Your Rights Under the Human Rights Act 1998

Originally written by Jeff Durham, updated by the editorial team on 20th May 2026

What the Human Rights Act 1998 covers

The Human Rights Act 1998 brings the rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. It affects how public bodies treat you and gives you a way to challenge decisions that interfere with your basic freedoms.

Many people assume this law only applies to extreme situations involving torture or political persecution. In practice, it covers a much wider range of everyday matters. The Act protects your right to life, prohibits torture and inhuman treatment, and safeguards your right to express your views, follow your religious beliefs, enjoy your private and family life, and receive a fair hearing if you end up in court.

For neighbours dealing with disputes, the Act can be relevant in several ways. Your right to respect for your home and private life may come into play when local authorities handle complaints about noise, antisocial behaviour or other nuisances.

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Rights that apply to everyday life

The Act sets out a range of protections that affect ordinary situations:

The right to life
Prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment
The right to respect for your private and family life, your home and your correspondence
Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
Freedom of expression
The right to a fair trial
Protection of property
Protection from discrimination when exercising your other rights

When dealing with public authorities, these rights shape the interactions and expectations on both sides. Public authorities include councils, the police, and government departments. Housing associations fall within scope only when carrying out functions of a public nature.

If a council is investigating a complaint against you, or if you are taking action against a neighbour through official channels, both sides may have human rights considerations that the authority must balance.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Limits on these rights

Your rights under the Act are generally not absolute. Some can be restricted where public bodies have a legitimate reason to do so, and courts allow governments a margin of appreciation when interpreting how rights apply in specific contexts.

Restrictions must usually be lawful, necessary and proportionate. This means any interference with your rights should go no further than needed to achieve a valid aim. Valid aims can include protecting national security, preventing crime, safeguarding public health, or protecting the rights of others.

Your freedom of expression does not permit harassment or hate speech. Your right to privacy may be limited if police have proper grounds to monitor communications during a criminal investigation.

The balance between competing rights often matters in neighbour disputes. Your right to enjoy your home peacefully must be weighed against your neighbour's right to live their life. Public authorities dealing with complaints have to consider both sides.

In times of emergency, the government can apply derogations, which are temporary suspensions of certain rights. This power is limited and subject to strict conditions.

How to find out more

The Equality and Human Rights Commission provides detailed guidance on how the Human Rights Act works and what each right means in practice. Their website explains when rights can be limited and how to challenge a public body if you believe your rights have been breached.

GOV.UK also has information on the Act and how it applies across different areas of public life. Note that human rights law continues to develop through court rulings and potential legislative changes, so check for recent updates.

If you believe a public authority has violated your rights, you may be able to bring a claim in court, though claims must meet specific legal thresholds. Time limits apply, so getting advice early is sensible. Citizens Advice can help you understand your options. For complex situations, consider contacting a solicitor or checking whether you qualify for legal aid through the GOV.UK legal aid checker.

Understanding your basic rights can help you know where you stand when dealing with councils, housing providers or other bodies involved in neighbour disputes.

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72 questions

Ask Problem Neighbours a Question

ProblemNeighbours Editor 22/05/2026 at 9:16 am

@BB That's a GDPR issue as well as a privacy one. Under UK data protection law, if their camera captures footage beyond their own property (your garden, the shared fence line), they have to justify it and handle the footage lawfully. Report it to the ICO at ico.org.uk, they deal with exactly this. You can also send the neighbour a written request (recorded delivery) asking them to reposition or mask the camera, which creates a paper trail if it escalates.

BB 04/07/2024 at 8:32 pm

I have neighbour who has a camera pointed at our party fence - I know that they are recording that part if my garden too - what can I do, they are unapproachable?

Harvey 06/11/2023 at 8:27 pm

I have an unpleasant neighbour living directly opposite me with a cctv camera fitted on the outside of her blinds which is looking directly into my living room and bedroom. She is unapproachable so what can I do to stop this intrusion of my home ?

