Neighbours have raised their garden and now overlooks ours!

[Higgs789]

Our row of new build houses have gardens that slope away from the house. Our neighbours have recently just levelled their garden by building decking that is level with the house, which means by the end of the garden they’re torso height above the fence. Not only that but they’ve built a pergola at the end of the garden and put a hot tub. This pretty much touches our boundary fence and means they can easily see into our garden when they use it. They said they would put trellis to screen but instead they’ve put fairy lights all over it! I think they need planning permission to raise the level that much but we’re going insane from the lights and the noise of the hot tub. I’m tempted to call the planning office but I don’t know if I’m being unreasonable? HELP

See if there's a valid planning application, or contact planning enforcement to see if they will help mentioning it is affecting your privacy and use of amenity space x

That's awful and why would they want you looking at them in their hot tub? How weird of them !!
I would ring planning, that can't be right.
I understand why they want a flat garden but stepped would have been better.

Ask if they can turn the lights off when not in use?

And go and sit there every evening and start at them

*stare

Our neighbours did this and the neighbour actually worked for the council! I wanted to complain, but didn't. Eventually they realised we could see them as much as they could see us and built a high fence. It's quite tall from our side, but at least we can't see them now.
If you appear a lot when they are out there they may realise eventually that they've lost their own privacy too and hopefully will screen it.

Buy a trampoline and invite children to play on it

Decking is permitted development as long as it's 30cm or less above the ground. Anything else requires a planning application.

I built my decking higher than that, but then I redid the fence so that my neighbours garden isn't overlooked from the deck. I would go and speak to them in the first instance.

@Hiddenmnetter

Decking is permitted development as long as it's 30cm or less above the ground. Anything else requires a planning application.

I built my decking higher than that, but then I redid the fence so that my neighbours garden isn't overlooked from the deck. I would go and speak to them in the first instance.

Yes, but on a house with a garden that slopes away the “ground level” is considered the level of the house so they don’t need planning permission here

I agree with speaking to them in the first instance. Surprised they didn’t submerge the hot tub in to the decking!

It only has to be below 30cm where it meets the house. If you live in a sloped garden and your decking starts at

New to this so not sure if I can but am I able to share a photo?

Every time they are out there go out and speak to them eg

Oh how lovely, is the water lovely and warm, etc etc

Just keep on being pleasantly annoying, just nice but irritating chat.

They will put up the screening eventually.

The privacy issue doesn’t seem to bother them… neighbours were out til 10 last night, music and lights going 😩

Put something smelly near their hot tub. Really smelly.

I would speak to the Planners. New build properties often have some/all permitted development rights removed meaning PP is required for some forms of development which would normally not require PP.

I would personally bet watering that fence that inbetween u every time they are in and spray them 'on accident'

Oh no OP sounds utterly shit

@Seeline

I would speak to the Planners. New build properties often have some/all permitted development rights removed meaning PP is required for some forms of development which would normally not require PP.

Yes, or there are additional rules that prevent further development for X number of years. Might be worth contacting the original developers to find out.

Can you put your own trellis up to block the lights?

How annoying, we had ignorant neighbours who raised their patio and when we mentioned it, they put this tacky trellis on top of the fence. We moved in the end not just because of that there was a string of other things including a hot tub by our bedroom window.

Thanks that’s useful, I’ll check! Gahh we love the house but just so fed up! Husband went to talk to them whilst they were having garden work done and, although all friendly, neighbour’s response was ‘well you can’t please everyone.’ Think the neighbours behind have it worse as they’re completely overlooked

Are you in Scotland or England Higgs789? Scotland has different permitted development right. Planner here

We’ve only been here 8 months so really don’t want to sell yet but not sure we can put up with them at the same time

England

@Elkey

Put something smelly near their hot tub. Really smelly.

I'd start a compost heap next to the fence on the closest side to their garden. Start putting some seriously smelly stuff in there in terms of food scraps.