Neighbouring windows

[YourCheekyDenimOtter]

We have just moved into our home. We have not really ventured into the rear garden due to the weather. Two days in and i have only just realised that the neighbouring house, which backs on to our property has changed their windows from frosted glass to clear. The reason I write this is because the neighbouring property backs directly onto our garden. It has no rear garden. The back wall of the house, with the now clear glass windows, is on the border between the two properties. There is a low fence which is more there for decoration. We were informed that the neighbours were aware that they could not open their windows as effectively this would mean the open windows will be on our property. I hope this gives a clear picture of how close their property borders our small rear garden. I am aware, and have photographs, of the opaque glass. I took these pictures in September and October. They must have changed the glass after that, I think they are trying to capture more light as their house is North facing but the windows in question are South facing. We can see directly into all 3 windows (ground and first floor) but what I am more concerned about is they can see us when we use our garden. I am shocked that this change appears to be a sneaky move as they must have been aware that our house was for sale before we moved in. They have spent the money and I am sure they will be reluctant to change the windows back to opaque. The sellers said nothing to us. Do I have any grounds to ask them to return their windows to the original state? Nothing is stated in our deeds. Any advice?

Oh for sure but it stares straight into our upstairs hall where my kids go back and forth to shower and such. And the window is our only light source in the hall at all so we didn’t want to cover it all day. Anyway, we won that round by being half naked so you could try that 😂

If you don’t have any legal recourse maybe you could ask if they could put stick on frosting on the lower half of the windows. So they can see sky and get more light but can’t see into your garden (unless they stood on a chair) and you can’t see into their rooms. I’ve got some on the lower half of a bathroom window, it just sticks on with water and looks fine.

So much of your post is based on what people have said, not what is factually written.

Read your deeds, read the neighbours deeds. Read the planning permission and any conditions associated. Then you have facts to work on.

I'd be very surprised if there was an enforceable fire escape route onto your property (that would be an easement which should be on either your deeds or your neighbours). This is separate to planning.
Any opening window would be trespass into your property (airspace counts)

I suspect the original planning for all those windows required opaque glass for privacy ('neighbour amenity'), so removal of the frosting would require planning approval, which you should object to.

If the windows haven't been there for 20 years then there is no right to light via prescription. It is in your interests to erect a fence or outbuilding right on your boundary to prevent this being established because otherwise you would never be allowed to put a higher fence or shed there.

I think me and my husband doing some naked gardening should see the speedy return of the frosted glass!

You could do something like this (attaching pic)

That is lovely! I really like that, it would look great. I will never be able to block the windows but I could soften them by planting. Plant something that will grow up the fence and just sort of haze the windows out. The aim would be to get privacy but not block their light. Unfortunately the top windows will always be a concern.

Other than being neighbourly (which they're not), why can't you block their light with a fence or thick bushes on your land?

I need to gather some info before I do anything. A poster above mentioned something about a right to light. I am investigating what that means. The neighbours have shown their hand in that they have done this very quickly before we owned the property. At least I know I am dealing with difficult neighbours so I won't waste time having a conversation with them. I could plant trees a few meters from the fence which will screen us and they could not complain about the light. The problem is the top windows....you just can't buy trees that tall. Their first floor windows are considerably higher than our first floor windows. Need to get something sorted before the summer. I can feel this is really going to bother me when we use the garden.

the first thing you need to do is get onto the council planning portal and look for what planning permission thwy have.

If it’s for opaque only windows not for normal windows then you need to nothing more than get it sorted by the council. they will do everything. you don’t need to look up light or barriers or anything.

if they can put in glazed windows then you need to look up other things as youve suggested.

They have no right to light if they didn’t get permission for transparent windows. You need to check if they have permission, if they don’t then the council can force them to reinstate the frosted glass.

I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, but are you sure the windows weren't already clear and just had frosted film attached? I have a couple of windows with frosted film at the bottom to stop the dogs seeing everyone passing on the street. I could peel it off in a second and nothing will have actually changed, other than the film. It might be coincidence they chose to remove a film.

On another note, we are on a slight hill and have a large window that can see directly into the neighbour's yard and kitchen/dining/office areas. We're not even all that close. I'm not sure they are aware just what a good view we have. I have put privacy film on those so they can't see us (if they even can up hill anyway, the fence might block their view of us), but it looks clear from our side, silver from theirs. I promise I'm not spying on them with any deliberateness. Your neighbours may be similarly disinterested.

If there’s no easement or even a covenant it’s not a real fire egress onto your land. I’d get some 8x4’ sheets of plywood and lean them up against it or build a shed there. Seriously though I think the neighbours probably chatted and agreed to the windows being installed on a casual basis and then the window company advised they needed to fully open for egress. This makes no sense if it was previously a solid wall! Phone your local district council planning team and send them a picture. The problem is they’re probably very busy and under resourced so while they will probably be happy to visit for a look and write them a letter telling them to put fixed pane opaque glass in, they probably won’t have the manpower to enforce if your neighbours don’t do as the letter tells them. With nothing on your deeds I’d be worried that they sell and then there is nothing to stop the new people from having windows open all the time. Speak to planning dept first. It’s too late now but when a solicitor points out a concern you should take it seriously and not just think it will be ok as you love the house