Neighbours New Tree house

[Silvafoxa]

Hi,

Just some background. I have DC and we are friendly with neighbours. We live in a semi rural area but our garden is (was) completely private and we enjoy that! especially with lockdown.
There are no other neighbours in close proximity.

So our neighbours started work on a treehouse that is approx 10ft + in a tree at the back of their garden. Our garden and house wraps around the back of the garden.It is at the very bottom of their garden. The tree house is 5ft from out kitchen window and looks directly into it.

It’s all we now see looking out our kitchen window and completely dominates our view (I have shrubs and planting but nowhere nr 15ft to cover).

It also now blocks all light into kitchen. It’s a big shed on stilts with overlooking windows. With added fairy lights. It use to be pitch black outside our window snd it’s lit up in the evenings.

Since it’s been erected random adults have been up and looking through into our house (maybe unintentionally but it’s really not nice).

I spoke to neighbour who said it’s for children and to lighten up. They were very dismissive and said it’s staying.

I just think come summer it’s going to be hell with kids in there so close to our kitchen and patio. They didn’t put it nr their house probably for the same reasons I do not want it so close to mine.

Am I being miserable, it’s such an eyesore ?
Should I report to the council ?

I agree with others. Planning department definitely, and also copy to your local councillor, MP and anyone else you can think of that might help you out. And definitely mention that they've said they're 'in with the planning department', and why - twats!! Mentioning this should hopefully mean that their relative, if they actually have any part in the decision making process, should have to declare a personal interest and therefore take no part in the planning/decision process.

@AgathaX

I agree with others. Planning department definitely, and also copy to your local councillor, MP and anyone else you can think of that might help you out. And definitely mention that they've said they're 'in with the planning department', and why - twats!! Mentioning this should hopefully mean that their relative, if they actually have any part in the decision making process, should have to declare a personal interest and therefore take no part in the planning/decision process.

Just had a thought - any chance that once the planning dept are aware that the neighbour took advantage of ‘connections’ for the extension, they would investigate to see whether anything dodgy went on ?

I would copy in your letter to the Planning Office to your local councillor and DO NOT LET the CFs know what you are doing.

If it's at all possible at the end of your garden backing onto the tree house perhaps you could plant bamboo? That grows pretty quickly and is a good screen.

Good luck OP!

Report them. Any relationship you had with them is broken anyways.

It’s sad some neighbours think because someone is nice to them, it’s an open ticket to do whatever they want, and the other person has to remain nice to them.

I reached the end of the line with taking my neighbour’s idiocy a little while ago. They’re not the nice people they pretend to be.

Only because you are remote/alone, I would give them one chance to rectify and salvage the neighbourly relationship (for your sake, not theirs). Something like:

Dear Neighbours

I've tried to discuss the treehouse with you but you seemed clear that you are not prepared to take my views into account. I have enjoyed our friendly relationship and it would be a shame to fall out, but I'm afraid your treehouse is not ok with me. The imposition of the structure on my home way beyond acceptable. It has impacted our light, our outlook, our privacy and my levels of comfort in my own home. It will have also had a detrimental impact on the value of my home. I am therefore requesting that you either move it's location or reduce the height significantly ensuring that I cannot be overlooked, or I am going to have to go to planning - something I'd rather not do.

I am not prepared to wait indefinitely for you to do something, so I'd like to suggest the 1st April (or whenever you think is reasonable) for alterations to be made.

I hope we can resolve this amicably. I am not trying to be difficult - If this was just about kids having fun / a bit of extra noise, I'd really have no issue.

I'm around if you'd like to discuss this further

Best wishes

And if they ignore, you really can call the planning dept knowing you tried to be nice.

@Youngstreet

You need a new hobby OP.. I suggest beekeeping. The bees will love that tree.

I LOVE that!

@Silvafoxa

They once told me they are “in” with the planning officers as a family member works for them (they had an extension a few yrs ago)

Hogwash! Don' take any notice of them. No-one is that 'in' with anyone, that they can influence stuff like planning permission and suchlike. My cousin works in housing allocations for her local council, and she keeps getting asked (by people who have shag-all to do with her 99% of the year,) if she can get them a house. She works in social housing, and is friends with the Chief Housing Officer, and cannot even get a (social housing) home for HERSELF. So these people claiming they have influence, are talking shit.

I agree that if it was a MAN kicking off, these neighbours would have a totally different attitude. It's so infuriating that they are taking advantage of a shy young single mum.

Report them. Make them move it away from the property line.

Your relationship is already toast; reclaim your privacy and sun. They should never have built it there.

