. I said I was going to check it out as didn't think she could do that, but she was adamant she was correct and that is wasn't our house wall but her garden wall.

OP posts:
JediGnot · 18/06/2021 17:01

@museumum

It's totally out of order for her to do that, but from what you say about light blocking are you implying that you have windows that look directly onto her garden at ground floor level? if so, that's horrendously intrusive on her privacy and would never be allowed in a modern build. Could you offer to put frosting on them or something? it must feel pretty weird your whole family looking directly onto her garden.
She might have thought of that before she bought?
Original poster
Euro21widow · 18/06/2021 17:02

@Doris86 she doesn't really like us, the house was empty for 2 years before we bought it and before that was rented out to professionals so she isn't used to living next door to a family.

OP posts:
deplorabelle · 18/06/2021 17:04

If you happen to remember which building firm she used it might be worth a call to them to find out what she asked for, if she claimed she had your consent and also get details about the fixings that were used

Original poster
Euro21widow · 18/06/2021 17:04

My diagram probably isn't great as my ground floor doesn't directly look into her garden. The tarpaulin is just so high and long that is cuts out all the light now. I will try and draw a better diagram later.

OP posts:
Gazelda · 18/06/2021 17:05

@joystir59

She may have lived their longer but she still can’t be drilling into someone else’s (grade 2!) building There not their!
Was that necessary? Your post says a lot about you.
Heyha · 18/06/2021 17:05

Shamelessly place-marking but also giving a bump in the hope somebody might fancy doing a solicitor letter for the OP just for the sheer joy of getting involved in correcting this batshit woman!

MillyMollyMardy · 18/06/2021 17:06

She's can't erect that without planning consent and a party wall award AFAIK. She'd never get planning consent in our area. I hope your planners are proactive.

MarianneUnfaithful · 18/06/2021 17:08

@museumum

It's totally out of order for her to do that, but from what you say about light blocking are you implying that you have windows that look directly onto her garden at ground floor level? if so, that's horrendously intrusive on her privacy and would never be allowed in a modern build. Could you offer to put frosting on them or something? it must feel pretty weird your whole family looking directly onto her garden.
LOL, you haven’t lived in an area where ancient houses and cottages are all fitted together like Tetris, flying freeholds, shared drives and alleyways, paths across gardens and overlooking windows, have you? Listed buildings / conservation areas / ‘chocolate box’ cottage villages are often like this.

My Mum’s house has a flying freehold (part of neighbour’s bathroom over her hall), RoW for another neighbour over the garden and a shared drive with yet another.

Still doesn’t give anyone the right to attach stuff to someone else’s wall.

Pinotpleasure · 18/06/2021 17:09

Sorry - I haven’t read the whole thread but what kind of stone is it?

Our early Victorian Grade II listed house (and the garden walls) are made of the local Dorset Purbeck Stone. The previous owners had to get specialist tradesmen in when part of the garden wall collapsed as they had to use special lime mortar.

Your walls may be made of something similar (limed walls, especially if there is no cavity wall) or is it made of brick?

It could cost her a pretty penny if she has to repair it to the satisfaction of yourselves and your local Conservation Officer (whom you should be speaking with at your Council)

MarianneUnfaithful · 18/06/2021 17:09

Oh, and half the neighbours windows firm one of her garden walls Grin

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 18/06/2021 17:14

She cannot drill into your home to erect this, and she cannot block all the light into your windows with it either.

CovidCorvid · 18/06/2021 17:16

but she was adamant she was correct and that is wasn't our house wall but her garden wall.

It may form her garden boundary but if it's your house it's still your house.

So the garden wall (not a house) between me and next door belongs to next door. It's very much just a breeze block wall. But when I wanted to paint our side of it I asked if that was OK....because it's not my wall! I'd never drill anything into it without asking.

For all she knows she could have compromised the integrity of your house and it could be a point of entry for damp?

billy1966 · 18/06/2021 17:17

OP,
Contact whoever erected it and tell them that they have been party to criminal damage to your property.

THEY have an obligation to make sure that they have permission to do something to YOUR house.

I would be absolutely furious.

Original poster
Euro21widow · 18/06/2021 17:18

I hope these make it clearer.

To think my neighbour can drill a whole in my house to permanently hang a 15ft tarpaulin?
To think my neighbour can drill a whole in my house to permanently hang a 15ft tarpaulin?
OP posts:
Cailleach1 · 18/06/2021 17:19

If the wall is a straight line continuation of the inside wall between your two houses, it may be a party wall. Even if it only encloses your house.

Original poster
Euro21widow · 18/06/2021 17:20

@Pinotpleasure the house is made of brick.

OP posts:
CovidCorvid · 18/06/2021 17:21

If it's a part wall won't she need a party wall agreement?

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