Next door, just doing what they want, can they?

[maybeIwillmaybeIwont]

On behalf of my DSIS. Her house, terraced cottage 1864, has a downstairs bathroom extension, added many years ago. She has come home from work today, and next door have fixed about 6 'hooks' into her exterior bathroom wall on their side, they have no extension,and have attached some sort of an awning, over her opaque bathroom window! Therefore cutting out a lot of her light. And yes I know light is not a God given right, but they have attached it into HER property, not theirs, or the landlord's.

Now apart from not even asking/ telling her, they are tenants in that house, which I am not being funny about, just making the point that the property they live in does not belong to them.

My DSIS has been round to talk to them but no answer yet, are they allowed to do that? Just put fixings into property that isn't theirs or their landlords?

My sister knows the landlord and doubts very much if they know anything about this.

Remove the fixings and return them to the tenants.
Take before and after photos.
Inform the landlord.

And check for damage, obviously, when taking the "after" photos.

I would speak to the landlord.

no, of course they are not allowed to do anything to someone else's house, that applies whether they are tenants or not.

their lease may also prohibit them from doing anything to the one they live in - the landlord is responsible for fixes etc.
I suppose that the adult way to deal with it is to speak to them first and ask them to take it down and make good. The landlord should also be advised as it might be time for him/her to check on the state of their property.

They can't damage your property.

Thank you for all the helpful comments, I will show her this thread later.

As said neighbours can't attach things to your property, even if your property is also the boundary wall or fence.
Of course, the neighbours may not realise this so a friendly word might be the first step.

Agree with all the above, however I don't think there is anything to prevent them putting the awning up (I assume it's like a shade sail?) if they affixed it to poles on their land, so that might be the next step and it would still block out the light.

Hello, yes you are right, they could just put an free standing awning up across the window, but I would hope they would have a bit more consideration. Anyway, my DSIS has still not managed to get hold of them but will continue to try over the weekend! Thank you for your comments.

Are you sure the extension isn't a Partywall?