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 would go to the council, but if they are rich I would be prepared that planning permission is granted retrospectively.

Edit - when you do go the council take some time to read all the guidance and properly draft a letter etc. don't just fire off a quick complaint - let them know you mean business.

Great work. 👍 What is your relationship like now with neighbour ?

Yes if the window was blocked that would help. I did ask for this but that’s when they said their DC love looking out. They also like to see the fairy lights from their house…… 20 meters from their windows….. nice

Report it.

And in the meantime put some inappropriate posters in your kitchen window in full view of their DC.

I would report to the Council - you want the Planning Enforcement Team. Take lots of photos of it, and how it impacts you from the garden, and various rooms/windows and send those in too.

Report them. They give zero shits about neighbourliness... Rules is rules and they can't flount them the Cfers!!

I'd report it. If you want to sell eventually it'd put potential buyers off.

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.

Put together a reasoned case of breach of planning law and take it to your local council. Do you really care if entitled, inconsiderate arseholes never speak to you again?

@SmallElephant

I'd report it. It will have a negative effect on your relationship, but it sounds like the current impact on you is worse.

Agree. And actually it sounds like they've already damaged the relationship so you may as well salvage what you can of your living conditions. Inconsiderate neighbours really can affect your life

Plant primroses and pansies on your lawn spelling out "Fuck You". If they don't want their kids to see that they will sort out the overlooking at least (won't solve them blocking your own view or the fairy lights issue though)

See, live and let live as an ethos only really works if there is compromise on both sides with a general shared mission not to be a Twatty Neighbour.

Why should OP be bullied.

@BuanoKubiamVej

Plant primroses and pansies on your lawn spelling out "Fuck You". If they don't want their kids to see that they will sort out the overlooking at least (won't solve them blocking your own view or the fairy lights issue though)

This is also an excellent idea

This will devalue your property if you ever want to sell as, apart from being unsightly, it's an indicator that your house is next to a bunch of inconsiderate CFs. I think you need to report it now.

I'd report to council. But also maybe try writing a letter to your neighbours telling them what you've told us here.... how it is affecting you and why. Maybe they aren't realising how much its affecting you.

@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.

I was going to say exactly the same, you need to start extremely smelly smoky fires, and barbecues right under the structure

@Silvafoxa

What makes it hard to complain is that i’m a single parent and feel isolated as it is. Falling out with my only neighbour really is quite a big thing. They are very rich and intimidating. I worked so hard to create a home for my DC and on the weekends off just do not need to feel I cannot relax.

That’s what makes my AIBU so tough. It’s unfair ppl are so inconsiderate.

Frankly, I find it unfair that people like you whine and moan yet do NOTHING about it, therefore encouraging dickheads like your neighbours to continue on through life having no consideration for others. Only when people stand up to them do folk like this change.

I was also thinking that it's better to get it sorted now in case you ever want to sell in the future as no one is going to want to buy a house with a massive tree house overlooking it. It sounds like you've tried to be reasonable. This is 100% on them.

What awful people.

They are not good neighbours.

I'm so sorry.

Report them and also to 101 if they try and intimidate you.

Send them a letter saying if they don't move it by XX Date you will report it to the Council on the grounds it is blocking your light and breaching your privacy.
Don't wait too long as there is a time limit for such things.

Report it (and fgs don't give them a heads up that you're doing it).

But also I think a bit of walking around nude may help.

Report it, they don’t care about you knowing it will block your light and is in breach of planning

I would approach them again with your valid concerns, pictures and perhaps some information from the council planning department website to backup your thoughts on their current breach on planning rules.
It is always better to get a solution through mediation and to give them the chance to alleviate your concerns. If however they choose not to engage in neighbourly negotiation then I would submit a file to the council.
At least then you can be sure you gave them every opportunity to be reasonable and resolve the situation before the authorities got involved.

Really sorry they've done this.

www.amazon.co.uk/338-0031-Decorative-Static-Window-Frosted/dp/B005ERFJBY/ref=sr_1_4?crid=O2HH7AA5YCKN&keywords=dc%2Bfilm&sprefix=dc%2Bfilm%2Caps%2C441&th=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1641900058&sr=8-4 This might help. We are very close to the road. Lets a lovely light in - actually brightens the light coming into the room. And no-one can see in even when you have lights on and its dark outside.

Could you identify the spot they should shift it to so that it does not impinge on your wellbeing and privacy? Is there such a spot? I am concerned they may just shift it a few feet with many complaints and then you are stuck again.