neighbour's extension & windows

[wink1970]

Hello All, your help with a query would be useful...

the house 3 doors down has started an extension. It's too big to be under Permitted Development and I know they haven't applied for PP. The extension itself doesn't bother me, except that they have put windows on the side, and as we are right angles to them, those windows now look directly up to my bathroom window (which is frosted, but opens). We do open this window a lot and now they can see straight in, plus the cabinet mirror 'reflects' in such a way that they can see direct into the shower if the window is open even a little bit.

Naturally, I can just pull down blinds, but should I? Or would you report them to planning & try to get frosted glass installed?

Report! No way would I not. If the neighbours get arsey, well then they should have applied for PP in the first place!

If they have no pp it is unlikely they will be following buildings regs which would include windows. Have you checked for applications online as it may be you were just not on the list of consultees. Are other neighbours affected?

@LIZS yes I looked online. Weirdly, they have applied (accepted) to convert their integral garage into a study, but instead they have built a dormer at the back and now this. I don't have a problem with the dormer as it has no windows looking over anyone, and I don't really even care about the extension other than the window issue.

100% report

As a general rule windows overlooking the rear 3m of your curtalige (or so it varies according to the local plan) need to be obscure glazed, the sill higher than a certain hight and very often sealed shut.

Report them to local planning.

Ground floor extension up to 6 metres allowed under permitted development.

Plant a tree?

Rollercoaster, your size guide is subject to notice or neighbourhood consultation (neither of which they have done). Otherwise it's 3m for attached houses or 4m for detached (they are the latter).

outside Article 2(3) designated land and Sites of Special Scientific Interest the limit is increased to 6m if an attached house and 8m if a detached house until 30 May 2019. These increased limits (between 3m and 6m and between 4m and 8m respectively) are subject to the prior notification of the proposal to the Local Planning Authority and the implementation of a neighbour consultation scheme. If objections are received, the proposal might not be allowed (source: Dept for communities & local govt)

I already have 6ft hedges there. My bathroom is upstairs.

It's more a question of do I report because they are not abiding by the rules? I have already said I can just put blinds in, but I'm annoyed that I will have to curtail my light because they have done something they shouldn't.

Yes - you are right. I forgot about the consultation bit. You are all over the regs so I'd say yes - report it.

Have you spoken to the neighbours between you and them? I have met neighbours through getting support to fight a planning application near me.

Depending on your planning folk you might get different end outcomes. Ground floor windows don't need to be frosted because they don't usually overlook or cause privacy issues, so they might allow it anyway. But worth reporting!

Hi Rollercoaster

Thanks. (I wasn't trying to sound snotty in my reply, hope it didn't some across that way).

I think I will try anyway, and I'll engage the neighbours in-between. I guess there are worse things in life than having to install blinds, but it's worth a try. I'm one of the 'play by the rules' people, so it's just stuff like this that annoys me more than it should.

Good luck with your own issue.