It’s a neighbour one

[Trainfromredhill]

Just got the keys to our new house. It’s got a large garden, the top 2/3 of which slope, the bottom 1/3 is flat- perfect for football. Hedge/trees around garden are all at least 9 feet high except for one side at the bottom 1/3 which is 4 feet. Neighbours garden on that side is about 2 feet higher than ours and is where they have their patio, which they appear to spend a lot of time on. When we viewed it I thought it was really odd that the hedge was so low and said to DH ‘the first thing we’ll do is grow that hedge’ (it’s our hedge). Met the neighbour this week - over the hedge. During the course of the conversation I said ‘I apologise if footballs end up in your garden’. To which he replied ‘I don’t mind sending the odd one back, but it’s not a game’. He then went on to tell us that he and the previous owners agreed to keep the hedge low because we both benefit from a better view! He definitely benefits from a better view across our garden and to the fields beyond, but we only ‘benefit’ from a view into his garden and total loss of privacy into ours. I was showing a friend around yesterday and didn’t even want to go to the bottom 1/3 because he was sitting out with his family. He could benefit from the same view if he moved his furniture to the bottom of his garden. Another neighbour has told us he is ‘worth knowing’. If we grow the hedge it’s obviously going to annoy him. But, aside from the privacy, I don’t think he can complain about footballs, but not want the hedge that would stop them. I’m inclined just to let the hedge grow. WWYD?

my neighbour has a huge conifer hedge which I hate. We have compromised on the height (the maximum my husband can reach on ladders and using long reach equipment).
However, if he were to be arsey there is a clause in the deeds stating no fast growing trees to be planted within 6 feet of the border, I would use that if necessary so your dickhead neighbour may have a point.

Ignore, ignore, ignore and crack on. 😊 Definitely think about getting some form of CCTV to record any dubious activity on his part. Don't deliberately set out to annoy him with trampolines etc though. What an entitled, arrogant arsehole he is!

Solve this with nudity!

Naked gardening, naked sunbathing, naked hanging-up-washing, naked window washing etc. Tell him you did warn him you needed privacy.

Get a hot tub!!!

Nude hot tub

Now you're talking!!

This is a good site: www.boundary-problems.co.uk/boundary-problems/hedges.html

It states:
Rural Conventions
In rural communities it is the practice to plant a hedge (at least, those hedges planted on the edges of fields) at a small distance inside the boundary. This allows the hedge to broaden without encroaching onto a neighbour's land, and it may have been sufficient to allow access to the outer side of the hedge for trimming and maintenance.
The amount by which the hedge is set inside the boundary varies from parish to parish around the country. In some parishes it is 3 ft, in others 4 ft or 5 ft.
There is one place in which one might expect to find authoritative evidence of this convention and of the distance that applies in a particular parish. This place is the Public Records Office at Kew.

Also, the Government's on page about hedges at www.gov.uk/government/publications/over-the-garden-hedge/over-the-garden-hedge clearly states "Also bear in mind that there is no right to a particular view or outlook."

I think as long as you stick to any conventions that there may be in your parish, you'll be fine OP. The neighbour is chancing his arm by saying 2 meters (6ft). It sounds like he's going to make things as difficult as he can for you, but you have a right to privacy in your own garden.

I would probably NOT go with the trampoline move, because that's directly antagonistic, but a fence instead - within planning permission limitations! - because it's less likely to cause issues with trimming/cutting and prolonging conversations. Do you have a net up for the football? I would move HEAVEN AND EARTH to make sure that no football ever goes near his garden.

Is the section that he's concerned with 35m long? Or is that the length of the whole garden?

It doesn't really matter if he builds a balcony, does it? It's at the end furthest away from your house, where your kids play football. If he wants a grandstand view, let him crack on. Pick your battles.

www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/fences-gates-and-garden-walls/planning-permission

He sounds like an absolute arse. Wait for him to build his balcony and then report it to the planning department... He'll have to apply for retrospective permission and in my town, that's not granted by the parish council but the town council.

I would remind him that he damaged your property when he cut back your hedge. Woulda 6' fence solve the problem?

