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.

Be careful you don't accidentally smash the window!

@jeaux90 I’m not even joking here - that Bamboo’s roots WILL take root out from under that planter and into your lawn. This exact thing happened in my mum’s old house (with that exact style of border planter, funnily enough) and her entire lawn had to be strategically set ALIGHT in order to burn off all traces of it. Beware!

Get planning enforcement in, it’s their job to deal with stuff like this. They’ll know exactly what to do.

The OP did this days ago.

You are so right.

As if it's your responsibility to give her more light. She can get a skylight in, or a window at the front of the house, or one of those contractions like a large hollow tube with mirrors. Give her an ultimatum, saying that unless she's bricked it up by the middle of October, you will report her.

@DoNOTShakeItOff it won't it has a metal base.

A lot of people seem to recoil in horror at the mention of bamboo. Clumping bamboo is my bamboo of choice as it’s just that. Clumping root not running.
I also have a small pingu in the front garden. Both that and my clumping fence line bamboo have been in situ for many many years without issue.

just research the variety you buy.

Don't leave us hanging!

Somehow I don't think the Planning Dept works weekends

If you can reach the window apply frosted vinyl on the outside of the window: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145832513344?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&_trkparms=ispr=1&amdata=enc:1bReTSbyGQF2glVgedNcqlg16&customid=CjwKCAjw9eO3BhBNEiwAoc0-jYjwwy3IwH18C0ZLIG_u2FBgmG1mfJfAyEja-jX55xFkBaCG2dMPuBoCYMsQAvD_BwE
It would be difficult for them to remove from inside and if they do, you can just apply some more. 😉😂

By the way, you are not allowed to have a window looking out from a habitable room into a neighbour's habitable room unless they are 20 metres apart. I think you said your DD's bedroom window is only 4m from the neighbour's new window?

...I would not touch their building, if I were you.

I haven’t

if they open their window and trespass then my sprinkler is likely to be on at the same time

we have decided we will get a portable basketball hoop and back it with a much larger black box blocking out all available natural light and I’m going to start shooting’s hoops to deal with the day to day stresses of life

My clumping bamboo started sending runners out after 20 years. It’s a nightmare to get rid of

Clumping bamboo would be anyone's bamboo of choice, but the reason so many people "recoil in horror" is because they've bought what has been described as clumping, only to see it run like mad. This happened to a friend of mine - an experienced gardener - who had roots growing up vertically through her beautiful lawn. She used to "feed" these roots with a chemical that was the only thing strong enough to make them die back, but she had to do it every single year. And then, the use of this chemical was banned in the UK and absolutely NOTHING else works. The only option she has now is to dig out the bamboo - a costly exercise that will damage the look of her garden. It's safer to buy no bamboo at all than to be mis-sold running as clumping.

Same, utter nightmare to get rid of.

I said that because someone suggested you put cling-plastic over the window. Yes, I love the idea that you will make them regret lying to you. Kill them softly, is what I always say. I suppose you do have a spare radio that you can switch on whenever their window is open, and an extender lead.

Cannot believe people are silly enough to suggest tampering with the window.
Planters, yes. Basketball hoops, yes. High fencing, yes. Etc. But do not, in any circumstances, touch the window or affix anything to it no matter how appealing it sounds. It is not the OP's window to touch however illegal the window may be, and would leave her open to the accusation of vandalism. Leave it to the Planning Dept to visit and make a decision on the legality of the window and size of the extension.

"Vandalism"? Do you over-react to everything? Frosted film is designed to be fixed (and removed when desired) without causing any damage to the glass whatsoever. I didn't suggest it as a permanent fix but a temporary solution whilst OP waits for Planning/Building Reg's to respond to her complaint.

It doesn't matter that frosted film will cause no damage. The point is that the OP has absolutely no right to affix anything to a window that is not hers. It is immaterial that it is only a temporary solution as it is not her window and will only exacerbate an already difficult situation.

Bamboo is the new Japanese knotweed according to some of my conveyancing colleagues.

You've nicked my back garden - even down to the Buddha 🤣

Neighbours clumping bamboo in planters near to top of 6 ft retaining wall turned rogue after about 8 years roots started coming through right down to the base.

any news OP?