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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:
LessTime · 11/01/2022 11:52

That's would really annoy me. Is there anyway if screening it?

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 11/01/2022 11:53

I would try and keep calm and civil and speak to them again, try and compromise on them blocking out the window which over looks your kitchen.

It that doesn’t work/you can’t live with it there I would complain to council

VenusClapTrap · 11/01/2022 11:53

If you see the kids, tell them you’ve seen massive spiders coming in and out of their treehouse, and you hope they don’t get bitten.

HappyThursdays · 11/01/2022 11:54

yes exactly

and it will impact the value of your property when you sell with it stuck there

if you believe it has been built in contravention of planning, then you should report them. Take photos and don't do anything that mitigates it (like frosting windows or putting up screens) till the council has reviewed. If you don't like being assertive, think of it affecting your back pocket when you sell! it is hard doing all this type of stuff on your own as a single parent, I do feel your pain but you must protect your investment and not let these arseholes walk all over you.

a lot of people think it's easier to get planning forgiveness than permission so just do what they like. Ime, rural planning authorities tend to take a dim view of things like this, particularly if it is that close to the boundary!

LalalalalalaLand123 · 11/01/2022 11:54

Unfortunately 'good neighbourly relations' has already been thrown out the window - by them. They've shown that they don't care about you one iota.
So stay polite and civil, but you need to complain to the council. As PP have said, research planning rules and be specific - eg overlooking your house and violating your privacy by looking directly into your window, obstructing your sunlight, interrupting a view from your window, lighting on the structure causing you disturbance, height, "verandas, balconies or raised platforms" are specifically excluded from permitted development and so require planning permission etc.

So sorry you're having to go through this OP. So sad when neighbours show that they are inconsiderate. Just stay polite and civil, and minimise contact with them.

Jjjayfee · 11/01/2022 11:54

I love urthies suggestions and would keep that as my reserve tactic! Altho it's probably illegal!

Fatgalslim · 11/01/2022 11:55

I think I'd speak to them again first, tell them exactly the impact it's having on them and if they don't agree to do something about, tell them they've left you no option but to report. I wouldn't like it either OP, I value my privacy

Seeline · 11/01/2022 11:56

OP - just a few other points to check
Is their house a Listed Building?
Is it in a Conservation Area?
Is it located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or a National Park?

Extra rules apply in these situations

Dentistlakes · 11/01/2022 11:57

I would report it to the council. If they are in breach of regulations then they will need to take it down. I wouldn’t feel bad about it either op. They clearly gave your privacy no thought and obviously don’t give a shit that you find it intrusive. Whether it’s ‘it’s for the kids’ is neither here nor there.

Dottybackorcid · 11/01/2022 12:00

They have already shown their hand OP and obviously think there superior to you as they have more money.
Being polite now won't work they have shown that.

Send them a polite letter explaining how it affects you and include photos. Ask them to modify their tree house so it does not affect you. If they do not respond in 14 days report to the council.

You can always be creative and make a nice poster to go in your kitchen window of the likes I'm sure they would not want their children would not want to view 🤣.

NoMoreTractors · 11/01/2022 12:03

I would make my garden into a replica of this theme park in South Korea and see how long they take to move it.

pinkplankton.com/theres-an-entire-theme-park-about-sex-in-south-korea/?doing_wp_cron=1641902425.4244890213012695312500

Failing that I would report it to planning.

clairethewitch70 · 11/01/2022 12:03

If they are who I think they are (there are several of these large treehouses in my area). Play music, they will soon go scurrying in. Or get an outdoor projector with some movies on. They cannot listen to music or watch the 'pipeline of filth'

Nanny0gg · 11/01/2022 12:06

You let this go and there'll be something else

You have no relationship now - their fault - so you have nothing to lose and lots to gain by reporting it

Redtartanshoes · 11/01/2022 12:06

I’d burn it down. Electrical fault 💅

imnotacelebritygetmeoutofhere · 11/01/2022 12:08

Report it to the council before you get to summer and further disturbance. But as a previous comment says, take some time to read about how to complain properly so there can be no doubt.
It's not just blocking your daytime light/disturbing your darkness at night and breaching your privacy, think about when you might want to sell in future. That will immediately devalue your property.

Natty13 · 11/01/2022 12:09

@Redtartanshoes

I’d burn it down. Electrical fault 💅
The poor tree though. I'd water it woth my hose every day til it rotted. Or got taken down by the council after I comained, whichever came first.
Woodlandarchitect · 11/01/2022 12:10

Report it to planning and be prepared for them to instruct a planning consultant to gain permission.

You can also instruct a planner to oppose their planning permission. If you can afford to…

Planning will likely to include a tree survey and a biodiversity survey. So if birds or bats are nearby then this could help your case.

Fight fire with fire. And good luck Flowers

Branleuse · 11/01/2022 12:12

Put up offensive NSFW pictures up in your garden facing the window as close as you can get. Maybe theyll at least block off the window then?
Or a big picture of you and your husband smiling creepily, directly facing them

NorthSouthcatlady · 11/01/2022 12:12

They sound entitled and obnoxious. Your attempts to talk to them sounds like they just think about themselves and what they / their children want. As an outsider looking in it sounds like an eye sore to be perfectly honest

Cotton55 · 11/01/2022 12:13

"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."

Natty13 come on that's unfair. The OP is looking for advice as to what she should do about it. There's no need to be a dick.

ProfessionalWeirdo · 11/01/2022 12:13

You do need to report it to the council. There are strict planning rules about the right to light and the loss of privacy, and it sounds from your description that this structure falls foul of both.

Seeline · 11/01/2022 12:13

At this stage the Council will just be checking whether it requires PP or not. That decision is factual based on permitted development rights. Whether the structure impacts neighbours etc is irrelevant at this stage.

IF the Council decide that PP is required they may ask for a retrospective planning application to be submitted. It is at that point the OP can submit her objections in terms of the impact on her.

Alternatively, the Council may go straight to enforcement. This can mean that they ask for certain alterations to make it more acceptable, or they can ask for total removal. Either way the NDN will have a right of appeal against that decision, and again, at that stage the OP has the opportunity to put forward her objections to the structure.

ElftonWednesday · 11/01/2022 12:19

I'd give them 14 days to dismantle it or report it to the council who will tell them to do the same.

ElftonWednesday · 11/01/2022 12:22

And by dismantle it, I mean arrange an accidental large bonfire underneath it.