We've got a 6ft high fence with 6' gravel boards at the bottom so we can't see our neighbour's and they can't see us

The bloke next door to you needs to accept that he has new neighbour's now and whatever agreement he had before was with the previous owner

I would make the garden private. I don't care about him and his view. Maybe he won't like it, tough shit. Why should you do things to please somebody else and put your own nose out of joint?

I'd speak to a solicitor. Get them to write back to him and explain to you any rules about boundaries - like the planting distance, so you remain 100% in the right.

He's a bully. Clearly someone used to getting his way by being aggressive and probably used to others capitulation in the face of his aggression. Each time that happens it will have made him more confident this approach will work.

Don't give him ammunition so be careful, however, you're within your rights obviously, to put a trampoline in your own garden, wherever you choose to put it. He doesn't get to decide.

I would

1. Record everything
2. Install the cctv for your own protection
3. As a pp said, contact a solicitor and know exactly where you stand (you don't have to write back to him, however he's probably not used to people standing up to him and may work better if you do. As with any bully)
4. Do some research into who he is and if necessary
5. Could you ask to speak to police on an informal basis, describe what you have here and say you feel harassed so it's on record for if/ when he escalates this
6. Describe the same to the council if he works with them, so they know how he is conducting himself. Potentially in a public office I.e. knowing he has their authority as backing
7. If he does the balcony (and he probably won't) start reporting it re: planning permission at the first sign he's doing it. He may get tied in knots by others and his focus gets taken away from you. And you may wish to highlight anything else in his property that doesn't have planning permission
8. Throw some garden parties (within reasonable hours, of course). This is what your garden is for after all. Make sure they're logged on your cctv so he can't accuse you of anything
9. The kids may find they are uncontrollably loud in the garden from now on. Again within reasonable times and bounds. Again, it's your garden and the cctv will show they're just kids playing

Have fun OP, and good luck!

I'd be tempted to move the trampoline today. It's your garden and you can place it where you want. I wouldn't be dictated to in my own property.

@Londongent a 6 foot fence won’t work because he has built his garden up (usuing our wall on the other side of the hedge) by 2-3 feet. So from his side a 6 foot fence would still only be 3-4 feet high.
@6poundshower doing all of your suggestions.

just to be clear, I am not depriving this man of a view. Both of our gardens have beautiful views into fields. Every window from the back of his house looks across the same valley that I do. He could have the exact same view he is complaining I am depriving him of if he moved his garden furniture to the bottom of his garden. But he doesn’t want to do that. He just wants to stare across my garden instead.

@JaNaJanice im contemplating offering our garden as a free venue for childrens parties

If neighbour grumbles, tell him that the kids have poor aim and you don't want their footballs twtting him in the face while he's on his patio*

Please please say it exactly like this. That is brilliant!

Do any of your children show any musical talent? The end of the garden I'm sure has excellent acoustics for recorder practise.

If it’s yours, I’d tell them you plan to grow it, if you don’t make this explicit I imagine they may trim it themselves. Ideally I’d get it in an email.

OP do you mean that his garden is NOT naturally higher than yours, but he has built a raised patio area? If so, have you checked if he has planning permission? As far as I'm aware, planning permission is needed for raised decking/patios/platforms that are more than 30cm higher than the natural ground level.

Write to him stating that he has cut your hedge, on your property, without permission and he must not do so again. Keep things factual, do not escalate with emotion, record everything.

You mentioned a wall, does it mark the boundary? Who owns it?
A 2m fence or garden wall with pleached hornbeam growing above it is legal and provides privacy.

^ check this, I think it refers to buildings not patios

Re the balcony: if reported and permission denied he may be required to remove it , ie an empty threat.

I would just build a fence - check if you can make it 10 ft so it’s 6 from his side

Buy the kids a couple of new footballs and encourage playing. If he has form for building without permission I’d investigate your options for if he does this! You obviously can’t make friends, it’s his way or the highway so no point appeasing him and do whatever you like that’s legal. But gird your loins for hostilities- I’d practice laughing it off!