Evie 29/09/2023 at 7:13 am

Sorry to add but I forgot to mention the emails from her supplier stating that the two meters radiate EMF to over 40ft and communicate via RF sending data every 20 minutes… the neighbour also informed me that she had turned the meters into dumb mode.. (a lie) as for this to happen an engineer has to visit the premises to do this.. and the smets2’s do not support this function as it was removed.. only the old smets1’s have this function…

Evie 29/09/2023 at 7:02 am

I have lived in my house for 23 yrs.. it’s between two houses it’s 15ft wide by 33ft in length.. two yrs ago I acquired a new neighbour who ripped out the old analogue meters and replaced them with two (one for gas,one for electric) smets2 smart meters…. They are both situated at my front door one is back to back with my analogue meter and the other is on the exterior wall on the property boarder as our vestibules are back to back… i have suffered from day one.. insomnia,stress,anxiety,panic attacks,hair loss,tingling legs,unable to walk up and down my stairs.. it has interfered with my electrics like my television ,tablet and phone calls.. my entire house is buzzing… it is seriously effecting my health.. I have a titanium hip which is now swelling my left side surrounding tissue.. I have been to the doctors several times and they look at me like I am crazy… I have contacted the supplier twice and I have been fobbed off… I have contacted my local MP and been ignored… I have cried , pleaded, begged and offered to pay for the removal of the meters and my neighbour ignores me and tells me that she will no longer discuss the meters with me… she told me that my health issues from the meters are my own doing for believing in it… I have recently wrote a letter to her and hand posted it included pictures of my hip and she has ignored me… I have logged everything for the whole two years…my back and forth emails with her suppliers,recorded delivery letters and text messages between me and my neighbour..
I have discovered the neighbourly law which states thy shall not harm thy neighbour.. her acts of omission towards me are absolutely disgusting..she knows she is causing me serious ill health and lacks any sympathy what so ever… because I want the smart meters removed she then started to block my back gate easement and texted me to tell me that I am not allowed to use it.. I told her that I will continue to use it.. my issue is serious because it’s my health which has only started to decline from the day her meters where installed…her issues are petty little things even to the point where she pointed out to me that my verge cap was overhanging onto her property by 2inches!!..
I am seriously stuck here and do not know what to do.. It’s seriously effecting my mobility…

Liz69 06/07/2023 at 8:02 am

My son has been having trouble with his neighbour since he moved into his flat. The beighbour even moved my sons car with a fork lift truck and the police didnt do anything even though my son said he wanted to press charges. Now yesterday the police came to see my son and explained the neighbour's CCTV camera is pointing directly into my sons bedroom and kitchen window and has been recording him. The police told my son that they have told the neighbour they have 1 week to delete the recording of my son. The cctv camera is still in the same position which has left my son uneasy. Surely this is illegal? What can my son do about this with immediate effect. Advice needed asap

Bagger 24/06/2023 at 1:02 pm

My neighbour has camera with voice record and bright light that shines onto our property and the light is bright and blinds me when I exit my door akao shines into our dinning room and my sons bedroom, I have asked him to move his camera away from my door and windows, his totally ignored me .
My words were; 'excuse me can you move you camera away from my doors and windows '
He totally ignored and walked onto his house before I could finished saying; it's invading our privacy and all our visitors feel invaded.
Because of his ignorance i now feel Harassed and vulnerable especially when my husband works away

Lala 15/10/2022 at 9:16 pm

My neighbours recently put up cctv positioned facing my entrance door and my window picking every activity and everyone that comes and goes to my home .

The moment I step on my door step the sensor light is activated.

Bush 15/05/2022 at 3:14 pm

I live in a flat with 3 floors, oppersit me about 3 meters away my neighbour has a bell camera pointing at my front door, we have a security door and buzer sistem plus a spy hole in our front doors so why should there be a camera there. I complained to the council, about this and they said that its OK. I don't think it's right, can someone please answer my quiery.

