Options for privacy (blocking out a neighbour)

7 years ago

We have a very strange and nosey neighbour who delights in making us feel uncomfortable by standing on her balcony and watching our 3 children (and often their friends) in the spa. She sometimes yells out that they're being too noisy. At midday on a Saturday?? Anyway, we planted some bamboo on the boundary for some privacy but she keeps hacking it down when we're not home. So we planted a young tree 3m in from the boundary, far enough away that she couldn't touch it, to eventually grow and give us some privacy. Or so we thought. She has been poisoning it. The side that faces her balcony is going brown and branches are dropping off.

What are our other options to stop her looking into our property? Her balcony is very high, probably about 15ft. Our garden is lower down. Any normal person would put a screen at the end of their balcony for some privacy themselves! But she obviously loves being able to see us and watch us all day. Weirdo. We have lots of glass along the front of our house so she can see straight in too. It's unnerving, but I don't like having the curtains & blinds shut all day.

We thought of more shade sails. We have one already for spa shade but it isn't blocking her out. Also, it gets very windy here and the shade sail flaps around a lot which is dangerous.

Council probably wouldn't let us build a very high timber privacy screen.

Any ideas? Sorry for the long post! I think I needed to vent as well as ask advice ;)

Featured Answer

bigreader

7 years ago

What a pain. I'd consider cctv or similar. It's very cheap these days. I'd make sure she knows it's being installed and that it works 24 hours a day. Then I'd replant the bamboo. Good luck.

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Comments (26)

PRO
Designer Vertical Gardens
7 years ago
Hi Lucinda,

Sounds like a nightmare. We've got some options for Privacy screening that are Artificial Plants, so they can't be poisoned!

Feel free to take a look at our website for all our privacy screening options.

designerverticalgardens.com.au

Good Luck
Lucinda Dawe thanked Designer Vertical Gardens
Lucinda Dawe
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for the link. They are a great idea but unfortunately would need to be very high and wide to block her out and it would look strange. Thanks for the idea though :)
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PRO
Designer Plants Aust.
7 years ago
A similar option is something like an Artificial Trellis, They can be extended to approximately 2.4 Meters and look great.

Alternatively I've seen people us black cafe blinds although they aren't completely blocking of her view they are an obstruction that will make it quite difficult for her.

I hope it's all sorted out shortly and you can relax in the comfort of your own backyard very soon! :D Best of luck!
Lucinda Dawe thanked Designer Plants Aust.
jmm1837
7 years ago
It's a bit hard to envisage without photos, but I think the shade sail, properly positioned (and properly installed so it doesn't flap) would be your best option.

That said, why not do a search in Houzz Photos for privacy screen ideas? There are quite a few possibilities there, like decorative metal screens, slatted frames, etc that might be an option.
Lucinda Dawe thanked jmm1837
Lucinda Dawe
Original Author
7 years ago
^^ Thanks, I think you're right. My husband installed the current one and had a sail-maker friend supply the mesh/canvas, which has stretched. I think we'd be better off spending the money and have a professional company install maybe three of them.
User
7 years ago
Use sheers or sheer blinds on your windows.
PRO
Vetreria Tacca
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hi Lucinda! Your neighbour is a weird one! Here in Italy, you may be able to call the police for that!
By the way, as you said you have a lot of glasses, you may replaced them with some reflective glasses (i presume this is how you call them in English, in italian it's "vetro riflettente"): by this panels, you are perfectly able to see inside-out but - from the outside - there's a kind of a "mirror effect", like the one in the picture.

Emanuele

Vetreria Tacca
Vy
7 years ago
lf it was me I'd move..sounds like a weirdo..our old neighbours poisoned our hedge..it went brown on their side ..we moved..
Lucinda Dawe
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Not an option Vy. We've done waayy too much work on this house and made it perfect for our family. We're here for the long haul. I just want the old biddy neighbour to move. Or pass on... Haha
Vy
7 years ago
Lucinda..hehehe then you'd better find ways to make her want to move..:)
Hilde Gard
7 years ago
Have you tried speaking to her? Does she come out and gawk when she hears the kids playing loudly in order to kill their fun? If her main concern is noise (yes I know kids can't always be quiet), then there may be room for both sides to pull back a bit.
Gallifrey
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I do not think trees or screens are the solution for your problem. Based on my experience, you need to consider how to tackle the problem head on. Your neighbour's interfering behaviour. Get some evidence and take her to QCAT (Qld) or similar body in your state. Security cameras are quite affordable, and easy to set up.

Bullies usually back off when you stand up to them. She will not go away by ignoring her.
how2girl
7 years ago
Have you checked with the council to ascertain whether your neighbour obtained the necessary approval for the balcony that she stands on to overlook your backyard? If council did give approval they would have insisted on a visual barrier on the overlooking side of the balcony. Worth a phone call.
PRO
User
7 years ago
Hi Lucinda

I agree with the other comments... a pic or two would help...

Re the balcony, Councils can be your friend. There are requirements for overlooking within certain distances from boundaries ie the balcony needs screening if an overlooking issue exists however if the building is old and pre dates the by laws then the Council usually won't enforce the making of a balcony comply without works being done or a complaint.

There are plenty of screen options that will resist your neighbour but a photo would help us give some options.

again... stay compliant with your local council requirements.

My advice? Go down to the local council and ask them what you can do... you might find them surprisingly helpful... at the least they will inform you of the by laws re screens and your allowable options....

Re the glass, apply film to it. We do it all the time for overlooking compliance. Lets in the light but can't be seen through.

