Neighbours have ignored their refused planning permission - I am bloody livid. Very long rant, but if anyone can help I'd be really grateful.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

I've posted about these neighbours before. Basically they moved in about 3 years ago and ever since then their house has been a constant (and I really mean constant) building site. There is always a skip outside the house, plus all manner of building equipment. For a period of several months there was a fucking huge lorry container in the front garden, which overshadowed our front garden.

The have had a loft conversion, then a ground floor extension. Remodelled the whole of the interior of the house and are now moving on to the garden.

We have been very patient and very accommodating - but recently our patience is being even more tried by them. They have had their back garden replaced with decking, and in the spring, she called me round to have a look (I thought she wanted me to admire it) and then complained about our cherry tree, because all the blossom was blowing on to her decking and staining it. Would I consider cutting down our tree?

No I bloody won't, although I did say we would have it pruned. Not that that will make any difference - it will still produce blossom!

Anyway, about 18 months ago they put in a planning application for a balcony, to be installed on the top (2nd floor, the loft conversion.) Permission was, thankfully, refused. Our back gardens are tiny, (no more than 3m long) and they would in effect have been sitting right on top of us and looking straight down on us if we are in our garden.

Today, more builders arrive, and they are only installing this balcony, even though they haven't been granted planning permission.

I've been on to the council's website, and it states categorically that they have had permission refused for this.

I am so, so, so cross I could blow my top and it's really upsetting me. I am now feeling very foolish and annoyed with myself for how accommodating we have been as they have basically just walked all over us and clearly have no sensitivity at all for how we might feel, and no recognition that this might be an invasion of our privacy.

I'm going to call the council first thing in the morning to make my complaint. Presumably they will have to remove this balcony?

Anyone had a similar experience? And what was the outcome for you?

Have you spoken to them about it? Sometimes people don't realise how much they've annoyed someone. If they are from sweden, they are just trying to recreate home.

She know how annoyed/upset we are about the balcony.

She's always apologising for the work not being completed, which suggests that she's aware it must be irritating. And so far we have just gritted our teeth and smiled politely, because we do know that they have just as much right as anyone else to make home improvements, and because we have been trying to be considerate neighbours.

My point is, I guess, that we have bent over backwards to be considerate and it doesn't feel like this is being reciprocated.

Gritting your teeth and smiling politely probably isn't showing her how pi**se off you are getting. Ask her if they intend on doing anything else because you are getting tired of having vans/skips etc blocking your house/drive etc. Explain to her that you understand that she wants a nice house but 3 years of improvements is too much.

Apparently it is to be finished in June.

There are definite signs that things are coming to an end, but we have already agreed that the minute we see a sign of anything else starting we will be round there to ask them just that!

So they are nearly there! They may want a party to celebrate??? I can understand why you are annoyed though. A balcony that overlooks your garden is invading your space. I seriously don't think they will be up there all the time though, not if they have had decking. Keep your cherry tree though, they are lovely.

If they are Swedish I am sure all they want it for is really airing linen out of it. It is very common in Scandinavia for the master bedroom to have a "linen balcony". You may find that constantly haveing duvets and blankets waving in the wind is more irritating than her enjoying a morning cuppa up there.....

I buy the 'linen balcony' argument to a degree, Quint - but she has also admitted that she will be putting a chair on said balcony.

And balcony measures about 6 feet wide, and is probably around 2.5 feet deep.

Barbecues. Lots and lots of barbecues.

I was also thinking of buying an incinerator for burning garden waste ...

early morning opera (wagner) is always nice if you have the windows open....