Helpme22 30/04/2022 at 2:56 pm

My neighbour Pete is an ex detective, he has tried to go through my general waste bin, sain inappropriate comments about seeing me in a bikini, puts a ladder on my front lawn to trim his tree so he can see all through my upstairs without asking, trims my bushes over my side of the fence when we have 3-4ft fencing and im trying to grow them to create privacy, he looks over when ever i open a window or door os always out in his garden ashe has turned his garden into an allotment, plus has stood on his front lawn staring into my house, he is making me feel really uncomfortable

Geoff 27/03/2022 at 9:23 pm

Hi, my senior neighbour has recently installed two security cameras one in front and one at back of her semi detached bungalow I’m the neighbour other half of the bungalow., The problem is both cameras are pointing on my front and back gardens and I feel I’m being watched or spy upon. The front camera is not even pointing to her driveway garage or car or front door area, but onto her front garden which incorporates part of mine, similarly the camera at the back us pointing to her fence but is high enough to over look into my garden very strange positions of both cameras and I feel my privacy is being invaded what action can I take?

Henri 17/03/2022 at 8:15 pm

Our neighbours have removed a large number off trees at the back of our house. When they are on this land they can now see straight into our bedroom. Is there anything we can do. They haven’t had permission to do so.

Ct 03/03/2022 at 8:55 pm

My neighbour is watching me in my house w cameras it's been goin 14 yrs she knows things she shouldn't know unless she's invading my privacy she's deranged and evil crazy

Samiej67 16/09/2021 at 2:52 pm

Neighbour has moved a monstrous shed at least 12 x 12 x 12 from bottom of garden to within 9ft of back of bungalows. Standing within inches of my fence and much higher than the back fence, invading my privacy and blocking all the sunlight from the top of my garden, back of property. Shed obviously has a roof and side and a fully fitted base

KaS 05/08/2021 at 5:41 pm

My neighbours security camera is on my door & garden, motion sensor but doesn't go on to his driveway where his car is parked, how is that protecting his property...........

Rita 24/06/2021 at 10:10 pm

Hi my neighbour recently converted a bathroom to a bedroom and window is no longer obscured glass. It's second floor and looks right into my kitchen and dining room. They don't have any view of their own property but mine. I no longer hang out washing and keep curtains closed and very rarely use the garden now as it's not private. Can I do anything about this?

Shorty 19/06/2021 at 1:58 am

Me new neighbours of 8 weeks have put up cctv and are watching everyone that comes and goes to my home and my kids playing in there own back garden is yhis allowed

Sg 25/05/2021 at 9:36 pm

Our neighbours have a trampoline in the back garden it is close to the fence line and very close to the house their 14yr old and the father bounce on this trampoline and stare at us in our house through the window. These neighbours are unapproachable what can I do about it ??????

Sg 25/05/2021 at 9:33 pm

Our neighbours have a trampoline in the back garden it is close to the fence line and close to the fence, their 14yr old and the father bounce on this trampoline and stare at us in our house through the window. These neighbours are unapproachable what can I do about it ??????

Peter Pan 11/05/2021 at 7:17 pm

I have a really big willy and my neighbours keep looking over at it when I sunbath naked.

Crochetnan 25/04/2021 at 6:50 pm

Hi our neighbours have constructed a large man cave which is over looking our garden without planning permission it is a rather long garden 126ft long, , they been inviting friends back and these strangers are walking back and forth the via the garden wall ajacent to overlooking my property, to use the neighbours outside toilet, i feel I cant even sit in my garden anymore with no privacy I feel as if it is affecting my mental health due to no privacy what can I do about it

Lee 20/04/2021 at 6:34 pm

Re CCTV @ your door - data protection act

Bella 15/04/2021 at 12:17 pm

What to do if my neighbor is facing the camera to my doorstep and to my backyard

Natalie 01/04/2021 at 2:18 pm

Over 9 months now, the nextdoor landlord and/or estate agent haven't repaired the fencing my nextdoor neighbours have rented the house. My privacy is non existent. I've threatened legal action & they've ignored me. Anything I can do?

Ann 26/03/2021 at 8:49 am

My new neighbour has just moved in next Dr I keep myself to myself it's turning out she has mental health and bothering us all the time i.e banging around at 4.30 in a morning been a jekyle and hide I'm sick of been disturbed what are my rights

Baggie 15/02/2021 at 9:19 pm

Hi i have a noisy neighbours they have 3 kids who just want to shout n bang in their house but i can hear every little sound they make its been goin on like this now for 18 months now n ive just had enough.am a diabetic type 2 n my nerves are goin bad with it.ive spoken to ennviomental heath team in newcastle under lyme n they set me up with a noise app n ive not heard from them at all n its been 5/6 weeks now.so i need more help to stop the shouting n banging please can you help me.

