A legalise type question about neighbours Windows

[L1zzy]

Hi all - as you're all such helpful peeps I was wondering what you would do in my shoes ? My neighbour in the adjoining terraced cottage (slightly unpredictable ,eccentric weird arty person) has a kitchen window which is about two feet up from the ground in my garden and has plain glass and opens out into the garden.I've only lived there a year but have made a point of ensuring I use all of my garden and don't avoid the end that has this window facing onto it. But I thought I'd read something about this sort of window should have frosted or obscured glass in it and not clear. I'm loathe to start an 'discussion' with her about this but would like to know what the legal view is of this set up in case I need recourse to mention it at a later date. - Any ideas? She also has a bathroom window on the first floor which over looks my garden - also plain glass. If noone has any ideas do you know who I should contact to ask for clarification? Thsi same neghbour has built a Barbeque about 1m from the front elevation of my cottage - its been there awhile but as you see they kind of 'do' this sort of thing. Any ideas welcome !

 

[Moo]

I hate to sound unsympathetic, but my first reaction is 'why didn't she spot these things before she bought the place?'

It's reminiscent of stories one hears, of people who move to the country and then complain about the bells in the church next door, or the farm smells, or the cockerels crowing at dawn.
Or like the people who moved into our street and then start complaining about the YMCA and the late night revellers.

The phrase 'caveat emptor' springs to mind, but perhaps someone will persuade me that I'm just being unreasonably grouchy.

 

[Nemesis]

Sorta agree with Moo...

but possibly I'm a slightly unpredictable, eccentric weird arty person too.

I assume that these windows have been there a long time?

 

[wobs]

Don't know about any legal requirement there but...

I used to live in a house where the dining room and kitchen looked out onto next doors kitchen and dining room. There was the feeling of lack of privacy, but also, as we generally got on with the neighbours, it was seen as a good thing, and it offered greater security.

If someone was trying to break into one of the houses, the other could clearly see it.

We actually had venician blinds up, which we only shut at night, but could still see next door the rest of the time.

Hope this helps.

 

[MdB]

My vague belief is that you would unlikely to be allowed to fit a new window like that nor would you be allowed to change a frosted window to a clear window. However, I don't think can be made to change a windows that has been like that without complaint for an extended period of time (10 years??).

Think of it being a feature that comes with the house.

 

[Roger H]

You could always grow a few sweet peas up a strategically placed trellis for some summer privacy.

Roger

 

[middi]

It is always a difficult situation in having to tell your neighbours to re-arrange parts of their property because it interferes with your privacy.

If you upset them too much they may tell you very politely to go and park your " derriere" somewhere nice and peacefull like Alaska.

 

[biffvernon]

Plant a Leylandii.

 

[middi]

That is not a nice suggestion and very cruel Biff.



( a bundle of fun in ten years time though ! )

 

[Carol]

Oh, Mr Vernon, what a terrible thing to suggest! How about a living willow, sculptury thingy, this would stop the clear view but not obscure too much light. You can make them in all sorts of shapes, a Dorset friend had a rather nice little seat made in a few hours, or animals are popularly made in Somerset. Or otherwise dance naked round a bonfire in the summer evenings, that would probably make them think you were even more eccentric weird and arty and they may put in their own obscure glass. Or they may come and join in!

 

[skier-hughes]

I think we'd all come and join in :shock:

I don't see any legal basis for gettting them to obsucre currently fitted windows.

If you want more privacy then the suggestions for planting are the best, but be symapthetic, think what you'd be happy with if you were on the other side of it?

Graham

 

[MdB]

On the other side of the industrial estate where I am currently are a row of houses which back directly on to the yard. In a couple of cases windows have been fitted in the back wall of these houses. All but one of these are in the second story but one is on the ground floor. This currently has an 8yd skip parked right in front of it. This must be great fun for the occupants of the house especially when the roofers next door empty their rubble into it...

 

[Penners]

Plant a Leylandii.

Yeah - the nootkatone will drive them out. (I promise that's the last time...)

Alternatively, buy yourself a roll of sticky-backed glass frosting, creep out on a dark night and.... :wink:

 

[Lime]

I've only lived there a year

My feelings are if it worries you why did you buy the property in the first place?
I presume the windows are not new and were in place when the purchase was made.

There is no right to privacy in existing situations like this.

 

[Sal]

I wouldn't think you have a leg to stand on. you bought the place with this feature.. thats that.
I have neighbours whose windows are right on the boundry of my garden, and I knew it when We bought, I figure we could not afford this lovely house if everything was 'perfect' so this is one of the factors that made it possible. if you see what i mean.

I would be VERY careful about any convo with neighbours on this subject.. really.. if you are getting along.. be grateful. spend any time on http://www.gardenlaw and you get very depressed with how many people hate their neighbours.

 

[Jocelyn]

We are just about to face a similar problem. We bought our house 4 months ago, aware of a planning application to 'develop' a Roman Catholic Chapel ( around 1860 and listed) which adjoins and abutts the back of our property, having four large windows overlooking the bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen and one enormous window at the gable end overlooking our garden. Our Vendors dealt with the CO and the planning application was suitably amended and agreed with obscured glass being specified. The then applicant withdrew from purchasing the property and somebody else has now bought the property at a recent auction.

She has been round to see me and requested plain glass in the gable end window, and to retain plain glass in the windows overlooking the back of our property. After some discussion I managed to extract her true intentions for the interior. Plans have been drawn up to build false walls in the chapel to create a second floor level, and the internal walls will be a few feet away from the windows to allow for frosted glass windows to be put in front of them. The gable end window will have a half landing at the level of the central glazing bars.

I have decided to contact the CO and have a discussion with him first to find out whether these proposals will get through, and of course I shall hold out for a while before agreeing to let her have the top sash as four panes of plain glass and obscured on the lower sashin the gable end No way will I agree to plain glass in the windows that overlook our property, despite the crafty construction inside.

Should be fun!

 

[Nemesis]

The difficulty is, even if obscure glass is specified, it's very hard to prevent removal and replacement with clear in the future.

 

[biffvernon]

and of course I shall hold out for a while before agreeing to let her have the top sash as four panes of plain glass and obscured on the lower sashin the gable end No way will I agree to plain glass in the windows that overlook our property, despite the crafty construction inside.

I wonder if she reads this forum :roll:

 

[middi]

Be tactical Jocelyn, once the neighbour has told you to go and make love with yourself there is no come back for peace.

 

[Moo]

Is there room for a leylandii hedge on your boundary, Joss?