@Silvafoxa

Thanks everyone. The reason why i posted this as I felt so alone with it.

I wouldn’t take it out on the children. They would have no concept of their parents selfishness.

I think I’ll look up all the local planning laws and make a case. But I imagine they will just get retrospective planning. They once told me they are “in” with the planning officers as a family member works for them (they had an extension a few yrs ago).

Funnily enough, I wanted to get skylights at the back of my property but felt it would overlook them so never went ahead. Consideration does not flow both ways it seem.

Include their boasting about being 'in' with the planning officers in your complaint so neural officers will have to be used.

@Balonziaga That letter is fucking brilliant.

Firm and strenuous, but also polite, and non-aggressive!

I would not give them any warning or heads up.

It is either against planning regs or it isn’t.

They won’t amicably adjust a massive expensive structure, and anyway, who decides what adjustment is OK?

Any structure at that height needs PP. beginning and end.

The planning officer or planning committee decide, it is a process outside of individual neighbour opinions.

Threatening them with contacting Planning may make them a dry and aggressive. The letter advised by Balonz is pointless. Just let Planning deal with it.

@Balonziaga

Only because you are remote/alone, I would give them one chance to rectify and salvage the neighbourly relationship (for your sake, not theirs). Something like:

Dear Neighbours

I've tried to discuss the treehouse with you but you seemed clear that you are not prepared to take my views into account. I have enjoyed our friendly relationship and it would be a shame to fall out, but I'm afraid your treehouse is not ok with me. The imposition of the structure on my home way beyond acceptable. It has impacted our light, our outlook, our privacy and my levels of comfort in my own home. It will have also had a detrimental impact on the value of my home. I am therefore requesting that you either move it's location or reduce the height significantly ensuring that I cannot be overlooked, or I am going to have to go to planning - something I'd rather not do.

I am not prepared to wait indefinitely for you to do something, so I'd like to suggest the 1st April (or whenever you think is reasonable) for alterations to be made.

I hope we can resolve this amicably. I am not trying to be difficult - If this was just about kids having fun / a bit of extra noise, I'd really have no issue.

I'm around if you'd like to discuss this further

Best wishes

And if they ignore, you really can call the planning dept knowing you tried to be nice.

I wouldn't do this because they' already told the OP they don't care.

And they might apply for retrospective planning quietly while pretending to 'negotiate' with neighbour.

Just file a complaint with the council.

If you do go with Balonz’s letter, OP, amend the mistakes first!

Just report it.

I think the letter is a good idea, (AND THE OP NEEDS TO KEEP A COPY OF IT,) because it creates a paper trail.

Like when you see housing officers etc giving notice to seek possession on a tenant who has not paid the rent for months, the tenant can ignore it and rip it up even, but it doesn't change the fact it exists, and it has been served.

As long as the OP writes this letter saying (roughly) what @Balonziaga said, (and makes a copy to keep,) she has a proven written record that she has tried to resolve the issue.

Is it just me, or is anyone else absolutely gagging for a photo of this monstrosity ? How about it OP ?

@Rosscameasdoody

Is it just me, or is anyone else absolutely gagging for a photo of this monstrosity ? How about it OP ?

I am!!!

@Silvafoxa Any chance of a photo of said treehouse?

If the situation was that you built an illegal big treehouse overlooking their garden and kitchen, would they report it? I suspect yes..

@StrifeOfBath

A lot of leaves need burning in winter… BBQs are best lit near your kitchen for ease of running to fetch condiments, and look out for the £25 folding fire outs they sell in Lidl and Aldi as summer approaches. We love sitting round a fire pit…. Shane about the smoke that rises….

But try the council first.

Hrft but I take this is sarcastic, otherwise there'll be a whole host of problems and you'll find yourself in trouble.

That’s a shame they ruined your relationship.

Time for the council!

You and DC can sit in the garden and have tea as they have to rip it down. Wave.

@Warmduscher

If you do go with Balonz’s letter, OP, amend the mistakes first!

So nice to see the grammer police are out being pedantic. We know what you mean Balonz

Motion activated floodlights angled directly into the treehouse windows for sure.

Tempting to mention ‘the neighbours have made me aware of their close connections to the planning department’ in your letter too, just to make them look like dicks.

Planning enforcement is often a lengthy process, so best to get started now. You've already raised it with the neighbour they don't care, so complain to the planning officer. I'd also find out who your local councillors are and give them a ring,and ask for their support.

@Warmduscher

If you do go with Balonz’s letter, OP, amend the mistakes first!

There's always one.