Neighbours window looks into our garden and hosue - I want a fence up!

[funnyfoursome]

We have been renting a house which we are now in the process of buying.
The house has a 20 year old extension with a kitchen diner with two windows looking onto our side/ back garden then across to a low stone wall -less than 1 metre high. The neighbours house is older and the stone wall boundary is about 2 ft from their kitchen diner. They have clear glass in their windows and they look directly into our garden and into our house - no net curtains.
I have always felt very uncomfortable about this because our privacy is affected massively and the solution we agreed whilst renting was to put 2 large azaleas in pots belonging to the landlady in the front of their windows by the wall which has improved it a bit.
Now that we are buying I want to improve the privacy so w e can actually have a private garden and noone looking into our house - several people have said to me that we can legally erect a 2 metre fence on our side of the wall (which belongs to them). I was so looking forward to this

We went round to have a chat with the neighbours out of courtesy - they are moving on and their house is on the market. I explained we wanted to put some screening up (either a solid wooden fence or I guess a slatted one would be kinder as their light would be less blocked) I would prefer solid as then they couldn't hear us on the patio eating in the summer so much either.
But I was very clear that we would wait until they had sold as we wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardise their house sale. He let us into their kitchen diner and we could see straight into our house. He sad we legally couldn't because of the 'right to light'. But they have 1 more window and 2 Velux's in that room ..... He quite rightly pointed out that we could negotiate with the new people. He was keen we planted shrubs on our side but that will be tricky as there is a magnolia tree there so not much sunlight.

Everyone else thinks we should just put up a fence once our neighbours exchange contracts and safeguard our privacy. I just don't want to upset the new neighbours who we may well be living next to for many years. The two widnows are a) by their kitchen sink and b) by their kitchen table

I think we have a right to privacy but I don't want them to threaten us with a right to light argument or for us to get off on the wrong foot

Feeling so uncomfortable and unsure whether to get legal advice or just crack on!

Yes it is really strange that they are even comfortable with looking directly into our garden and into our house but their kids are in their 20's and I think they spend less time at the sink and table than we do!! I think am going to have to go back to them and point out that legally they are incorrect and that if our sale goes through we will screen to get the privacy back in our house and garden and we can talk to their buyers if they want ,and they can get legal advice but we are doing it. Full stop

You don’t need to involve them at all. Don’t explain, just get the work done - and don’t wait for the new owners, do it now.

I don't understand why it's an issue them looking into your house but no mention of you looking into their house?

I wouldn’t keep involving them as the fence will be going up on your own land. I erected a 6ft fence on my land up against my neighbours short damaged fence that they did not want to repair. I’d get it done before the sale of the house. I’d hate for anyone to be able to look into my house, and I’d hate to be able to see into my neighbours house too.

I’m not sure a fence is necessarily going to stop them hearing you, surely in a small garden you expect neighbours to hear you. I think a trellis with some plants growing up it would look more attractive than a fence if it’s that close to your window.

I’d get some life sized models, dress them in ridiculous outfits and stand them by the wall staring directly into their kitchen window. They will soon change their minds about the fence.

Put the fence up. It won't put their buyers off. If anything it will make their house more attractive as most people value privacy.
If they don't want to look at a fence, they can grow a clematis against it.

This is what i was going to say

Also you might get off on the wrong foot with the new neighbours if you put it up as soon as they move in - if it's already there when the view the place they won't know any different

You wont know when they have exchanged contracts- they aren't going to tell you. If you wait until completion and putting a massive fence up and blocking light is the new neighbours first experience of you it will affect your relationship going forwards.

I would put up the fence now, and hope that the existing neighbours let it go on the basis that they won't want it to escalate into a dispute they need to declare.

Just put it up, you can go to 2 meters without a build warrant/permission.
Dont engage them again about it and certainly don’t mention to them to get legal advice.
We also need a diagram.

@funnyfoursome You also look into their house. What do you do about that? I’d personally put up a Venetian type fence that’s got slats and have some planting in front of it. Not dense planting but something to make it visually softer. They then get a reasonably attractive fence and so do you. These fences are enough to obscure a view and let in light. So win win.

Put the fence up on your own land no more than 6ft high now. Plenty of buyers will prefer the privacy especially if there is plenty of other light in the room.

It would be tempting to ask a friend to pose as a buyer, look round and feed back that they're not interested because of the lack of privacy...

However whether it's solid or with gaps a fence is not really going to affect the noise. Voices travel easily through, over and around fences. Look at staggered fencing maybe with the planks on alternate sides - good visual cover when your audience is standing up close while still letting some light through.

Yes - the fences with alternating slats let a bit of light and air through and are less likely to blow down, as well as looking less harsh.

You can plant an attractive climber against the fence, introduce less hard surface with a bit of gravel, planting and well placed shrubs. so that sound doesn't echo around.

I’d just get a fence put up now. Your neighbours plan to move anyway so it shouldn’t impact them for long. Also when selling their house they would have to declare any disputes with neighbours, so if they have any sense they won’t make a fuss about it. Then your new neighbours will probably accept it as something that has always been there.

@Antonania If people are looking through windows - what noise? Everyone with a garden next to gardens must expect some noise. However Venetian fences are much nicer and are a great solution.

I agree.

Put up a trellis and grow a clematis up it - there is one that grows like a weed - a Montana I think it’s called … but a better gardener than me will remember the name and now the one I mean !

There is no need to involve them at all and if you go to them quoting legal this and legal that it will get their backs up no end!

Why on earth would you want to talk to their buyers???

Engage no further. As soon as your house purchase goes through put up a fence.

Has your landlady stopped you from putting up a fence before now? If not, do it now.

Equally if the OP is that bothered about privacy she could do the same 🤷

I'd put in several, evergreen, pleached trees. They are narrow but high, perfect for screening. The new neighbours won't know they are new.

He was blagging

You could put an fence in - does it need to be the full 2 meters or could you make it a bit lower?
The pleached tree suggestion is fabulous,although takes time and maintenance, and you would need to make sure you can dig and plant appropriately deep for the tree type and watch for root problems in future

As an alternative, bamboo in long trough planters along your fence could make a fairly tough, quick growing screen that gives height and greenery without taking up too much of your space (and is a fairly cheap, and mobile solution)

@Darkclothes Pleached trees need trimming from both sides!!! Or they become lop sided with far too much growth on the neighbours side. Difficult to know which evergreen tree would be suitable. Not many. The wires for pleaching are above 2m so are problematic if considered a fence. Planters for 6ft bamboo would need to be pretty large. The fence that’s attractive is so much easier. Grasses are also worth considering to enhance the fence.

Montana isn't evergreen, so won't help the OP for 5 months of the year