To ask for advice about right to privacy from our neighbours

[Colourofspring]

I have posted about this before but the situation has got worse. We live in terraced housing with small back yards & our neighbour has built a massive garden room that fills the whole back yard pretty much and looks directly into my 12 year old daughters bedroom.

The neighbours have teenage boys and yesterday (and for the last few weekends) there have been large groups of teenage boys in the garden room looking straight into DD’s bedroom so she has to sit with her curtains drawn all the time. I feel like it’s not on on multiple accounts - it’s also really noisy and impossible to sit in our back yard quietly too but I am more bothered about how much of an invasion of privacy it is for my DD.

Aibu? Anyone got any advice? Am feeling pretty pissed off and resentful about it to be honest - I feel like our peace and privacy is being invaded. It’s really tricky in terraces anyway as it’s such a small space!’

A well placed leylandii?

Can you install the windows where you can see out but no one can see in?

Gosh I thought councils were really hot on this kind of stuff.

We have very recently had work done and the neighbours complained about the work. The council were down like a shot without any warning within the day. Everything was fine and above board so no issues. This should reassure that any complaints then councils do come and check.

The portal will only show if a certificate of Lawfulness has been granted. You can build things as of without having a certificate.

This is not true at all.

Is the ground level higher or have they raised it artificially. If they have effective created a first floor extension then this is not permitted development. I would contact the council to ask for advice.

😩

Would be good to see a photo of it.

If the fences are low, maybe the OP should just put up a standard one.

We are building a single story extension and so far the council have been out 4 times. Three times to check at particular points of the build which they asked to come and once because the neighbours have complained because she thinks " it's too big."
Everything is well above board but they have been extremely thorough.

Have a look into party wall law too, especially if it fills their yard.

OP, we really need a diagram! I know it’s not a parking thread but still….

I was in B&Q yesterday (along with about 50% of the population) and they do some great screening fences that don’t need to be permanently installed. You can also buy screening plants such as bamboo in pots, if you have room.

Even if it is permitted development I think you'll find that there are rules about windows overlooking neighbours and distance from boundaries. A phone call or email to the planning department with photos might help you to get advice.

I would check with your Council which I believe you can do anonymously. We had a room built a while ago to use as a home office. Our garden slopes down away from the house and it’s right at the end. We chatted to immediate neighbours beforehand but someone in the road did report it to Council. They came and inspected it and it was all within PD. We have lots of trees and shrubs that keep our privacy but also our neighbours privacy. If it is under PD you could add higher fencing and fast growing shrubs to keep your garden and house more private.

So would they have been able to see into your DD bedroom anyway without the garden room?

But in terraced housing, especially those with small back yards like the OP describes, there are often windows overlooking the neighbours yards.

That's good. I wish they'd come out more with us...we discovered a problem with the drainage 10 yrs after the build was completed. I'm now faced with ripping up my floor.

Dunelm day and night blinds look good As do the blinds you pull up from the bottom so you only need to cover the bottom half.
or as others have said the window clings / film.

If I have understood correctly, the OP is referring to an outbuilding, not an extension. The rules for permitted development are different for each.

There are no rules relating to windows in outbuildings built under permitted development in planning terms. You can put them where you like. There may be controls under the Building Regs.

OP has called it a garden room.
She mentioned she lives in a terrace and it looks into her daughters bedroom.
I understood it was a classic Victorian terrace with a large extension attached to the house.

Hence whilst you can get permitted development based on volume and length, that doesn’t mean you can stick windows wherever you like, nor does it mean you can, for example…drain into your neighbours, build onto a party wall, block out lots of light.
Theres planning, bregs, party wall awards, rights of light etc etc Lots of stuff to deal with. No one can think I have permitted development and just do what they want .

The same with outbuildings……..

Even if the garden room is an extension, if built under permitted development there are only restrictions on first floor windows in side elevations. At ground floor level they can go anywhere, be fully opening and clear glazed. If PP is required, then restrictions can be imposed.

Again there may be restrictions under Building Regs, but that is not what is being discussed.

That’s not quite accurate
If an extension forms a boundary and sits on the boundary line into the neighbours you cannot put windows at ground level.
If it sits back from the boundary line then of course the neighbour could just put up a 2m high fence. However, if the window overlooks a habitable room or personal external space ( that’s 5m from your back wall) then, no, you can’t do it.

Erm it's entirely accurate under the General Permitted Development Order in England. As I said there may be other factors under other legislation but that wasn't what was being discussed.
Over 30 years in planning dealing with this stuff.

Unless you are planning to move soon, I would try and solve this problem with blinds/voiles before reporting to the council.

Do you want to start a war with your neighbours?

Do you know any teenage boys?

Appreciate you have experience.
Likewise as an architect.
You can’t put a window looking straight into a habitable room. See my post ie on a boundary ( 1m back you are probably ok as you can block it with a fence - see my post ).

Nothing is just as simple as saying you are allowed an overlooking window at ground floor, It’s not that simple.

( She’s a terrace, so the properties will be very close )

Permitted development doesn’t give people the right to run amoch and ignore others rights.

Ps
Of course I forgot to mention the fire hazard issue too if it’s less than 1m 😳