Just wondered if any one can help!

We have just replaced our fence, the side that we are responsible for as our neighbours have a young child who tourments the dogs. We have increased the height of the fence from 4 ft to just over 5ft, this does not effect the light coming into their garden.

This week they have attached some rush fencing which is 6ft in height to our new fencing, this is blocking the amount of light coming into our garden can I do anything?

Much help needed!

If the total hight is not over 6ft you can do nothing about that but you could, I think, tell them not to attach it to your fence and to put up there own posts not to use yours. Contrary to common believe I do not think in law we have any right to light.

Could be that they realise their child is causing you problems and have added to the hight just to make sure your dog is not molested.

Thanks for that.

They know why we've done it but you know what some people are like the child is never wrong!

I find it hard to believe that they are allowed to put a fence up that is higher than our own?

Thanks again

Would it be considered an actual fence, or just screening?

I am not totally sure so ask the CAI or check at the library or on line - I think your neighbour can do as they like on their land as long as it is not higher than 6ft then I think the law steps in. The council may well be able to answer your question also, after all you just wish to know if they can do as they have and if they can you will have to ignore it.

Would it be considered an actual fence, or just screening?

Don't think it matters what it is fence, screening or trees same thing it is limited to 6ft I am all but positive, think you can get planning permission to go higher but that is not the case here.

It's just a thought but would the  deeds of the house have anything on the height of fences etc, I know in our last property there were stipulations (thats not the right word) on height of boundaries hedges & fences?

Its more like the rush screening stuff that you can buy. Im not sure about the deeds, prehaps a call to the council or would it be the planning department?

Many thanks for everyones posts, what would i do without you all!

Yes, there may be overriding conditions in the deeds or renting contract, sometimes no fencing is allowed particularly at the front but in general 6ft is allowed.

>We have just replaced our fence, the side that we are responsible for as our neighbours have a young child who tourments the dogs

As someone else has said, perhaps your neighbours think they are 'helping' if they know their child is annoying the dog...

Other options:  maybe they don't like your choice of fencing and wish to hide it from their view; they are using the new fence as impetus to get their garden tidier; they wish to plant climbers and are protecting your fence with screening of their own.  Either way, it may not be malicious.

Is this a neighbour you can talk to?  You could just ask if they are willing to lower it a bit, or thin it to allow some extra light in.  However, if you genuinely think they'd enjoy your misery then I'd be tempted just to live with it, that type of screening doesn't last too long and hey, they might be tarting their garden up ready to sell the house!!

> This week they have attached some rush fencing which is 6ft in height to our new fencing, this is blocking the amount of light coming into our garden can I do anything?

Have they attached this to the top of your fence ie its 6ft higher than yours, or behind your fence so its only a foot higher? I presume the former as an extra foot of fence isn't going to make a huge difference to your light. If it is on top of your fence then the total height would be over 10ft which seems rather excessive for screening and probably breaks some rule or other re planning. Otherwise if its only a foot then I'd just live with it.

our fencing between us and next door is 2.5 meters high and they have planted beech trees along the line, plus they now empty thier lawn cuttings there to ensure when we have finished our build we have rotting grass cuttings to deal with and flies. Your neighbours are pussies compared to ours!!!!

the rush fencing is about 1ft above ours. We use to get on with our neighbours untill they moaned to the council that the dogs were barking.........wouldnt your dogs if the child was hanging over the fence!, oh but not the childs fault, shame we cant report children!

So we thought by increasing the height of the fence the dogs wouldnt bark as the child wouldnt be able to look over urgh NEIGHBOURS!

you are allowed to have 6 foot fencing between gardens .  if they've attached it to your fence then you could have huge row and make them remove it but honestly not worth it as they'd be perfectly entiltled to stick up another one a couple of inches into their own garden.  just grow something pretty up your fence.

Make it something spikey so said kid cant get a ladder and hang over!!!! Pyracatha has nice red berries, white flowers in spring an 2" spikes"""""

I think the maximum height without needing planning permission is 2 metres rather than 6ft so a bit over.

Can a 6ft fence really cut out that much light? Ive got seven foot fences round my East West facing little garden and tbh there is always sun in it somewhere.  Even in my north facing garden in a previous house it had a 12ft beech hedge (neighbours) there was always lots of light during most of the day and in the mid summer I was actually grateful for the line of shade it provided.

I think maybe that the rush fencing maybe to provide a bit more privacy their side?  Maybe they think that the dogs might be able to get over a 5ft fence into their garden?

A rush screen will only last a couple of years so I wouldnt worry too much.

Just found out "You will need planning permission to build a fence or wall 1 metre high where it is next to the public highway or public footpath. On the other boundaries you will need planning permission if it is more than 2 metres high. You should always enquire of your local planning authority before erecting a fence or wall."

> If the total hight is not over 6ft

I think actually it is 2meteres which is 6ft 6inches.  We have 6inch gravel boards and 6foot panels on the die and rear that we are responsible for, but next door only put up 5foot, which I wish was higher :)

Think you are right I am still speaking in old English - well actually I am bilingual, people are measured in feet and almost everything else in cm.