Informal Planning Advice prior to Complaint?
Discussion
JQ said:
WOW. The height of the BBQ demonstrates how intrusive that must be. It's like they're standing on top of your fence.
That would annoy the crap out of me.
Glad it's not just me then. In discussions with the neighbours I've been told that I'm being "immature" in thinking that our neighbours shouldn't be allowed to build whatever they like in their garden.That would annoy the crap out of me.
When I asked if they'd checked with planning, it seemed like the thought had never occurred to them. Their view seems to be that "it's just a deck, all our neigbours have them, what's the big deal?".
They seem oblivious to the fact that whilst their neighbours (including us) do indeed have decks, they're not elevated 6 ft in the air and don't extend halfway down the garden!
Edited by youngsyr on Friday 20th July 16:42
That is bizarre.
But even odder I can't imagine enjoying myself peering into all the gardens, if invited to a dinner party there I think I'd make my excuses and leave. Truly cringeworthy.
I wonder what the neighbours on the other side think?
You need someone like this in your garden to make the point, but they sound too thick skinned to be embarrassed.
But even odder I can't imagine enjoying myself peering into all the gardens, if invited to a dinner party there I think I'd make my excuses and leave. Truly cringeworthy.
I wonder what the neighbours on the other side think?
You need someone like this in your garden to make the point, but they sound too thick skinned to be embarrassed.
Edited by PositronicRay on Friday 20th July 16:49
Wow, that's special. I hope you get that sorted out, I couldn't possibly live next to that and it must have a significant effect on the resale of your house if that was ever to happen.
If the local authorities don't act on that by ordering them to remove and/or lower it to a sensible level then that's just crazy.
If the local authorities don't act on that by ordering them to remove and/or lower it to a sensible level then that's just crazy.
To be fair, we're on the side of a hill (hence the slope) and the rear gardens face out over London, giving you a panoramic view of the London skyline 20 miles away, which is pretty impressive, once you're high enough to see over the fences.
Obviously the reason they now have that unobstructed view from their deck is because they've elevated the deck above the fenceline, meaning they also have an unobstructed view into everyone's gardens.
Obviously the reason they now have that unobstructed view from their deck is because they've elevated the deck above the fenceline, meaning they also have an unobstructed view into everyone's gardens.
Munter said:
Evil thought: You could leave a bowl of sweets on a pole, at the same height as the deck, but just too far away for the toddler to reach....
(I've no idea why people say I shouldn't have children. Really. I'm lovely. It's just the thoughts that are evil.)
You've clearly never looked after a toddler - they don't need any bait, they're danger seeking missiles by nature! (I've no idea why people say I shouldn't have children. Really. I'm lovely. It's just the thoughts that are evil.)
We have wooden steps down from the front ground level to the back ground level, a difference of about 8 feet. I once caught my toddler lining up his ride on fire engine to ride down them!
The neighbour's deck would terrify me with a toddler around, but as above, I've given up trying to fathom what goes on in their minds.
It sounded bad from the description but once you see the pics of the new fencing & decking you fully have my sympathies as someone who also lives on a slope (although ours slope up rather than down from the back of the properties). It constantly amazes me what some people think is acceptable & f*ck the consequences to others around them!!!
Absolutely incredible. You would have thought they would at least have put some screening up each side! IMO it clearly breaks planning rules. The question is though, if you ever sell do you want to declare a neighbour dispute?
Have you spoken to the next but one neighbour about it?
Also, my understanding is that although you can complain to Councils anonymously if the subject submits a freedom of information request then the council will have to supply the details? I was told this by a Council about 10 years ago when the (private) rented bungalow next to a house I owned had two Jack Russells that used to spend all day making noises like two Tasmanian devils being slowly impaled.I complained anyway and I know the council investigated because I saw the dog warden van and shortly after I heard her complaining (loudly) to her husband that their dogs didn't make any noise.They did it was horrendous.
Have you spoken to the next but one neighbour about it?
Also, my understanding is that although you can complain to Councils anonymously if the subject submits a freedom of information request then the council will have to supply the details? I was told this by a Council about 10 years ago when the (private) rented bungalow next to a house I owned had two Jack Russells that used to spend all day making noises like two Tasmanian devils being slowly impaled.I complained anyway and I know the council investigated because I saw the dog warden van and shortly after I heard her complaining (loudly) to her husband that their dogs didn't make any noise.They did it was horrendous.
youngsyr said:
JQ said:
WOW. The height of the BBQ demonstrates how intrusive that must be. It's like they're standing on top of your fence.