Mrs .Mukarram 07/12/2020 at 7:51 am

one of our neighbors (community hospital)have constructed a four story building on their land .They have windows on our side.
this has turned the open view into closed view from our side
and
i am not able to use my garden because it seems someone is watching me thru the windows.

what remedy do i have ?

I hate bully 29/11/2020 at 1:07 am

Where do I start.After Owning my own house for 20* years. Find myself and children and pets in rented Accommodation after my divorce it’s been hell.. We have been discriminate against because we are renter. It doesn’t matter that we work hard. Made the house and garden over, to make it feel more Homely for us. It has been ruin by horrible neighbours. Forcing a family to look for
Attentive accommodation what has affect her sons needs.
Making comments behind their fences
Blind watching us though there CCTV its a big joke to them.ITS ALL BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT US USING THE Garden. Because No one else has use the garden before. Makes their dogs barks BS!!!! 100%
These people are stupid small minded people. Bullied a single parent Who has a son who
Has a Disability and supported needs.
.Taking the piss out of his mother Because she has a Medical condition. . Throughout the lockdown normal people in this world support and look out for each other. I really don’t understand these people they must have some sort of personality disorders.. Its not normal. The police do know about it but they’ve talked their way out of it, like they always do. Deleting the evidence getting their story straight. They have done this to other tenants as well In the past. Hopefully one day they will get new neighbours and
Do this to the wrong people. They should be disgusted in their selfs.We are nice honest people just trying to get on with our life’s

Carebear3 12/10/2020 at 5:59 pm

Hi my mum and dad have lived at there house for 40 years in the 1980s my dad said to next door do you want to go half's on some conifers anyway they did but it came onto my mum and dad's border.. Fast forward to 40 years later the house in question is now rented to a man who isn't very nice but everyone thinks the sun shines out of his bottom... He has now put a 7ft fence right on my mums border which has also made my mums shed tilt forward its very upsetting for my mum as my mum is nursing my dad who is dying... We questioned it with the rental place they said they had contacted the neighbour but he has cameras said he hasn't done it I asked to see the video but they said no.. Is there anything I can do

Nikki 18/07/2020 at 4:01 pm

Our neighbours are the king and queen of extensions and home improvements. They’ve closed off their garden access to convert to a laundry room and told us that they were going to create access through their garage. They changed their mind and have put a gate close to our border and a raised patio and can see right into our kitchen and beyond into the garden.
Not that washing up was my favourite chore but I now feel uncomfortable at my sink, drinking coffee at my breakfast bar or eating dinner at my dining table. Also if we’re working in the garage they can look straight at us. We tried to talk to them but they constantly interrupted us and then Made it personal. Their answer basically is it’s their home and land and they can do what they want and they don’t need our permission and just so you know we’re going to paint the red brick wall white so when the sun shines it will glare in your window. Also the gate now means we have lost the ability to sneak an extra car at the end of our drive which didn’t block any accesses although we’ve been doing this for 17 years.

K 07/07/2020 at 7:43 pm

Hi,
I have a neighbour that has one of the biggest trampolines in her garden. Daily they use there trampoline which overlooks my garden. Everyday the adults use the trampoline aswell as there children. We are so overlooked when they are jumping is there anything I can do about this?

Jayne 28/06/2020 at 5:23 pm

I live in a terraced house and flats built at the bk of my garden , the upstairs flat has a window tht opens and looks into my garden and house . I feel my privacy us invaded and now rarely use my garden as a result as the person living in the flat continually has his window open hearing all conversation and any normal noise he hangs out if it and shouts at me

Lou 25/06/2020 at 9:37 am

Hi my neighbour at back of my house has a camera pointing at my house is this allowed please

ice 22/06/2020 at 8:24 pm

I would like some advise regarding the below:
I am renting a studio flat on the 1st floor of the block of flat and my flat is in front next to the porch and the entrance door. Our mailboxes our outside the block of flat and few of the mailboxes have been vandalised so The estate agent has just installed a camera on the porch ( which I do not dispute) but the camera is pointed directly into my flat and if I open my blind they can infringe my private life. I have send the estate agent few emails to make them understand that the camera is place in the wrong side of the porch but they do not want to know what should I do?

