Privacy and Neighbourhood Conflict: Your Rights

Questioner

Hello. I have the following question. My neighbours have a window in the dividing wall between us. I don't know how long this window has been there. We have shrubs in front of that window that have also been there for a number of years. We keep them at a reasonable height so that the neighbours get some light from us. However, I feel like I'm being watched and now want to let the shrubs grow to eye level so that I have some more privacy. The neighbours are now threatening legal action and want us to keep the shrubs as low as possible so that their window is free. At the moment, no reasonable contact is possible. Can the neighbor make a case out of this? Or do I have a right to my privacy. He wants to let it get to the point where we have to remove the bushes. May.

Questioner

Please note: this is the wall between our gardens. They have made a seat there. And want to enjoy the sun that shines longer in our garden.

Lawyer

Below is described as it is described in the law. * A fence or gate next to the house may be a maximum of meters high, unless otherwise indicated in the local by-law of the municipality. For the house this is one meter. If you want a fence that is higher, you must apply for an environmental permit. * There may be no openings in the wall or fence. By law, there may be no windows, balconies or wall openings within 2 metres of the property line that look out onto the neighbours' land. * If the planting is on your side of the property line, you may do whatever you want with it, provided that the planting is planned according to the legal framework. (Shrubs 50 cm from the property line and trees 2 meters and not exceeding the property line of max. 2 meters. * If it is on the legal boundary of the property then it is jointly owned. Then you can do whatever you want with it, as long as you do not destroy it. As I gather from your story, your neighbors have little leg to stand on. However, I do not know the exact situation, and I am unable to give a truly appropriate answer. I hope that you can do something with the above information. If you cannot reach an agreement with your neighbors, mediation can be a good option to resolve the conflict. If you would like further help and/or advice, you can always contact me.

Questioner

Thanks for the answer. This is a row of 5 houses. So just a terraced house. Houses that are connected to each other. He has a wall between our gardens at the back where he has made a seat. That's why there's a window. The plants have been on our side for years! We keep them, but we want my privacy. That's why I want them to grow a little. And he doesn't like that. But as I understand it, he can't do anything with it? That's reassuring to me.

Lawyer

No. As you indicate, he can't do anything and you can let your bushes grow to a maximum height of 2 meters. He can make a case of it, but as long as you stick to the rules, he has no leg to stand on.