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!

@TizerorFizz see OP "I would prefer solid as then they couldn't hear us on the patio eating in the summer so much either."

Then her later post where she said she didn't like trellis because it would let too much noise through when they are outside.

From these posts I concluded that she is concerned with sound travelling between the gardens when outside and thinks a solid fence will be a significant mitigation. I put in my view that it won't and she shouldn't let that drive her choice. Not sure what part of that you are taking issue with.

@Antonania Ok. Yes - I apologise. I think any garden use side by side will result in some noise. People can always have an eating zone further away from the house. Most people without a large garden and space will hear other people.

Just put the fence up, stop pandering to them and just get it done

We put up slatted fences like the pics above. The nice thing is that our new neighbours also put one up with a gap between them as there was also a low wall that made life difficult on their side. They arranged the slats to counter ours so the effect was light but you couldn't actually see through?

We planted jasmine - evergreen and scented and it grows quickly. Easy to trim and on the eye. Run a mile from bamboo.

Put the fence up. The planting will complete the screening in due course but will take a bit longer to achieve.

If you have a small garden, all the fencing in the world is not going to soundproof your conversations, music or playing kids.

You do realise that a solid fence isn't going to stop you hearing them talking or them you. We have 2m fences around all sides of our garden and can here every word that the neighbours say when in the garden.

Check with your conveyancer on the boundaries and rights to light, but you should be able to put up a fence.

I am going to go against the grain and say you are buying the house with the window I think you would be completely unreasonable to put a fence upright outside it. If you don’t like the arrangement don’t buy that house.

We met with our neighbours and I asked him direct if it was an issue for him and he said "No". The difference is if we put net curtains up we can't look into our own garden. And in any case part of the issue is having privacy in our garden. We do have thin blinds and in the winter when our respective lights are on I close them of course. They don't

They are beautiful but there is a magnolia there already so ...

Thank you that's really helpful. I was thinking slatted fence plus clematis montana but actually maybe jasmine is better - big thanks

Jasmine or Clematis Armandii (evergreen, vigorous, big glossy leaves, very early spring flowers) would be a good choice

Thank you will check out whether Jasmine is hardy enough here (cold, poorish soil). In my first house I had clematis montana which I loved but I need to check if not evergreen what it looks like in winter

The jasmine is fine if you get winter jasmine. Clematis Armadii is evergreen. Montana isn’t.

They can put a hedge on their side of the fence then!

Hedges take ages to grow. Dont ever plant leylandii. Beech is great but 6ft plants will cost a lot.

Have you thought about putting up espalier trees?

I'd put up a fence now, but don't except it to reduce and noise.

How? The proposed fence is up against their window so they would have no room behind it.

I'd put in the fence before the neighbours sell their house. At least then the new purchasers will see what they are buying and less likely to complain.

@crockofshite. We’ve discussed that! They must be trimmed from the neighbours side! Trained on the wires abs they cost a fortune! A decent slatted fence with planting is much cheaper!

Thanks all very helpful

Just revisiting as at last the fencing guy is able to do the work. The neighbour's house didn't sell last year so is going on the market again, so we are going to crack on, thanks everyone

Don't waste your time with trellis, it's pointless and a waste of money as you can see straight through it. Just go for a proper 2 m fence. The new neighbours will be delighted with the increased privacy.

Thank you for letting us know @funnyfoursome
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