Light pollution from neighbours

[Everythingnotsavedwillbelost73]

Neighbours have recently built a garden room and put in REALLY BRIGHT garden lights all over the garden - it was previously really dark. They are on all evening most evenings and are affecting DD getting to sleep every night. We didn’t need black out curtains before as it was really dark and now it’s the opposite. I have asked nicely if they could dim the lights but no response - what is reasonable with this kind of thing?
I really feel like it’s light pollution but am i being unreasonable?

We will get some black out curtains but I don’t really feel that that is the point - it’s actually horrible having these lights going all the time.

Their electricity bill must be huge!
I’d ask them to make sure that no lights are facing in your direction. Apart from needing blackout blinds, why is it ‘really horrible’?

@Soontobe60 its horrible because it’s gone from being really dark to loads of artificial lighting that’s on until 2am some days

This happened to me at our previous house. I sent messages to the husband with no response. I eventually knocked on and he was still meh about it till his wife over heard the conversation! We agreed the lights to be put on a timer and turned off at ‘bedtime’. Never had a problem again and maintained a nice neighbourly relationship. The husband would have been stubborn if his wife hadn’t overheard mind.

Just get black out blinds, they are allowed lights. Even if you report them it is hugely unlikely any action will be taken.

People are so fucking selfish no wonder this planet is dying. Totally unnecessary. I've noticed this increase with my neighbours too. Loads of gardens with unnecessary twee lights everywhere or full power led security lights. It's awful. Poor nature (and neighbours)😞

I also didn’t want blackout blinds as I like to wake to natural light in the summer (up at 5:15 for work so works better for me!)

@Lampslights it just feels really antinsocial and selfish to be honest. Why does anyone need to light up their garden every night?

@Mumteedum these are really bright white lights too - not twinkly and pretty at all

Blackout blinds will be better for summer anyway and consider trees or fencing

Yeah this is a huge change to sleeping habits once you use blackout blinds. I wouldnt like this.

Light pollution can be classified as a statutory nuisance
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/artificial-light-nuisances-how-councils-deal-with-complaints

People are definitely becoming more anti social in lots of ways.

@MichaelAndEagle thanks- that’s really useful

Have you got light-blocking curtains? If not get some
Do you keep curtains open at night - we do as we have a glass wall and no blinds/nets/cutains as we are not over-looked but if we had a probleme like that we'd buy some nice light blocking curtains they do work

Have other people not complained?

They don't.

My conclusion is people just love buying stuff. Consumerism is out of control and there is a constant push for more and more tat. Gardens are awful now. Trends towards making it an outdoor living room instead of an actual garden with plants. It's all lights and outdoor bars and fake grass and fucking hot tubs. Which are all in your face for neighbours. Oh and fucking wind chimes. I may commit murder this summer 🙈

Can you tell I'm menopausal and fucked off with the world? 😆

They must be really selfish and thick skinned. Hopefully when they get their electricity bill they'll tone it down and you and nature can enjoy the darkness again.

@Soontobe60 I doubt it. Most lights are LEDs now, which cost very little to run.

I think you're going to need black out blinds or curtains as even if they agree to turn them off at a 'reasonable ' time, that's more likely to be 10/11pm rather than a child's bedtime.

Light pollution is becoming a real issue - we live near businesses who have massive floodlights which you can see from miles away - we're in a rural village! Thankfully, they don't directly impact our house.

@Mumteedum ha ha, I’m peri and ranty too- it’s making me hate my neighbours tbh 😬

Same here. Neighbours who back on to me are 'the sort' who have a covid-era garden office that they never use and is full of crap and floodlights etc. The irony is that with the extension they added to their house also during the pandemic there is no access to their garden other than through their own house. So there is no security issue. So I've no idea why they need the ultra bright lights. More money than sense, as my Dad used to say.

Thanks for this - I have problems with my neighbours too with their bloody flood light on every night!

I got so cross with the standard “buy a blockout blind’ response. So selfish.

A house over the back/to the side of us has the kitchen light on all night every night. Shines straight into our bedroom window. Ok I have a Venetian blind that I can close but I can’t for the life of me work out why a bright kitchen light would need to be on all night. Every. Night.

Yes those overly bright LED security lights pointing anywhere but the vicinity of properties drive me mad! People have 2 or 3 that go on and off all night when something sets them off.

Needs something to be done about LED lights in general, what with headlights as well.

I agree there is no need to light up outdoor spaces with bloody bright white lamps all night. Dark is nice and restful. It's so unnecessary and wasteful and bad for birds.

We have neighbours who installed lights all along the edge of their garden. It is disturbing and looks like a sodding airport landing strip. Just why?! 😡

^This. These bloody bright white headlights are dangerous. As a pedestrian they make it dangerous to cross a road, you're blinded and can't see both ways.

Sounds like a severe case of ‘lights on, nobody home’. Feel for you, OP.

Could you set up a mirror contraption to reflect it back? 🤔