That would annoy the crap out of me.
Glad it's not just me then. In discussions with the neighbours I've been told that I'm being "immature" in thinking that our neighbours shouldn't be allowed to build whatever they like in their garden.That would annoy the crap out of me.
When I asked if they'd checked with planning, it seemed like the thought had never occurred to them. Their view seems to be that "it's just a deck, all our neigbours have them, what's the big deal?".
They seem oblivious to the fact that whilst their neighbours (including us) do indeed have decks, they're not elevated 6 ft in the air and don't extend halfway down the garden!
Edited by youngsyr on Friday 20th July 16:42
ts they are for being on display in their garden like that.Definitely get planning involved with that imo, they don't seem to care about upsetting you so don't see why you should about them.
Have you spoken to the neighbours on the other side about it to see what they think? I bet they aren't happy either.
The suggestion from a Planner friend is that anything more than 30cm above the ground, would require planning. And people often screw up with sloping gardens as one end can end up a lot higher than the other. Sounds like exactly what they have done OP.
Planning can come round and will give a deadline for an application to be put in if it needs one.
Planning can come round and will give a deadline for an application to be put in if it needs one.
If your neighbour is selfish enough to build that, then there's no way you're going to be able to come to any sensible agreement.
Get onto planning enforcement straight away. A dispute with your neighbour is not ideal, and may cause issues when you come to sell, but that is going to make your house pretty much impossible to sell, so I really wouldn't worry about it.
Get onto planning enforcement straight away. A dispute with your neighbour is not ideal, and may cause issues when you come to sell, but that is going to make your house pretty much impossible to sell, so I really wouldn't worry about it.
Whilst not the same and in Scotland, our next door neighbour built a new house in his garden.
Plans we received had a large verandah area on the first floor exiting from the bedrooms, this was totally overlooking our garden.
Put in a complaint and they had to re- design with side walls with no overlooking of garden, don’t think they were too happy or very well advised by their architect at the off set. Basically trying it on but at least it had to go through the planning stages.
No way would I put up with what you currently have, understand you don’t want to put your name to the complaint but why not get someone you know who doesn’t stay near by to put said complaint in.
They only need to say that they are currently looking to move to the area and as they are currently looking at possibly purchasing your house they have some concerns on the next door house overlooking the garden.
Whilst the neighbours will most likely think it was you that complained through someone, they wouldn’t really be 100% sure and you plead ignorance.
Possibly a stupid idea but just a thought if you really don’t want to put your name to it.
Good luck and I hope you get it sorted.
Plans we received had a large verandah area on the first floor exiting from the bedrooms, this was totally overlooking our garden.
Put in a complaint and they had to re- design with side walls with no overlooking of garden, don’t think they were too happy or very well advised by their architect at the off set. Basically trying it on but at least it had to go through the planning stages.
No way would I put up with what you currently have, understand you don’t want to put your name to the complaint but why not get someone you know who doesn’t stay near by to put said complaint in.
They only need to say that they are currently looking to move to the area and as they are currently looking at possibly purchasing your house they have some concerns on the next door house overlooking the garden.
Whilst the neighbours will most likely think it was you that complained through someone, they wouldn’t really be 100% sure and you plead ignorance.
Possibly a stupid idea but just a thought if you really don’t want to put your name to it.
Good luck and I hope you get it sorted.
Edited by tighnamara on Sunday 22 July 10:17
Munter said:
The suggestion from a Planner friend is that anything more than 30cm above the ground, would require planning. And people often screw up with sloping gardens as one end can end up a lot higher than the other. Sounds like exactly what they have done OP.
Planning can come round and will give a deadline for an application to be put in if it needs one.
No, this is covered in permitted development, as the decking is measured from the nearest natural ground point, so its perfectly legal, due to sloping gardens, for one edge to be within the legal height, but for the other edge to be much higher, this is exactly the situation I have in my garden, the op's next door neighbor however is smoking a fat one if he thinks his is OK.Planning can come round and will give a deadline for an application to be put in if it needs one.
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