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?

Find out if they ever had planning first.

I think OP means the fake bamboo screens though, not planting bamboo, which is a good idea.

You can do large pots of bamboo, the pots will add extra height.

Thank you very much for everyone's advice. The house was perfect for us, just a small victorian terrace but we love the house. For the last 10 years we haven't really used the part of the garden that the conservatory faces into because it was really delapidated but we've had a patio laid now and we want to use it.

I did know the conservatory was there but didn't know how id feel about it 10 years on. To begin with, it was ok.

As for upsetting them - I've been treading on eggshells with them for 10 years because they can and will moan about everything and i have an anxiety disorder and adhd that makes me a people pleaser who avoids any sort of conflict. But now the garden is being done, the conservatory wall is ruining the effect so it's time to do something about it.

Most of the fence is 6ft apart from a section that's 4ft at the end of the garden. Our deeds say all the fences should be 4ft but most people have replaced them with 6ft over the years.

I never considered that the film is only one way ... That's made me feel all weird 😬 I've never been inside it so i don't know. i am a bit nervous of bamboo in case it runs off and goes crazy but i will look at other climbing plants.

I think the conservatory has been there 18 years so yes I'd better get on with screening!

Only have bamboo if it's in pots. We have just had to did out bamboo and it's a tough job. As whatever you do will ruffle feathers do what you want. I would put in a curved latticed fence so it's not a straight hard line. And looks pretty for you

We have a bit of a neighbour problem - they don’t like us! Neither of us knew who owned the fence which was put up long before either of us moved in. When we had the garden landscaped, we had a new fence installed on out land right next to the old fence. It’s actually attached to the fence posts (which you can’t do if the fence belongs to the neighbour). It’s about a foot taller than the old fence but as the old fence sloped away, it’s actually taller at the bottom end. We have a small extension again built before either of us moved in. At some point someone had removed the fence panels along the side of the extension and the neighbours were storing their wood logs against our wall. Plus they attached a wooden batten for a wood shelter to our wall. We reinstated the panels when we had the landscaping done, told them to not store wood o]against our house and they also removed the attached battens.
our fence looks lovely.

A plea h tree or two would be lovely. Nice and high, green and pretty. That and a 6 foot fence 😬

I’d think the film is one way.

It’s like blacked out car windows. Can see out fine but nobody can see in.

Good luck OP with the landscaping and your neighbours as they sound slightly unhinged.

There was a similar thread a while back, except the op had the building and ended up having to put windows that opened inwards because the ndn had put a fence up that them stopped the window from opening outwards. I don't think the op could do anything about it

The people who have recommended bamboo in massive planters, how big would the planters need to be? We are a bit overlooked at the back of our house, and this sounds like a good idea.

I had jasmine once to cover a horrible fence, it grew extremely quickly.

Thinking of planting bamboo myself so the negative comments worry me. Did you not use a barrier? Did anyone use something like this and still have trouble with spreading? Thank you.

mirror film is often one way - frosted glass effect is usually frosted both ways (we’ve used it lots). Doubt you are being overlooked (doesn’t help with the question but might ease your mind)

Good fences make good neighbours.
Put in a 6' solid fence - if the existing fence is theirs, put it right next to it.

It will look a bit bare at first, but clematis (Montana for spring colour and viticelli type for summer colour)) climbing roses, jasmine, passionflower and honeysuckle all along you will have flowers and scent allmost all year.

Let them moan - you don't have to listen. Or reply that you like your garden and your privacy.

I wouldn’t just plant something without a fence barrier - anything planted near their window is going to rustle and tap on the glass and give them more reason to complain.

if they built a structure and that structure then formed part of the boundary, that becomes something that needs a ‘party wall act’ agreement. You should have had this agreement given to you when you purchased. You can search on even aged building consents on your local authority website - I would seriously consider at least investigating this, so if they get snarky about the new fence, you have it ready.

Bamboo but the clumping kind (do not get the running sort!)

Plant it in pots or a raised bed so it is easier to control.

It won't be as immediate in terms of a barrier for them to object to and won't fully block their light. Might stop an initial big row about it.

If you cna't do anyhting about the intrusion into your garden (which it is if their windows go over), I would probably just suck up the lost foot or half a foot and build a fence just within my boundary, all the way down. There's no way I would have someone's conservatory facing into my garden, window film or not.

The right to light Is only a right to adequate light. If this construction is glazed on three sides, it's highly unlikely that putting something up to 6' level will mean it has inadequate light.

Personally, I'd go for a trellis. With any luck, it won't appear such a big deal to the neighbours, but if you get quick-growing plants to grow all over it (like jasmine) it will do the job.

there is no reason why in law you cant put up your own fence on your own land just inside the fence that is theirs. also as others have said firstly check they had planning permission for the conservatory (should be free to do online) and then build any fence you want right up next to it. people become cheeky feckers because the rest of us allow them to be. be reasonable and tell them what you are going to do and why. if they dont like it, tough.

I put a fence up inside the boundary on my side to hide an ugly fence when I had my garden landscaped. Didn't lose much land either. Make sure the posts are staggered and nothing is leaning, touching or attached to their side.

Or you can put up trellis or plants.

@Andrew101 We’ve just bought a house that had two potted bamboos in giant tubs with root barriers. They grew through the root barriers and the pots and spread 80ft down the garden. It came up when we bought the house; the same section that asked about Japanese Knotweed asked about bamboo, and we got a bit of a discount on the house to pay for someone to deal with it - but nobody wants to; it’s a laborious process, so we’ve had to do it. The owner before had tried some things - sand, root killer, a black net over the ground for a year, poison.

It’s incredible stuff; but not something I’d be planting. It comes back to life like a cockroach 😅 We’ve got a pile of maybe 20 root barriers now that it just grew around.

just - we’ve been there nearly two years. It’s been a mission to dig all the bamboo out!

I doubt they had planning permission for this with windows overlooking a neighbour. 6ft fence all down your boundary, that's what I would do as I value my privacy. You're entitled to put up your own fence in front of their low one.
If they become difficult I'd start looking into the planning permission, they could be made to take it down.

Agree with bamboo. Get a few very large pots and have it it. Good luck

Blood and bone meal directly under the open windows - smells like dead bodies, the fuckers will quickly shut their windows.

Am I the only one who doesn't expect total privacy in an urban/suburban garden?

Your house is near other houses. Of course they can see into your garden.

Am I missing something?