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Just preliminary enquiries here, because the neighbour* [i]may[/i] be intending to do more to the building (I somehow doubt it) and [i]may[/i] respond to my polite questions with a positive reply (I haven't a clue how this'll go)..but, if a building falls within the guidelines for not needing permissions, ie. it's small enough and not too tall, do they have a duty to make it's appearance reasonable?
I say neighbour* cos they don't live in the same road, just their back garden backs on to my front garden at right angles.
So they've built this shed/summer house in their little garden which backs against the side fence of my front garden. I have no objections to this, except the back of this thing is hideous. It has black bitumen covering, with holes in, and RUBERMADE or some builder manufacturer's logo in big letters, showing about 2-3 feet over the fence. Everyone who has been to my front door has gone "Ugh, what's that?"
So, if they say they're not doing anything else to this thing, do I have any recourse, apart from installing a 3 ft higher (ie. 9ft) fence?
(Pre-empt: "Speak to them" - yes I intend to, as it now seems they've "finished" the shed, it was just bugging me last night while I was supposed to be asleep)
do they have a duty to make it’s appearance reasonable?
Short answer?..... No.
It can be as hideous as they like.
Have you considered speaking to them? 😉
RUBERMADE
its RubberMaid
you're neighbours are operating it as a niche brothel. You could get them on Advertising Consent. Or noise abatement if you're hearing a lot of squeaking
I think if it’s a garden outbuilding ie permitted development, not a permanent structure so not subject to building regs then you have no recourse other than a friendly chat.
sheds are permitted development as long as they are not less than 2.0m from the boundary and no more than 2.5m above ground level.
If he falls foul of any of those criteria it could give you a bargaining chip to get him to sort out the aesthetics for an easy life for him.
Just put a bigger fence in, or plant a hedge or both....
sheds are permitted development as long as they are not less than 2.0m from the boundary
You sure about that, not one of my neighbours has ever applied for planing permission for a shed and they're all right next to boundaries.
its RubberMaid
No it's not. I read it as that and someone pointed out that it says Ruber... ya twerp.
if its under 2.0 in height over the whole shed it can be right next to the boundary if it wants.
not less than 2.0m from the boundary and no more than 2.5m above ground level.
So, 2 inches from the boundary and he's on dodgy ground (literally). Height is probably about right though.
Not less = must be more.. gawd that double negative is doing my head in this morning!
This is too tall to be a shed btw. It has fancy windows too. And it blocks my view of their jaccuzzi (this is a good thing)(yes, they are classy)
hmm edit buttons broke - its 2.5 m max height within 2.0m of the boundary . not 2.0 .
Maximum allowable fence height is 2m.
Get a couple of cheap Larch Lap fence panels or similar and screw them to the back of his shed when he's not looking.
He'll probably never notice
There are two rules relating to out-buildings close to boundaries.
From a planning perspective if it is within 2m then the whole building must be less than 2.5m high.
Also if it is less then 1m from a boundary and bigger than 15m2 then it must be built from non combustible materials
Any breaches of these rules are likely to go unchallenged though as the council is pretty toothless.
Max allowable fence height <span style="text-decoration: underline;">without needing planning permission</span> is 2m except where it adjoins a highway or footpath then its 1m.
In reality if its a back garden and the neighbour has built close to the fence then I'd go as high as i needed to and worry about permission later on if it ever cropped up.
Murray
Maximum allowable fence height is 2m
Interesting - so they've effectively raised the fence height by about a metre... sounds like I have some bargaining power anyway. Thanks folks.
From https://interactive.planningportal.co.uk/mini-guide/outbuildings/11
Outbuildings must be single storey with a maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and maximum overall height of 4 metres with a dual pitched roof, or 3 metres in any other case.
If the outbuilding is within 2 metres of the property boundary the whole building should not exceed 2.5 metres in height.
As above, I'd just raise your fence to match their outbuilding. It's what you'll end up doing anyway...
Interesting – so they’ve effectively raised the fence height by about a metre… sounds like I have some bargaining power anyway. Thanks folks.
Only if they have actually raised the fence height by a metre. An out building isn't a fence, That said, if it is 3m tall then it would need planning (although the 2.5m max is measured from the highest point of the land immediately adjacent to the building so can be taller if it is on a slope)
I've got some left over flooring in the garage maybe I'll just nail them to the back of it.
I'll have a chat first anyway. He won't have seen what a mess it is at the back.
He won’t have seen what a mess it is at the back.
That's probably the main point. He either doesn't really care how it looks or has no real idea. Should be solvable with a friendly chat. Neighbour's builders made a right mess of the wall that fronted onto our property. She, of course, had no idea. We eventually got them back and they did half a job and never returned. I ended up doing it but I did keep their scaffolding boards they left behind.
No it’s not. I read it as that and someone pointed out that it says Ruber… ya twerp.
I can't help it if your weird kinky neighbours can't spell. Least of their problems mind.
Interesting.... can I ask how it works with differing ground levels either side of the boundary?
My shed is by the boundary but under 2.5m. My neighbour the other side of the boundary has just built a large outbuilding, the top of which is level with my shed roof. But their side of the boundary is at least 50cm below mine, so their building probably exceeds 2.5m.....but only on their side of the boundary. Conversely, my shed would be way more that 2.5m with reference to their ground level.
Surely outbuilding height can only be related to ground levels within your boundary as you cannot control those outside of your boundary?
‘Height’ - references to height (for example, the heights of the eaves on a house extension) is the height measured from ground level. Ground level is the surface of the ground immediately adjacent to the building in question. Where ground level is not uniform (e.g. if the ground is sloping), then the ground level is the highest part of the surface of the ground next to the building
Also, interestign comment on pitched roofs (rooves?) on there - say it's 2.5m at the eaves and you can go to 3m for a pent roof.
Least of their problems mind.
I have no doubt.
I’ve got some left over flooring in the garage maybe I’ll just nail them to the back of it
How about using a bit of trellis and growing roses and ivy up it. Might look quite nice.
That would involve some sort of "gardening" on my part... 😳
Hang a picture on it
Murray
Maximum allowable fence height is 2m
No it's not. Over 2 m is considered a high fence or boundary and this may be taken into consideration in any dispute.
Hang a picture on it
Of a trellis and some roses 🙂