Jammy 14/06/2020 at 10:25 pm

My neighbours put a security light in our shared ally which is just mine and his house and my motorbike is down there and it shine directly onto it and and now worried that it will attract people more as it will light up and show the bike making it more prone to it being stolen is their anything I can do about this

rolling man 12/04/2020 at 6:57 pm

Theres knowing your rights and your rights not being noticed because you are disabled. I have been living with bullies next door, since they moved in about eight years ago, the police know what they have done to me, yet they are untouchable it seems. They shine lazers in my eyes to damage the cctv on my property and now I suffer with migraines, they slander my good name , they humiliate me, they damage my property, they show hate to wards me by throwing there hands about taking the p out of me being disabled and now they are painting my shed without my say so, this is over my wall and a different colour to my shed I guess thats making me look a disabled fool knowing I am disabled and no one is going to stop them. This used to be a nice place to live now I feel no ones cares, knowing what neighbours are doing to me its killing me slowly.

passiflora 12/10/2019 at 9:33 pm

My neighbour & I share our front doors' access area. We are both tenants of social housing properties. They have installed an i-Ring doorbell situated in middle of our doors. It can record; has motion detection plus alert; also infrared capable video & scrutiny. I am very distubed by this idea regards my privacy. I will be unable to be outside my home or have visitors without neighbour knowing everything.
What can I do? How do I protect my privacy???

Rutter 08/07/2019 at 10:09 am

Our new neighbours (they're renting) have erected an enormous trampoline which takes up practically a third of their garden. It was initially put right up our fence and the children made a point of telling us they could see into our garden. We asked for the trampoline to be moved further down the garden, which to be fair they did, but it's still in a position where the children can still see into our garden, but its better than it was. It's also an eye sore in our opinion. Are there no regulations on erecting large trampolines or such, and the invasion of our privacy, let alone the noise they also make...Thanks in advance

loopylee 06/07/2018 at 8:05 pm

i am in gay relationship, we just come back from holiday abroad to our home being surrounded by cctv. they have placed a camera in our garden apparently looking at her shed which is under her stairs on our back door wall. the camera looks like it is pointing down at our back door. she has also put one above her front door looking down at our front door as she is above us. then she put one at the front of the block looking over the green pointing towards her car. the only one legit is the one looking up her garden. the Wolverhampton police have done nothing except close the file. she is clearly breaching our privacy, they have been verbally abusing us as well. wait and see what the police say about that on Saturday but thats taken 8 days considering i 999 it when i reported. she clearly is breach human rights and cctv code of practice. and surveillance camera commissioner

what can i do i feel im not getting the support from my police or council ?

Jaja 19/06/2018 at 5:02 pm

My neighbour has a flock of pigeons which he keeps in a coop. He lets them out for exercise twice a day every day 0900 to 1100 and again 1500 to 1700. The pigeons are not racing pigeons and not tagged ( I know this because one died when it flew into my window)
The problem is they crap over my garden, house, conservatory and cars. We dare not sit in the garden while they are out.
What can I do

ProblemNeighbours Editor 18/05/2018 at 3:28 pm

Talk to the Age Concern organisation first of all. Ask them who can view the footage and why CCTV is there etc. If you're worried about privacy talk to your local community policing team.

Nipper 18/05/2018 at 6:57 am

Age concern centre is our estate I have found our recently one of there camera are
Pointed at my small front garden where my grand children play
It's quite a distance from the centre and we are very concerned
There is no signage around the estate about this
Any advice on this please we have live here for 50 years

Nipper 18/05/2018 at 6:49 am

Can and age concern centre have there CCTV pointed at the front of my home and my small
Front garden where my grandchildren play
The centre is on the same estate wher we have lived for 50 years there's no signage around
The estate

Yashwant T Gawade 03/04/2018 at 8:29 am

Sir/Madam,
May I know where I should complaint about members of the managing committee of my society as they have installed cctv exactly face to our residencial door. Is it permissible to installed cctv inside the society? is it permissible for society to install cctv camera face to residential door.

