Annoying neighbours

When we had our house renovated an inspector visited and examined the windows, we had to remove the lockable handles on some windows because they were fire exits. The bathroom windows had to be obscure glass even though they were small and only started at shoulder height.

Thank you everyone for your comments.

I am glad you said I am not being unreasonable. I suspected I was turning into a disgruntled, moany old cow woman!! I will call the council and speak to the planning or building regs people. I think that they are probably not aware of the changes. The windows are about 10ft apart and you can see shapes and movement even without the light on, but before it didn't matter as there was no-one able to look in.

Any alteration to original planning permission (such as a change in size and position of windows) have to be agreed by the Planning Department. All new building work is checked at regular intervals by a Building Inspector. I would contact the planning department and check the change has been agreed by them, if it hasn't they will send the Inspector to check what is happening.

Grandmac are you living in my road? We have a similar problem with a new neighbour. We have lorries parking on our parking area and continuous noise from the building work. We also have rubbish being blown into our drives.
I've heard that she has complained we are all old and unfriendly. Some of us have lived here for 35+ years and some of us are disabled.

If there ought to be obscured glass I would not have thought that a removable film will be acceptable or comply with regulations. Best to have this checked pronto and leave it to the planning people to sort it out if necessary. Be careful to keep good neighbourly relations if at all possible and be seen to be reasonable.
When we were doing a building project a few years back I can remember there were 17 trades vehicle parked all around us and it felt horrendous to us never mind the neighbours. The stress levels go up accordingly and everything becomes magnified and sometimes out of all proportion. It probably seems never ending but it will finish and then you will settle back into the peace and quiet that you enjoy.

Our council has a "Planning Portal" where applications for planning permission are published, with detailed plans. Yours probably does too.

I don't think your neighbour could have made the alterations you talk about without permission, so if you do a google search for "planning application" plus the address, you should be able to see just what they applied for - and what was was granted - and if the two don't match he final result, you can contact the planners.

If there doesn't seem to be any application applied for and granted, then they could be in trouble, even up to having to reinstate the house as it was before.

I would certainly get it checked asap before the build continues any further,I would have thought you would have been notified of any change in the plans by planning dept (thats if they have been told of the changes)

It might be worth checking to see what the Building Regs actually require.

I live in a ground floor flat and my bathroom window (obscured glass) is on an outside wall, partially covered by foliage. Not long after I moved in I came home, in the dark, and noticed that I'd left the bathroom light on and could clearly see the outline shape of washing hanging off the shower rail!

Your neighbours will only be able to 'see' into your bathroom when your light is on and it's dark outside, if that's any consolation.

I have a blackout blind at the window for when I'm having a shower and it's dark outside.

We had windows put in on the first and second floor stairwell on the side of our house to let in more light and when we applied for building regulations, we were told obscured glass would be a requirement, as we have houses, maybe 20 yards or so to the right of these windows. I am sure therefore you are right and your neighbour's window should also have obscured glass. No you are not being unreasonable, I would contact the council if I were you to verify this.

I do not think that would have been changed without first consulting/advising you of the fact. I would most definitely check, and if you are not happy, you can state your case.

I think it's worth looking into. I'm pretty sure there are planning regs with regard to windows overlooking your property, particularly in such close proximity.
Your not being unreasonable.