Neighbour have changed frosted glass door to a clear glass window overlooking our garden

[Lighteningirll]

We live in a lovely detached property which we are doing up but have lost privacy to 1/3 of our garden/garage since our new neighbours moved next door. They have open planned the back half of their house and changed a frosted little used back door into a clear glass main window in front of the sink in the kitchen/diner. The window is two foot away from our side access to garage and gives a clear view into our garage and garden including the sunny evening spot we sit and eat in as a family. Every time I go outside I can see right into their home and they can see me, no more putting the rubbish/recycling out in my knickers!
I did speak to the builder raising concerning and he said they would be putting a fence up. When they moved in dh put a temporary block up, the guy came round and complained about it being unsightly as it the only window in their kitchen. That's because they blocked up the main kitchen window! He initially said they would put a fence up but has now backtracked. The wife has complained about us 'spoiling her view' and says we should have discussed it with her before doing anything. We have now received a note asking us to remove the panel blocking said view (of my garden!) as it is attached to their fence panel. Dh and I went round for a chat and said we were unhappy with the lack of privacy that they were quite possibly in breach of planning and would they please put a fence up. The answer was an empathic no. Apparently they have designed the kitchen intending to look out at our garden and we are being unreasonable and unfair, they have also raised their kitchen floor so even a six foot fence wouldn't block the view and the most they will consider is a low fence and trellis. I am a bit stuck what to do I really don't want to fall out with them but it's all starting to feel a bit inevitable. Dh has refused to take the panel down and in fact intends to put it against the full length of the fence they can now see over and next doors dh is clearly furious and won't even speak to us.

It is a boundary fence but it's about three foot from their house/window they would have to climb over/take the whole fence down and that would start world war three. I'm guessing they are panicking I've just been round and mentioned planning and it was aghast faces and the husband backed off double quick. Dh is now saying he wonders if they have planning permission for any of it they've taken at least three walls down.

Ha ha, well done you! Silly buggers.

StDog I have been hesitant about going official as i hoped they'd be reasonable, once I start asking Planning there is no going back.

You could always put two fence posts in on your side of the fence, and attach your plywood to them

Our neighbours opposite used to have such an arrangement of long posts with half a fence panel between them just the height and size of their neighbour's second floor extension window New-extension-neighbours couldn't do anything as it wasn't on their land but the point was made.

Plywood is really ugly, can you get a 6ft garden screen of some sort and wedge or nail it in at the bottom? Bamboo screens seem reasonably priced.

I'm not sure that planning will be pleased that they've purposefully raised their floor to mean that a fence can't stop them overlooking you, and ignored a stipulation for frosted glass.

It's not your fault the chose to block up another window.

www.primrose.co.uk/brushwood-screening-c-318_317.html?src=scrn_lhc

You can normally search for planning applications online.

It may be within permitted development though, if it is relatively small, in which case they may not need planning permission. They'd still need Building Regulations sign-off though.

Squidgey it's the boundary fence between us and them runs from our gates along the extended drive and beside the garage all the way to back of both properties. We are detached so our house in a corner of a close on a curve away from theirs they are three foot from the boundary our house is about sixteen foot away with a carport starting a few foot after their new kitchen window.

AppleandBlackberry my dh is adamant that ugly is the way to make the point that they should sort this out. Planting/screening basically says we are ok with you stealing our privacy and will pay out ourselves. I think Teacaddy has it they can't actually do this.

They won't need planning for internal work unless it's listed but they may have to have frosted glass if overlooking. What have they said they are going to do?

They have offered low fencing with trellising unfortunately it's really awkward as they have only been in a month and are young and clearly a bit inexperienced they also were really stressed with young children so teatime probably not the best time to have gone round. I keep hoping they will say we are so sorry we didn't think it through and will fence/replace frosted glass as soon as possible. That's what I would.

You can check if they've got planning permission on your council website and also view plans there which might help decipher If they were supposed to use frosted glass. Chances are if you didn't get notified of plans they didn't put an application in. They sound super annoying so fingers crossed they get it in the neck from planning.

Take it to the planners
Your neighbors sound like assholes, nothing lost imo

If you search your local council website you should be able to find any plans that were submitted, and whether or not permission was granted.

If they've removed walls , changed glass from opaque to clear and moved windows it may fall under Buildings Control rather than Planning.

If that is their only window now I don't see how they can put the frosted glass back. A fence would be good though.

IF they haven't extended it's unlikely permission would be required. Building Regulation approval may be necessary if they have removed walls etc.
If the window was part of a previous planning permission, and was conditioned to be glazed with frosted glass, then the planners may be able to do something. See if you can find an old application on the website. If it's really old, then full details might not be on the web, but you should be able to see them if you go to the Council offices.

Concur that you should speak to planning. When you have side windows it's often stated that you have to use frosted glass. Additionally changing the floor isn't an issue if you are doing a sunken floor but a raised floor requires building control approve the plans.

They are also not being nice. I would stop all communication with them. Call your council and have them deal with these people. No doubt they have made these changes with zero input from the council.

If they come around again I'd tell them they need to instruct a solicitor to deal with your solicitor. That normally puts these people straight.

You say it is concrete so difficult to put in your own fenceposts.

You can get bolt-down steel supports for fenceposts. They are not much good because strong winds will blow them over, but you could put trellis on them (which catches the wind less).

Keeping something nailed to their fence will make you look unreasonable and make your case weaker with the planning people. You want to be above reproach when the planner comes out to inspect their property as incidentally he will be looking at yours.

Just get planning involved. The neighbors clearly don't care about your needs and opinions so trying to maintain good relations with them is pointless. Assert your legal rights. If they get caught out subverting the permit process and so forth, that is their problem.

Dh is going to get planning officer out on Monday as we need our electric tricks signed off and is going to ask him then. He is adamant about not taking plywood down but has agreed not to extend it. I think iis wishful thinking on my part that we can resolve this amicably.

I think find out what you can on the internet about what needs building control sign off - you have a better idea than we do of what they've had done. If you've got someone coming out to sign off your stuff then have an informal chat with them. I would have no difficulties with calling out the local planning enforcement officer for what you've described them doing on here. Cheeky gits designing their new kitchen to look out on your garden and then kicking off when you're not so thrilled about that WTAF? Perhaps you should organise some weekend afternoon swingers parties to piss them off...

The man from Building Control came today to sign off our electrics and he said there's no way that be can right. He is going to check into it and get Planning to write to them asking them to reinstate the frosted glass, he also said not to worry that dh had nailed something to their fence, he seemed really shocked