Garden / window privacy

[RosiethePriveter]

Have just realised this might be a bit difficult to explain but please bear with me - am looking for ideas to increase privacy in my kitchen from my neighbour.

Live in a terraced house with small back garden, there are, admittedly 6 ft fences between myself and the neighbour, however - his garden is actually at a raised level therefore, when he walks out daily to take his phonecalls / take washing in / generally use the garden, the fence only comes up to about his chest height. Don't usually have an issue with this but he / whoever is in the garden seem to insist in staring straight into my kitchen through my double doors. (Hope this has made sense so far)
The gardens really aren't very big so he can clearly see straight through, even if he was at the back of his garden and looking over (which he seems to do every day when taking phone calls) When I've caught him staring in, he's managed a nod and a smile and wandered off.

So I'm wondering about options. Its sadly not my fence so I can't just stick a trellis up there (preferred option) and the house is rented so its not quite as simple as just going round to ask them if I can do it - and I'm not sure if this would be taken the wrong way? Am I being silly in thinking this?

The other option seems to be to put blinds up at the door, but it's pretty much the only light source in an otherwise dark kitchen and whilst it will be ok during winter when we don't go outside much, I will essentially have the same problem in summer of lack of privacy due to probably having to keep the blinds open.

Any options I am potentially missing?

Opaque window film - he cant see in but the light can get in.

The trellis isn't completely ruled out, you'd just have to ask permission from the fence owner to do it.

If the fence owner is the bloke looking into your kitchen, it would be perfectly reasonable to talk nicely about how you both need a bit more privacy, and you fancy putting a trellis.

You would need the fence owner's permission to erect the trellis but if he tries to fob you off saying you need planning permission, you don't unless the fence plus trellis is more than 2m (6'6") above the highest adjacent ground level i.e. his garden. It could be more than 2m high on your side.

Otherwise what about slatted blinds that you could angle to let the light in. You may only have to pointedly draw them once or twice before he got the message. Although that would be quite an expensive message!

dinky hadn't thought about opaque film, however I'd be a little sad that I couldn't then look out onto my garden properly iyswim. Will think on it though

Good to know the trellis isn't completely out of the equation as tbh, they also don't hide peering into our garden when we are actually in it either - would be nice to sit out there without someone staring straight at us.

Think I had a silly idea in my head that it would be a bit offensive to say so. The Landlord seems to be very 'hands off' (purely judging from the state of general repair) but will maybe try approaching him through the tenants and will go from there.

Thanks for advice - especially about the heights etc!

I'd go directly to the landlord.

Nosy neighbour might be too embarrassed/uncaring to pass your message on to landlord (tho also too embarrassed to actually say No to trellis).

Whereas with any luck hands off landlord will be "Yeah whatevs" about trellis.

Also, we've found blinds both venetian and bamboo to act like net curtains - even when you can see out, people can't see in unless a light's on.

You could always put trellis on your side of the fence iyswim - so it'd be like a second fence.

What type of windows do you have? If you have ones that are split in half horizontally, you could hang voiles (sp?) over just the bottom half, giving you privacy, but allowing the light to come in through the top half?

Have you ever talked to your neighbour at all ? Next time he does it open your window and ask him if somethings wrong with the window/wall etc. as you have noticed him looking at it.

Or giving him the finger might be enough to stop him peering in at you ! LOL

Get one of those scrolling LED signs that you can program.

"Stop staring in my window you WEIRDO" in big flashing red letters ought to put him off a bit.

Tianc Haven't ever met the landlord (seen him once, briefly) so would need them to do an introduction anyway. I note your point though and yes, it could well be he couldn't give a stuff what I do.

Pootles Have got french doors, not windows so a little difficult to do and he would still be able to see in over the top I think.

Catpark & LaPrune - Hah. The thing is, they seem really nice and I think they almost can't help but look in because of the fence height - but yes, I don't know why he has to stand taking his phone call and look directly into my window when he could stare at anything else in his garden.

Personally, I'd just go ahead and put the trellis up. Seems like the best solution for everyone and I can't see them or their landlord objecting if you pay for it.

You can get tinted window film which would probably give you more privacy and you could still get a fair view of the garden.

i have a uv film on my windows so its a clear film that you can see out off but silver on the reverse so people cant see in its not the cheapest thing it cost about 350 pounds to do my conservatory but if you are only doing a few windows it would probaly cost under 100 pounds you can buy it on ebay! i highly recommend this option