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

Our old neighbours did this, it was awful.

He was really pushy. Wanted to run a cable under our garden so he could put in electricity and lights. We said no, but he managed it anyway.

It was miserable. They cut down two huge beautiful, mature walnut trees to make space, then built decking over the stumps.

This ran across the back of our house, so All our back ground floor windows became completely overlooked.

One night they had a huge party, and it was so awkward, we felt like we had to hide in our own home.

I wish I'd known about the planning rules, it was so detrimental to our lives.

As another OP has said, they soon realised that we could overlook them as well as vice versa, there was no privacy for any of us. The novelty wore off after about 2 months and they stopped using it.

or singing children.

I've got an image in my head of The Sound of Music now

"I would encourage foxes to move in under their decking"

This happened. Unfortunately it was at the end of our garden, near our flat. The noise was terrible, not to mention the smell. That was also around the time that the fox in North London attacked a baby. 😭

@Bluesheep8 no much more annoying> on the upside ipad of party tunes and a few balloons can entertain kids for ages. So loud though, I can hear them 50metres away.

Either…

Find your local yodelling team and invite them round to practice

Or

Ducks. Set up the house next to the fence and put something next to it ( definitely not to act as a step) once they realise there’s a lovely pond next door…..

I use to live next door to someone with a hot tub, the rumbling noise is unbearable especially at night, could hear it throughout the house

@ChickpeaCrunch

And go and sit there every evening and start at them

See if you can find any local naturists who would like to cavort in your garden! Collect green garden trimmings and establish somewhere to burn them at the bottom of your garden, not when the cavorters are out though!

@anon666

Our old neighbours did this, it was awful.

He was really pushy. Wanted to run a cable under our garden so he could put in electricity and lights. We said no, but he managed it anyway.

It was miserable. They cut down two huge beautiful, mature walnut trees to make space, then built decking over the stumps.

This ran across the back of our house, so All our back ground floor windows became completely overlooked.

One night they had a huge party, and it was so awkward, we felt like we had to hide in our own home.

I wish I'd known about the planning rules, it was so detrimental to our lives.

As another OP has said, they soon realised that we could overlook them as well as vice versa, there was no privacy for any of us. The novelty wore off after about 2 months and they stopped using it.

Surely if it was under your garden it could accidently be split with a (well insulated) spade?

Their garden, their business, as long as they're not causing a nuisance.

This absolutely needs planning permission. As below....
Raised patios and areas of decking require planning permission if they stand more than 30cm above ground level or if they cover more than 50 per cent of the area of the garden. If you feel the project contravenes either of these parameters it is worth contacting your local authority to complain...
You have every right to enjoy your garden and if you do raise a complaint to be investigated by planning then they will keep the source confidential - sounds like it could be a number of people!
Why are people so selfish, sorry it is ruining the enjoyment of your new home.

Can’t you put up a high fence? That’s what we did when our neighbours were looking into our garden from new decking. Just whacked a big fence up, no one can see anyone now, it’s lush.

set up a fake video camera on a tripod facing their hot tub- go out to check it when the are there,chuckle like a loon...

@TonkinLenkicks

Get a deck chair and a tub of popcorn. Every time they’re out sit and watch them. Maybe even go as far as buying opera glasses.

And make loud, uncomplimentary comments.

@OhYouBadBadKitten

]]

stinky fly trap..

I have had one of those and can confirm that once full the stench is unbelievable!

This pretty much touches our boundary fence and means they can easily see into our garden when they use it.

Buy a pair of binoculars and watch them constantly when thy are using it. They’ll soon get fed up with that.

Buy dried mealworms in bulk and scatter loads on the ground by the fence. The birds will love them (and hopefully will poo in the hot tub) but more importantly, they won't eat all the mealworms and the residue will rot on the ground and fucking stink.

Their garden, their business, as long as they're not causing a nuisance

Clearly there are causing issues?

*theyre

LOVING some of the replies youve had OP, in fact got wine to read next page!

^Their garden, their business, as long as they're not causing a nuisance

Clearly there are causing issues?^

Just because a next-door neighbour doesn't like what their neighbour has done/does in their own garden, as long as what they've done is legal and they're not causing a nuisance (the council has a list of what constitutes a nuisance), there's not a fat lot they can (legally) do about it.
Many of the things people have suggested the OP should do would fall into the realm of "causing a nuisance".

I honestly find these replies so weird. So many mumsnet posters are so vindictive, it’s so weird.

Just imagine you use your garden perfectly legally and your neighbours went out their way to encourage pests in to your garden and planting trees to make your life a misery.

Like it or not, your neighbours don’t seem to have actually done anything wrong. Irritating and you may find their placement of the hot tub a nuisance but they’re allowed to do what they’re want on their property.

We had this in our previous house. We was contemplating moving, then a house at the end of our garden did exactly the same thing, they were waist high over the fence. We complained to the council and was told they didn't need planning permission. That sealed the deal for us to move, we live in the middle of nowhere now so no on-looking neighbours. No idea what to suggest apart from, maybe putting some trellis up to increase the height of the fence or maybe plant some fast growing trees that will give you privacy.

I have just spent 30 mins researching pleached trees .
Wow, lovely but VERY expensive.

Op you have lots of acceptable options. Screening , planning dept, trellis.
Please don't do anything to attract rats or vermin.

Yanbu. I would put up trellis just inside my side of the fence, they are probably just the sort of people who will do what they please and not be considerate to anyone else. This does not bode well for the future I'm afraid. Move if and when you can. It would be a permanent annoyance to me and ruin my life to have to put up with them.

Years ago we rented a house (2008-2012) and the next door neighbour did a similar mad construction. I contacted the council, as did the neighbour on the other side. She had to take it all down. No more seeing her and her boyfriend up to all sorts on their stupid decking!