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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours New Tree house

351 replies

Silvafoxa · 11/01/2022 10:12

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 ?

OP posts:
Skeumorph · 13/01/2022 00:08

Definitely mention in your complaint that they have boasted that they have a contact in the planning department and would get away with it. That tends to make the contact more reluctant to pull strings, especially if there’s a clear breach of planning.

expat101 · 13/01/2022 00:11

I too am rural and in an area that has been badly subdivided. Several families squashed down one driveway, no notification from the council if anyone applies to build/move dwellings on and the like.

Over the years visual pollution has increased, generally because of folk moving out to the area who then do not cope well with the dark. For a while there we had a movement-activated spotlight, although some distance away, flicking on and off on our bedroom door and wall. It was frustrating but we had room to plant out hedging which resolved that crisis.

However we have had two other situations with neighbours and basically, we received the same reaction from them as you did, when approached about the problem. I ended up calling Council out on the newer lot because they were being egged on by the others. If they hadn't taken things to extreme measures then no one would be any the wiser but it was just people taking the piss as far as they could possibly go. They have since fallen out with others, had people further away than us also complain and have withdrawn from anything to do with our community. Tough.

the other lot I ended up issuing a final warning to the parent of adult child, and for the most part, the interference has stopped. I think it also helped that others were paying rent to stay at the property and I believe one tenant served the family up big time over their behaviour.

At the end of the day though, these people are not my friends and could have taken steps to reduce the impact of their behaviour, on us, but chose not to. If they want to be insulted and carry on like big sissies then that's their problem, not ours, or in your case, not yours.

What I will say is if you do nothing, I will guarantee things will get worse. It might be kids sleeping over in the tree house when they get older with radios and the like, just to be out of Mum and Dad's hair, and it will impact on you.

Nip it in the bud now and get Council involved.

Lulu49 · 13/01/2022 00:12

They would be above the fence in the air overlooking her house not in their garden

YDBear · 13/01/2022 01:08

Build a high platform (if you don’t have a tree) ostensibly for your “new hobby” of birdwatching, which looks directly into their bedroom (or failing that the room they least want overlooked that can be seen from your garden).

twominutesmore · 13/01/2022 05:10

Big smoky barbecue under the little window the kids love looking out of

ellyeth · 13/01/2022 10:23

I'm usually a "live and let live" sort of person but, in this instance, I think it is outrageous that they have built this tree house without consulting you and ensuring that they respect your light and privacy. Their attitude towards your concerns is really rude and unreasonable.

I would be inclined to report it to the council. They have shown no goodwill in addressing your concerns so it is their fault.

Original poster
Silvafoxa · 13/01/2022 13:02

Thank you everyone. It’s amazing to have so much support on this, you are all amazing.

I’ve spent the last few days thinking about what to do. With Spring around the corner i’d love to enjoy the garden again without the watchtower.

I will go to the council (I have been writing and planning my approach).
I’m sure the neighbour will do retrospective planning. But once I have kicks the hornets nest there is no going back.

I’ll try and upload a drawing (please forgive me in advance) of what it looks like tomorrow as just in my lunch break now :)

Thanks again everyone. I have enjoyed reading everyone opinions and stories of their own tree house issues.

p.s i’m not against tree houses per say, but just having them looming over another persons hone without consent or consideration !

OP posts:
GrannytoaUnicorn · 13/01/2022 13:06

@Silvafoxa

Thank you everyone. It’s amazing to have so much support on this, you are all amazing.

I’ve spent the last few days thinking about what to do. With Spring around the corner i’d love to enjoy the garden again without the watchtower.

I will go to the council (I have been writing and planning my approach).
I’m sure the neighbour will do retrospective planning. But once I have kicks the hornets nest there is no going back.

I’ll try and upload a drawing (please forgive me in advance) of what it looks like tomorrow as just in my lunch break now :)

Thanks again everyone. I have enjoyed reading everyone opinions and stories of their own tree house issues.

p.s i’m not against tree houses per say, but just having them looming over another persons hone without consent or consideration !

Well done you! 👏🏻
trulyconfuseddotcom · 13/01/2022 15:17

Good for you, OP! You deserve to be able to enjoy your home and garden n peace. Good luck!

CovidCorvid · 13/01/2022 15:35

@Silvafoxa

Thank you everyone. It’s amazing to have so much support on this, you are all amazing.

I’ve spent the last few days thinking about what to do. With Spring around the corner i’d love to enjoy the garden again without the watchtower.

