Can I paint neighbour's wall?

[Treesandsheepeverywhere]

Neighbour's garage backs onto our side, so the pebbledashed grey wall forms part of the fence. There's fencing on either side of the garage wall, which is fine, but the wall is an eyesore.

It's at the bottom of their massive garden and they hardly ever venture to it.

It also happens to be directly in front of our kitchen window, so it's all you see when looking out.

I could plant on our side, but the space between our kitchen and their wall is paved, with a slither of free ground.

Would it be U to paint the wall a lovely appealing colour or plant ivy or such?

DH says not to, but I'm thinking a compromise might be us asking the neighbours, but is it rude to ask?

It’s not rude to ask.

It would be illegal to go ahead and paint.

Your best bet is what a previous poster suggested- go to them and negotiate a way forward. Suggest your proposals to them- painting the wall (you’ll have to agree with their specified paint) or putting your own self supporting fence or trellis in front, which would leave them no access for future maintenance.

It shouldn’t be that hard to take out a row of paving slabs to put in a fence, with some tall planters in front. Beware of planting anything which could disturb the garage foundations.

Why don't you ask?

Or stick a garden shower curtain thing on it with a picture of a garden or something.

I wouldn't care in the slightest if someone painted a wall that I can't see. I'd prefer to be asked, but would be really pleased to say yes, knowing it would make my neighbours' lives a little better. Hope your neighbour sees it the same way, OP.

If the view of it affects someone else 100% and you 0% then, genuinely, why?

It’s not a brick wall though, it’s pebble dash.

Exactly the same issue.

Pebbledash lets air get through. If you paint over it without knowing what you're doing, you can seal in moisture and create - or worsen - damp.

I would definitely want someone to ask before painting my walls, and I'm very laid back about this sort of thing!

No I can’t see it but painting could damage it and cause me problems and also a plant or something fixed to it is easily removed and remedied whereas a paint job is not .

Sliver

There’s many lovely plants you could grow up that.

If they do agree to you painting it make sure you agree type of paint between you and confirm by email etc because as another poster said there could be issues re damp. It may need to be a breathable type.

It's obnoxious to think you can do anything to a property you don't own, especially just because it's not pleasing to you.

Of course you need permission.

Before you do this OP, we've moved into a new build estate, owners opposite have painted in BLACK their neighbours garage wall - garage is detached and forms part of the back garden boundary fence. These home owners haven't even moved in yet, they came to do an inspection yesterday and it's all kicked off....Last conversation I overheard with the site manager and yet to move in home owner was that the paint HAD to be removed .... so, I would defo ask before you just do it!

That’s outrageous. Looks like a start of a long running feud with entitled people and they haven’t yet moved in, poor sods.

I'd ask. They'll probably want to make sure you're not going to paint it with any paint that might cause damp issues.

You mightnt care, but it could be seen as criminal damage to graffiti someone else's property.

No harm in OP asking to paint it

Or instead of Ivy OP plant yourself a bush

Will definitely ask 🤞.

Which direction is it facing? Asking in case you did want to plant climbers.

It's all very bizarre, we've chatted to them and they seem like perfectly pleasant people, they painted their fence, then we clocked they'd painted the garage wall - it's the height of the fence, so 6 foot, then above the fence is original brick. It just looks a mess and no idea how they will remove it.

I imagine it’ll be costly. Gotta wonder at people sometimes.

Exactly.
It blows my mind that people can't understand that you can't just do things to other people's property without their permission even if the owners appear not to be able to see it.
The side of my neighbours' shed forms part of the boundary between our properties. They cannot see it as the only access to it is on my side. For years they asked me if they could access my garden to paint their shed and I agreed. A couple of years ago I wanted to change the colour of the fence and wanted to paint the side of their shed to match.
I wouldn't have dreamed of simply going ahead, it's their shed! I asked them and initially they were a bit reluctant but after I showed them the type of paint, colour etc they agreed.
They would have been right to have been extremely angry if I'd just gone ahead without asking, even though they couldn't even see what I'd done.

I think if you decided to paint someone else’s property it could be deemed as criminal damage. It’s also jolly rude to do it without asking just incase they said no if you sought permission before hand. I think that’s what mums-netters call being a CF. Talk to them.

OP has replied and said they’re going to talk to the owner

Jasmine. It’s evergreen and grows quite quickly. Doesn’t damage the wall but you’d need trellis or wire. It also seems to do quite well with drought

And smells beautiful.

The nice part faces us.