my neighbour had planning permission to build a conservatory which has beeen buit for two years. It is only less than a foot away from our patio. It was a stipulation of the planning that the windows overlooking us were both frosted and non opening for privacy.
I have just noticed that they have now started to open the windows thefore the planning rule has been broken. Is it too late after two years to get something done.
ps relations are not at all good - so aproaching the neighbour is not an option
2006-10-22 20:47:02 · 7 answers · asked by k 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
talk to the bylaw officer in your area and see what they can do for you, also talk to anyone in city officals as to what your rights are and follow up on them
2006-10-22 20:51:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The planning officer doesn't usually come to inspect (there may be some confusion between planning permission and building regulations in other answers. If bldg regs consent is needed, you are supposed to have the completed work inspected, but most conservatories don't need bldg regs approval). So, you can still ask the Council to take action over the breach of the planning consent.
Do the opening windows swing over the boundary? They shouldn't.
You are allowed to erect a garden wall or fence 2 metres high along this boundary (much lower on road boundaries) without the need for planning permission, so a couple of fence panels would serve to escalate the conflict nicely. In New England, such structures are called "spite walls", which does rather neatly summarise the motives of those who put them up.
Best to turn the other cheek, if you can.
2006-10-23 07:16:30 · answer #2 · answered by andrew f 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, its not too late, the rules stand for the life of the building / conservatory.
Conservatories are often exempt from planning requirements, so i don't know why they had to apply in the first place. If it was inspected and passed then the planning officer was wrong, getting the council to atmit that is going to be difficult, once they approve something they cannot retrospectively change thier mind. So they couldn't make them take the openers out, however, they can stipulate that the "openers" should never be opened
Write to your planning department, if you had the original planning reference number that would help, but they can find it from the address/name
Obviously the neighbour will know its you when the council contact them. The council shouldn't tell your neighbour who the complaint came from,but they are not that good at deplomacy.
2006-10-23 04:03:10 · answer #3 · answered by Michael H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like your real problem is with the relationship with your neighbours, not the conservatory.
If you got on well with them, would you really care about them opening some windows? How much inconvenience is it causing you really?
Isn't it a little petty to report them to the council?
You should try to be the better person and take comfort from being on the moral high ground and forgiving your neighbour. Maybe take a pie round as a peace offering.
If not, maybe moving house would be better and next time don't even talk to the neighbours. Live and let live.
2006-10-23 05:33:23 · answer #4 · answered by in vino veritas 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, this is breaking the law. It does not matter when the plans where agreed to by town planning, if they are not stuck to you have rights.
Firstly i suggest you phone the town planning and explain your situation and state what you what done about it.
Secondly always keep a record of the dates and times that you have spoken either to the council or your neighbour about the issue. Whether the contact was verbal, by phone, post or e-mail.
Ultimately the planning department can force them to take the windows out and replace them with fixed ones.
Good Luck and i hope you can get this resolved quickly.
2006-10-23 04:03:58 · answer #5 · answered by Heather 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hire a teenager to take potshots with an air rifle at their conservatory windows from a distant grassy knoll.
Realistically you are unlikely to be able to enforce the law everytime they open their windows so take 'em out (the windows) and enjoy it :D
2006-10-23 03:57:13 · answer #6 · answered by Icarus 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would agree with Icarus answer. I was going to suggest you broke the windows somehow and Icarus has given you the perfect solution..... satisfaction for you, and great fun for the naugjhty teenager...
2006-10-23 04:00:50 · answer #7 · answered by sloppy chops 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