Cheers
Lucinda Dawe thanked User
haephestus
7 years ago
Yikes! Your neighbour sounds awful.

In terms of privacy in the yard, I'd double-check the fence laws in your State / Territory. To my understanding, while most areas restrict the height of the fence on the boundary, you can build higher privacy screens within your own boundary. I've most commonly seen this done with lattice panels and similar.

This is the best example that I could find from a quick search on Houzz:

[https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/mountain-view-contemporary-contemporary-garden-san-francisco-phvw-vp~6923377[(https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/mountain-view-contemporary-contemporary-garden-san-francisco-phvw-vp~6923377)

As an alternative to lattice panels, you could use panels made up of horizontal timber lengths for a more modern look or potentially some laser cut screens.

Basically, you would build a second fence within your own property which is higher than the boundary fence. The only real downside is having less garden / yard, but that sounds like it would be a small price to pay for privacy. Of course, double check any applicable regulations and consider the sturdiness of anything you install (given the windy conditions).

In terms of the spa more generally, you could get some large planter boxes with tall plants (e.g. bamboo) to build a "wall" around the spa. But, it might be best to focus on the second fence.

As for the windows, I'd either replace them with frosted / opaque glass or use a "contact" opaque film over the clear glass. You could either cover the entire window or leave some sections "clear", depending upon the neighbour's line of sight. Here are a few examples:

[https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/great-highway-contemporary-hall-san-francisco-phvw-vp~97479[(https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/great-highway-contemporary-hall-san-francisco-phvw-vp~97479)

[https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/griffin-enright-architects-hollywood-hills-residence-modern-bedroom-los-angeles-phvw-vp~591809[(https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/griffin-enright-architects-hollywood-hills-residence-modern-bedroom-los-angeles-phvw-vp~591809)

[https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/alver-modern-staircase-perth-phvw-vp~1932724[(https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/alver-modern-staircase-perth-phvw-vp~1932724)

Every window in our hallway is opaque. It's great because it still lets in light during the day, but provides privacy at all times - day or night. And we didn't have to worry about window coverings.
Lucinda Dawe thanked haephestus
User
7 years ago
Instant ivy
macyjean
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
There are rules about what a neighbour can prune. I can't quote exactly and it might vary from council to council, but she can't be hacking down plants growing in your garden. My immediate thought was get a CCTV onto the area, as I then saw someone suggested. How do you think she has been poisoning the tree 3 metres from the boundary? That is even more worrying than what might be called overzealous pruning on the shared boundary.

Btw the bamboo is the clumping variety not the spreading variety I hope?
choppypos2001
5 years ago
CCTV??
Kelly Walker
5 years ago
Absolutely suggest reflective glass. My coworker has them and they have been life changing. It has really given her an enormous amount of privacy and comfort.
Lynette Ludbrook
5 years ago
I'd go for the higher privacy screens within your own boundary. Get a car junk yard to store some old crushed car bodies on piled high on top of each other for 3-6 months to create the screen. They will be au fait with safely securing them. They may even pay for the temporary space leaving you with enough money to later build a truly aesthetically pleasing barrier, something like that big reflective glass barrier to her if she doesn't move! Hopefully she will decide to move when that is all she can see. My dad actually used this strategy successfully with a problem neighbour in the past! Meanwhile have a chat to a lawyer. We have one of those problem neighbours who complains about (non) barking dogs and gets her kicks by watching us put out washing. She now looks onto my chicken coop and thought it was a dog kennel. It makes me feel like going naked when I tend the chickens to give her something to really scare her and having a heavy metal rock band rehearse regularly in my garage. It is horrible to be overlooked by a neighbour who is so problematic and likes to use your family as her reality television set! Do check with a lawyer about her possible trespass onto your property. My guess is she used Round Up on a windy day!
Lynette Ludbrook
5 years ago
Do go to the Council and check on regulations. I got rid of my curtains in most rooms and had them tinted for privacy and use blinds at night. I feel for you having to pay money out to solve this problem, as well as dealing with the old bat! Let us know how you get on please!
Lynette Ludbrook
5 years ago
A neighbour in Melbourne had a cocky that mimicked a loudly ringing phone ad neaseum. Be great to be able to hire him and provide him with an avairy for a few months too to give her some real noise! She deserves some of the neighbours I have had over the years, luckily the cocky was well along the street, but both myself and friends have lived next door in blocks of units to pretty heavy domestic violence scenarios and a guy who had a mental illness. Both situations were loud and agressive and scary. But this woman is certainly passive aggressive and creepy. Problem neighbours are awful and highly stressful!
Lucinda Dawe
Original Author
5 years ago
I love the cockatoo idea, only our crazy neighbour already has one! I’m sure she got it as another ploy to annoy us. His cage is right at the end of her balcony next to our property. He starts squawking at 530am . I love birds but gosh he is noisy.

Since I wrote this post we’ve managed to screen her out visually with a gazebo type structure. She still hacks away at the bamboo but we’ve given up caring. I honestly think the cockatoo is another attempt to get to us. Crazy lady
Jason K
5 years ago
what an absolute nightmare of a human. I'd need revenge- youre very patient people.

I would put the UGLIEST covering on the side of the gazebo that faces her (but you wont see), that would deter her from looking. Im talking hideous. Print something on a banner like this haha

Also add faux camera facing your fence to also deter
Lucinda Dawe
Original Author
5 years ago
Hahaaaa!!!!

Options for privacy (blocking out a neighbour)

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