To have given my neighbour short shrift on the phone after I allowed access under false pretences

[TooManywines]

Neighbour is almost at the end of a first storey extension.
i never opposed any of the plans and as she was extending to the end of her garden I figured that it would give my small garden a litttle bit more privacy. I can see having reviewed the plans her builder has built out 1400 more than was on the plans.

she messaged me to ask if her builder could come into my garden as he needed to make a small hole - there are three brick vents n the new bit so I summised he must’ve been adding to it.

my DD text me at mid day to let me know we had a window facing directly into my garden - I check on my CCTV and she was right.

i phoned the neighbour aghast and asked her what the hell she was playing at and that the window was definitely not on the PP application-her response
‘we needed more light’ 😩

I told her under no uncertain terms that her builder was to vacate my property and to stop work

AIBU to ask them to brick up the window and return it back to how it was - I’m tempted to call the planning enforcement officer so they can see all the other gaffs they’ve made but panicking that she might get asked to tear it all down - which although I’m really cross about I’d not want that to happen.

Ask her to brick up the window and tell her you'll be speaking to the planning enforcement officer if she doesn't.

This.

Call em.
Stop it now. Once its complete it will just be worse!

This will SERIOUSLY affect your property value. It would put me off buying.

YANBU to fight this

Either ask her to put in a frosted, non opening window or to brick it up

Take lots of photos and send them to the council planning enforcement team. I'd also be mentioning the 1400 extra.

I’m definitely not asking for frosted glass- you’d still be able to open it and the whole of
my garden at very close proximity

Agreed, I wouldn't accept frosted glass. Tell them to brick it up or you'll report them.

Tell planning enforcement, that's what they are for.

She is taking the absolute piss, why do you care if she has to rip it out?

Get evidence and ring planning quickly.

Tell the planning department.

Report everything, otherwise you could have issues when you sell. She's already done two things that wouldn't have passed planning. I'd worry how many more there were.

I would just go straight to the planning department. Your
neighbour clearly doesn’t mind inconveniencing and lying to you so don’t trust her to resolve it without outside help.

Absolutely report it, another here who would leave straight away if I was viewing your property as a potential buyer. If she wants more light then it’s a skylight or it’s tough, but you certainly cannot just face a window into someone’s garden, and what a cheeky bitch for going ahead without informing you. Many cheeky assholes like this go ahead with things on the basis that others won’t complain out of politeness or think it’s too much hassle to go through the motions to get it reversed. I think a lot get away with bigger builds or extra features on this basis, don’t worry about her being pissed off with you, she started this, you will both be fully aware of that.

My neighbour did this and the planning officer visited, said ooh thats not on and did nothing! My husband put up a six foot fence just inside our boundary and neighbour complained we'd spoiled her view of our garden.

This. Tough luck if they have to tear it down.

Sadly a lot of planning teams have limited resources.

It's always worth getting local councillors involved if necessary to get some momentum going.

And if that fails, well - it's a perfect spot for compost heap and a batch of comfrey fertiliser to brew all year round, isn't it?

I'd be appalled, too.

If they need more light they can put in a Velux window in the roof, not a window to the side. I'd at least threaten them with a call to Planning if they don't brick it up. Might be enough to stop them,

Good grief, this is next level entitlement!

I was going to suggest a fence OP if they refuse to back down

Report her anyway. Those plans need double checking..

Does the window open so that it overhangs your boundary? That is not allowed i don't think.

I would call planning now, she's been a CF and you can't 'be nice' any more, look at where it's got you.

I’m tempted to call the planning enforcement officer so they can see all the other gaffs they’ve made but panicking that she might get asked to tear it all down -
Call them anyway as it could impact you when you try to sell. They could have knocked tens of thousands of pounds off your valuation. You happy to have £20k or £50k less in your pocket?

Get it bricked up. Not frosted, not opening, nothing. Just a plain brick wall.

Definitely tell her to brick it up immediately or you’ll be reporting her.

Cheeky fucker!