I will go to the council (I have been writing and planning my approach).
I’m sure the neighbour will do retrospective planning. But once I have kicks the hornets nest there is no going back.

I’ll try and upload a drawing (please forgive me in advance) of what it looks like tomorrow as just in my lunch break now :)

Thanks again everyone. I have enjoyed reading everyone opinions and stories of their own tree house issues.

p.s i’m not against tree houses per say, but just having them looming over another persons hone without consent or consideration !

Just take a photo. Grin. The whole post is recognisable to them if they did stumble across it anyway. And you’re allowed to take photos from your garden and put them online. Plus if they don’t like it fuck them!
Whatayear81 · 13/01/2022 17:36

I’ve read the posts and perhaps missed it

But does the OP give any idea of dimensions

applecrumbleforteaagain · 13/01/2022 17:43

Few Cooper nails in the tree or accidentally slip while holding a massive chainsaw?? Oh woooppps the tree died/fell over.

StoneofDestiny · 13/01/2022 17:45

Good for you OP - idiots have made your garden less likely to be enjoyed as the private space it was and made your house a less attractive purchase - you are down £££'s for their lack of consideration.

VikingsandDragons · 13/01/2022 19:10

I used to be a planning officer. I've been involved in an enforcement case against a tree house that ended up going to appeal and all sorts. Treehouse lost at every round. It had windows over looking the neighbours garden, yours sounds much worse in comparison. A tree house is treated just the same as if they built any other structure up against a boundary overlooking someone else's property. Report to planning enforcement.

AdobeWanKenobi · 13/01/2022 19:48

@applecrumbleforteaagain

Few Cooper nails in the tree or accidentally slip while holding a massive chainsaw?? Oh woooppps the tree died/fell over.
Yep, kill the whole thing with copper nails. Seems sensible. Dead tree, no treehouse and ALL privacy is lost.

Or, rather than pissing about putting up obscene posters and security lights, hammering in nails or slipping with chainsaws OP could follow the sensible route of council enforcement and get the thing removed properly.

I'm sure folk on here just try and outdo each other with utterly bizarre suggestions.

Good luck with your report OP.

EvilPea · 14/01/2022 13:01

You don’t have to own a tree to ask for a protection order to be put on it.

There’s lots of regulation as to what trees qualify. Just a thought

StoneofDestiny · 14/01/2022 13:11

I'd mention about them saying they 'are in' with the planning authorities - you are entitled to an independent judgement

TheMissingMango · 14/01/2022 15:23

Definitely speak to the council.
In the meantime, take up naked baking.

Namechangehereandnow · 15/01/2022 19:08

Even if they apply for retrospective planning permission, it will probably be denied. The fact that they’ve already built it is irrelevant, if it breaches planning rules then it will be denied and they’ll have to remove it. A neighbour near me had their retrospective planning permission denied and had to remove the structure that they’d had up for a couple of years.

PeachyPeachTrees · 15/01/2022 20:42

I am glad you are going to report it. They sound like foul bullies and not your friendly neighbours. Don't let them intimidate you. I am sure the council will get it taken down, definitely mention how they said they're 'in' with someone on planning. Get prepared for them saying their kids are so sad and it's all your fault. Keep strong, they only have themselves to blame.

applecrumbleforteaagain · 16/01/2022 00:07

@AdobeWanKenobi it was a joke 🤦‍♀️

ChilledBeez · 17/01/2022 21:02

You should report it to the council A.S.A.P. as Summer will be here before you know it and it will be such a bother. I get how you feel being a single mother as you can feel quite powerless. I had a nightmare with a very large family renting next door and ended up selling on and moving. You really need to keep in mind where they built it which was purely selfish on their part. If you were great friends with them it would be different but they sound like unreasonable people so you don't have much to lose but peace of mind to gain. Good luck.

Seeline · 24/01/2022 08:12

@Silvafoxa
Any news from the Council yet?

Funkyfraz · 24/01/2022 10:28

@Jjjayfee

I would suggest perhaps waiting a couple of months. Often things which at first seem a great intrusion, aren't. It might become unused very quickly and less of an imposition. Meantime you can log what happens. You could phone the council to ask but I don't think it would make any difference if you decided to log a complaint now or in a few months time
Terrible advice.
Bouledeneige · 24/01/2022 16:16

I know someone who built similar in Edinburgh and the neighbours complained and he had to take it down.