JaniceJoplin 16/07/2017 at 9:27 am

I have been trying to sell my house this year for a realistic amount. However although potential buyers love my house and garden they will not put an offer in with my neighbours scrap car in the garden which my upstairs window overlooks. I managed to get one of these potential buyers to put that in writing. The neighbour with the scrap car refuses to move it or cover it up and it is an eyesore. Any advice would be appreciated. I have a six foot fence but that doesn't hide it and if I try to grow anything tall to hide it he just sprays it to kill it.

ProblemNeighbours Editor 15/06/2017 at 2:17 pm

If your neighbour installs CCTV, camersa must be located in such a way that they are not positioned facing anyone's property buty his own. You can ask the local police to come rounds and take a look at the cameras...they can ask him to re-position them if they think your privcay is being infringed.

Danniloo21 13/06/2017 at 8:02 am

My neighbour is a hoarder & we recently had a fire due to all his crap (for want of a better word!) Thankfully we were very lucky that me,partner & 3 young children got out. I've not even had an apology from him! Since then have tried everything to get him to remove & tidy up the property & things aren't on the beat of terms as he has been handed a 21 day order to tidy the property. Last night he installed two cctv cameras one pointing directly into my child's bedroom & our main access door! Where do I stand on basic human rights act i.e. Family life & privacy? What's the best solution here? Many thanks

ProblemNeighbours Editor 26/04/2017 at 2:09 pm

We're not sure on this one. It's probably easier for you to contact the Information Commissioner's Office directly.

Chilly 25/04/2017 at 2:19 pm

I currently work in a cctv control room in a high profile tourist attraction in London. My manager has installed a cctv camera in the control room to observe the operator and systems at work. He has informed us that this is to conform with British standards and has this camera fed back to his mobile phone. What are your views and is this OK.

ProblemNeighbours Editor 19/04/2017 at 10:56 am

The Information Commissioner's Office has a template letter that you can use to raise your concerns with the landlord. You can also complain directly to the ICO if you believe your landlord to be in breach of the data protection regulations; again, their website gives you a guide on how to do this.

Ti 16/04/2017 at 2:33 pm

I live in a housing association block of four flats. CCTV/sound monitoring was installed in 2015, on the landing at the top of the communal hall; between the two top flats. The CCTV sound monitoring equipment is located in a cupboard right next to my front door.
The CCTV was installed to prevent crime & antisocial behaviour. However, on requesting subject access data from my housing in September 2016, I learnt Housing have been using the CCTV to collect data on my wife when she leaves & returns home.
She suffers from PTSD & anxiety. Does not leave home very often & never alone. I was really angry when I read this in the SAR info. Housing have failed/declined to answer why this information was collected.
This is against why the CCTV was put into the communal hall. It should not be used to spy on a individual person this way!
Please could you give me some advice what i should do. Many thanks.

Reece 02/02/2017 at 12:09 am

In the know -You are right in that The Human Rights Act 1998 governs public authorities. However, the European Convention on Human Rights governs and protects others from infringing your rights.

There are also all types of human rights and a few of these are directly aimed at the government but to state that only a public authority can breach your rights is false

In the know 29/01/2017 at 12:31 am

You write

"the Human Rights Act 1998 also makes it mandatory for you to respect the rights of other people and to exercise your rights in a manner in which you would not be preventing others from exercising theirs."

However that's not true. As a private individual you have no obligations under the human rights act - because it only applies to:

"all public authorities, and
all other bodies, whether public or private, performing public functions"

Therefore it's not relevant to link this to infringing privacy with domestic cctv systems. Only the council or another public body could breach your human rights in this way

MollyMoo 04/12/2016 at 7:59 pm

My landlord has recently fitted CCTV to the six tennant house I live in. Whilst this is good for prevention and piece of mind, I am concerned that a particular tennant is reporting personal goings on to my landlord about my private life. For example, when I bring visitors back to stay over. It was clearly stated that we can have visitors so this should not be a problem. Where do I stand, knowing that this tennant checks the CCTV regularly just to see what myself and other tennants are doing and reports back to the landlord? This is making myself and others feel very uncomfortable.

