To block some light to neighbour?

[Donotshushme]

I bought my house about 10 years ago and the next door neighbour has previously built a conservatory with windows facing directly into our garden, with some of that film stuff that you put inside it to obscure it. You can still see the shape of people through it. The conservatory was built right on the exact boundary line, so parts of it, like the windows, actually protrude onto our property. It appears they've actually amended the fence line to do it but again this was before we moved in.

Obviously we bought the house knowing this, but it does feel like we are lacking privacy. If they see us come into the garden they'll sometimes risk up to the end where the fences are lower to complain about us/other neighbors. The conservatory is about 3 metres long. The wall that's on our side looks ugly and intrusive with really chunky white plastic. The other side and front of their conservatory is also glazed so they have light coming from other sources. The neighbours have said no to doing anything to the side that faces into our garden. They're not the sort that keep themselves to themselves either - they're always on the lookout for what everyone else is up to so they can complain about it. Now we are having our entire garden landscaped and it's going to look amazing - apart from the conservatory. I want to screen it (on my property) in some way, haven't decided yet, but it will ruffle feathers either way as it's possible it will block out some light.

WIBU to go ahead and put up some sort of screening so i don't have to look at their conservatory?

If so what can i use to screen it?

I think you can put up a fence on your own land. They surely don’t expect to overlook your garden? It should never have had windows looking over your garden anyway! Others might know more but I think you can put a fence up. Venetian louvres is best!

Absolutely put screening up. Sod their light.
Bamboo, fence plant, a shed, arbour - wharever you fancy.
Think about sightlines and perspective. You don't have to be right next to something to block sight of it.

I can’t picture this, but are you saying they can literally sit in their massive conservatory and watch you in the garden?!

I’d be blocking that without a doubt

100% put a screen up or fence it sounds very intrusive what they have done. I don’t know why they’d even want it, I’d hate to feel like I was intruding on someone’s privacy!

Yep they can sit in their conservatory and they can't "watch" us but you can see the shape of a person so they know if we are in/out of the garden. Part of the fence is lower as well, towards the back of the garden and they can freely watch us but it's their fence so we can't change it. but I'll look at screening that off too. I'll look for some options then, thanks, just checking i wasnt being totally UR!

Bamboo, the answer is always bamboo

Be careful though, it will be growing in your NDN's garden too if you buy an evasive one but maybe you want that to happen lol

Put a 6ft fence all the way along the boundary including in front of their windows. They should never have built it with windows looking into your garden!

I’m surprised they got planning permission for that, though I don’t really understand these things! But definitely put up something - I agree with PP that Venetian Louvre is the best!

OP funnily enough I have the exact same situation at the moment, although not a conservatory (it's an outbuilding that had recently changed use and the windows open directly into our garden). I've been having the same thoughts re. screening, interested to see any suggestions, or if anyone knows of any right to light implications. It's very intrusive, you have my sympathy!

I don’t know how it works legally but I would have thought you’d be entitled to put a 6 foot fence along your own garden boundary. It’s definitely what I would be doing without a doubt. Just alongside their fence. It’s your garden so I can’t see how you wouldn’t be allowed

Bamboo is perfect but don't get the 'running' kind ( you'll regret it) get the 'clumping ' kind ( garden centres should state this on their labels... in fact many garden centres won't sell the 'running kind.)

@croft89 The answer is never ever bamboo. It is a total thug. You will never be rid of it. A fence does the job.

Of course you can put a fence (or shrubbery) in your own garden. I don't know why you haven't done it already.
.

The RHS has a lot to say about bamboo. Mainly how to get rid of it! Don’t plant it!!

Definitely get some sort of bamboo screening/trellis in place. I would not attach anything to their fence if they're likely to complain... better to put up a new, separate fence.

Can your landscapers advise?

Don't use live bamboo, it ends up everywhere.

I’d definitely put a 6ft fence up the whole way along. They are cheeky fuckers who have gotten away with it for far to long.

You can grow bamboo in planters.

id personally stick up a tall fence tho.

I'm a gardener by trade and would never plant bamboo. So often it's sold as clumping type but isn't. Some have roots that can send up a new plant up to 30 feet away from the original.

How about one of those planter/trellis combinations with a climber?

You could, if you were trying to appease the neighbour plant a climber that dies down in winter so that you will have privacy in summer when using your garden and they will have light in winter when you're snug indoors.

Don't know much about planning laws etc., but think I'd be making enquiries to the relevant authority, just to see if your neighbours actually got permission to do what they have done.

Trellis with climbing Roses is always your friend.

I would put a big arbour or gazebo wooden building on your boundary abutting their conservatory so you can totally blot them out of your thinking. Or if you din’t want that a tall fence with fast growing native trees, shrubs or hedge in front of it. It sounds like they ignored all planning regs.

How about a trellis with a climbing plant like a clematis?

Exactly the same happened to us. When we looked round our house the estate agent made it awkward to go in the garden and when we moved in we realised why.
Neighbour had moved the fence a lot and also cut a gap in the fence so the windowsill poked through our side. We got them to take it down and rebuild it smaller otherwise when they sold it we’d make it known they were over the boundary.
After that we put a high fence up it so it would have made their conservatory darker. It was within our boundary though so 🤷🏼‍♀️

I agree.

How tall is the fence? Anything less than 6ft I'd be putting up my own 6ft fence on my side of the boundary!