New Extension Blocking Light to Neighbours Side Bathroom?

[adzyp]

Hi,

We are looking at getting a two-storey extension on the side of our house. Next door neighbour has a bathroom in the centre of their house upstairs with their windows (albeit obscured windows) facing/opening out into our boundary on the side of our property.

The new extension will go upto approx 2 feet away from their boundary and these windows so of course will restrict the amount of light entering those windows. Is this likely to cause any issues for us?

Thanks

 

[^woody^]

Read your council's planning policies.

 

[jeds]

Right of light is a 'fact and degree' situation. Yes you will block light, but how much light and to what extent does that affect the room in question? Different rooms require different levels of light, so the use of the room is relevant. Some people think that bathrooms don't count - but that is not correct. A famous case involved a small window to a communal stairway. In right of light legal terms the question is; does the room have sufficient light for the ordinary purpose? The problem is the answer isn't always as clear as mud.

There is no definite answer to your question, because all people are different. Some won't be bothered at all - others will react like you've just kicked their cat. Some won't have the means, or will - others will sue you to the end of the Earth, just on principle. My advice is speak with your neighbours and try to establish how precious they are about light to their bathroom? See if you can come to some agreement - maybe offer a sweetener like; I'll replace the fence, or something. Even if the neighbour is wrong, you don't want to get involved in a, potentially, protracted row involving solicitors and RoW surveyors. It can get expensive.

 

[Tigercubrider]

When you say “into” do you mean that they are on the boundary? Or towards the boundary? Do the windows when open breach the boundary?

 

[adzyp]

When you say “into” do you mean that they are on the boundary? Or towards the boundary? Do the windows when open breach the boundary?

Yeah they are on their boundary wall, so technically when the windows open they are over our boundary slightly