A 25/08/2016 at 1:02 am

We have a neighbour who lives directly opposite us who has just had a 360 ball camera installed at the top of his property. This looks straight into my bedroom window, over looks my front door, my front living room window, my car, my garden. I have 2 young children and I'm very concerned! What can be done? My privacy is being invaded. I have spoken to the local police and they have confirmed there has been no criminal activity in our street, therefore I'm questioning why he has installed this!

ProblemNeighbours Editor 13/06/2016 at 1:53 pm

You can erect your own fence of up to 2.2 metres and of course there's nothing really to prevent you from growing trees or bushes to help create more privacy.

SJA 10/06/2016 at 4:56 pm

We live in a new build property, with a small garden. My neighbour has put up a huge climbing frame over 2.5meters high. The council planning department assessed it and advised it is not subject to planning permission as it is a climbing frame. I'm not against climbing frames but it is huge the children can not only stand there and look in my garden they can watch me in my kitchen and dining room. There is no escape. Aren't you entitled to privacy in your own home and garden.

ProblemNeighbours Editor 12/05/2016 at 9:43 am

Check out with your housing association, they should be able to let you see their CCTV policy, so you know who has access and what is being filmed etc.

21 10/05/2016 at 6:11 am

I live in a housing association block which is a Big brother' environment. CCTV cameras all over. We pay for certain facilities and maintenance on top of our rent but since the new caretaker has been here it is totally changes to the extent I had a letter stating to remove cardboard from the bin area or I would be charged. With the time and day recorded from the CCTV camera. Is this legal? As it didn't come from the housing office

Matharu 12/02/2016 at 7:25 am

My neighbour has a cctv camera on her property she live has 32 Barrett street smethwick she has look over property's and causing trouble and blame thing what they have not done this is a serious matter having a cctv camera look over you propert

jah 19/10/2015 at 11:47 am

We live on private property on the ground floor. My neighbour above is spying on my family inc. My 11 yr old son. All the other neighbours know she is a busy body who confronts the binmen, window cleaners etc. Now she has stooped to taking photographs of us and other people. She told community constable it was because we had a dog an our rules say no animals. We were minding the dog at the time. I am very unhappy about the spying and the pictures. What can I do?

ProblemNeighbours Editor 16/07/2015 at 10:38 am

@Maddi. There is more information on this in these two articles: Neighbour's CCTV cameras and CCTV, Privacy and the Law.

Maddi 12/07/2015 at 2:51 am

My In-Laws are having a bad time with there neighbors. Currently the neighbors CCTV camera is pointing into there property and we have contacted the police about this. They have seen the camera and have agreed its invaliding there privacy. They have spoken to the neighbors regarding this to re position the camera but yet 6 weeks down the line the camera is still invading my in laws property. After numbers phones calls back to and forth to the police the camera is still there!!!!!!!!!!!. Oh the police say if they do not remove it we should go to the council???? If we thought this was a council matter go to the police first?? If this is not removed ASAP I am going higher and going to the press in regards to an old couple who has done nothing wrong!!!! This is a police matter!!!! Would you like to a camera watching you walking out of your back door??Please Help as this is upsetting an elderly couple.

Kiki 10/07/2015 at 10:57 pm

Hi, iv bin living with mice in my council property for about the last 4 yrs or so now and every time I have managed to clear them up they come back. I have complained to my landlord 100's of times about the fact I was pregnant during this time and were about to bring 2new born babies into this environment and surely it is not clean. They leave wee and poo everywhere as they go and I hav to continuously to clean up after them. I also have a problem with poison being put down as they kept dropping down dead in the house and there were a lot of near misses where the twins had gone to pick them up. Iv explained this to the council and have repeatedly bin asking to move as this an ongoing problem In the street way before I even got there. So no amount of poison will fully clear this up. I live right by a river and am swarmed with rats at the back and so far have bin certain rats weren't in my house until one tonight one walked slowly from under my bed. I can't live like this but have no where else to go. Both the twins sleep in the room with me and We have found droppings in beds and cots. They go all over the work surfaces in the kitchen and my older son who is 13 is mentally scarred from them and still gets scared after all this time. They hide out in his room and he has many times refused to go to sleep in there. I'm completely stuck as the council do not wish to help and also just give me pest controls number. They won't be able to clear the problem unless my whole street decides to so in the mean time iv just gotta keep clearing them up. This is no way to live and I can't take any more of it. Is there anybody who can advise me better than the council as they make it so impossible you just give up and I can't live like this no more ( sorry for the lengthy msg but I'm stressssssed!!!) lol

Val needs HELP 06/07/2015 at 12:48 pm

We have a caravan on Sunny Vale caravan site Rhyl recently the new site manager has installed a caravan immediately behind our van making it very difficult for us to get our Car in and out of our parking space at the side of our van both my husband and daughter have mobility issues and use mobility scooters so we need room to get these in and out of the car When I asked the site manager if he would move the vans as they were blocking us in and explained why, he said he could do as he wanted I asked why he had blocked us in by putting the caravans sideways behind us and not in the correct site position he said he had CCTV camera in it this caravan is directly behind my daughters bedroom and has caused her to think he is watching her I asked if he would show me where the camera was but he said he would not my daughter will not open her curtains now as she thinks he can see her in bed. please advise me as to if he can or can not have cctv 10 foot from our bedroom window THANK YOU

Omo 24/06/2015 at 1:53 pm

I live in a council house which was originally sheltered housing so is all on ground level. My bathroom window is in his garden which is bigger than mine. I am concerned about my privacy when he is in his garden as you can hear everything in the bathroom. Can I ask for the garden boundary to be moved to include window on my property?

Omo 24/06/2015 at 1:48 pm

My bathroom window in my council house is in my neighbours garden. The property was originally sheltered housing so it is all on ground level. I am concerned for my privcy as he would hear me inth!e bathroom if he was outside. I am a female on my own. Should I be able to have bathroom window in my own garden.which would mean allocating part of his garden to me( mine is small compared to his)

ProblemNeighbours Editor 24/04/2015 at 12:20 pm

@kerryoo. You should talk with your council's planning department about this, there should have been some conditions in place when the change of use was granted.

kerry oo 21/04/2015 at 8:56 pm

A year ago a beauty spa opened up in the business premise below me. My maisonette has just the kitchen downstairs and rest of property upstairs. Outside and to the right of my back door is my decking area and garden and to the left of my back door is the window into there 'treatment room' or 'massage room'. The two previous businesses that occupied that premise kept this window closed at all times and frosted up. The beauty spa just casual open it wide and have removed the frosting. My children aged 3 and 5 who play on the decking area and garden can see directly into the whole massage room. The people inside can also see them. This disturbs me as I have seen a man being massaged and a partial clothed woman undressing! Is this lawful.I feel like my children may be at some risk? Any help would be really appreciated.

didi 11/09/2014 at 7:33 am

Hi my next door neighbores are muslim and they copmlain all the time to council about my dog and about when I got bbq my family ate pork and we use at home "pork" word thats ridiciules !!!!Always problems with them in my garden was my dog toy small plastic pig they ask council to remove that pig from my garden !!!

Rahul 18/08/2014 at 6:55 pm

I am living in a house which is on my legal land for the last 30years and all the land around my house is sold to someone .does that fellow has the right to stop giving me access to my land.please answer me i am very tensed.

doug 13/08/2014 at 8:44 am

I bought this house in 1998, I threw my exgf out a yr after that. my neighbors are harrassing me. i used to belong to the masonic lodge in my area. i left them. i met a girl. they say i was forcefull. well stalking her. no she knew i was sending her gifts. she knew too much of my personal life i wanted to know how she knew. well i found out. my family knew her boss. they were pumping her with info. well i have moved on. left my friends that i thought i had, my family is history. anyone who will do that to someone i prefer not to associate with. but i still feel there is a listening device in this house. ask me why i think this. well i talk to my self with unique information to see where it pops up. nobody would know. also they know the people at my bank. this is all illegal. you say its me. no its not. its them. at first i thought i was going nuts, paranoid, bipolar. ha there is nothing wrong with me they are nuts. i have proved it. i want the guilty party who is resposible for this action. well i have contacted everyone legal. nobody will help. apparently this lunetic is rich or powerful or both. keep the money leave me alone. your nuts. thank you. spread the word tell my neighbors they will . they have ruined my reputations so far. i can't even go to a bar in the city. i figured out they hang out in them.

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