Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Apr 29, 2020 8:29 pm Hi all Can i get advice from you guys on rules around windows overlooking neighbours? My house was built in 1993 and we bought it in 2017. Just recently, we received an email from the local council that they had been made aware of clear glass windows overlooking neighbours. They accused us of changing to clear glass windows which we never did and asked us to reinstall frosted glass windows. The overlooking window is from a bedroom where my elderly parent lives and you can see probably only the sink in the kitchen and some parts of backyard of the neighbour. The neighbour's house is a single storey and we have no contact with her as she is very unfriendly. Our house is the last of the 3 townhouses in the lot and all of the houses have same clear glass windows. I want to find out what arguments i can use against the council decision. I just find this whole thing unfair. Thanks all. Re: advice on complaint against windows overlooking neighbou 4May 03, 2020 2:25 am I thought bedrooms were treated different than common living areas, but anyway if the council has said it needs something to give the neighbors some privacy, maybe you can put in a privacy screen over the bottom part of the window and keep the top clear to allow full light in. Re: advice on complaint against windows overlooking neighbou 5May 03, 2020 8:41 am If your property was built before the neighbour's one, then there was no overlooking issue (onto vacant land)! The odd thing now too is that bedrooms that overlook have to have obscure glass to at least 1.7M above floor level, but the bathrooms are normally clear! If you want privacy in the bathroom, you have to request obscure glass? This is an extract from vba.vic.gov.au (Victorian) Part 5 of the Building Regulations 2018 relating to overlooking. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Previous owner's plans showing their solution to overlooking (using an extension to the fence): Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Best to refer to the building plans that would have been submitted to council regarding overlooking and overshadowing! Re: advice on complaint against windows overlooking neighbou 7May 03, 2020 6:04 pm Sparkyf If your property was built before the neighbour's one, then there was no overlooking issue (onto vacant land)! The odd thing now too is that bedrooms that overlook have to have obscure glass to at least 1.7M above floor level, but the bathrooms are normally clear! If you want privacy in the bathroom, you have to request obscure glass? This is an extract from vba.vic.gov.au (Victorian) Part 5 of the Building Regulations 2018 relating to overlooking. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Previous owner's plans showing their solution to overlooking (using an extension to the fence): Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Best to refer to the building plans that would have been submitted to council regarding overlooking and overshadowing! Thanks! I think the neighbour house was already built before our house. Re: advice on complaint against windows overlooking neighbou 8May 04, 2020 7:56 am Doby Sparkyf If your property was built before the neighbour's one, then there was no overlooking issue (onto vacant land)! The odd thing now too is that bedrooms that overlook have to have obscure glass to at least 1.7M above floor level, but the bathrooms are normally clear! If you want privacy in the bathroom, you have to request obscure glass? This is an extract from vba.vic.gov.au (Victorian) Part 5 of the Building Regulations 2018 relating to overlooking. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Previous owner's plans showing their solution to overlooking (using an extension to the fence): Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Best to refer to the building plans that would have been submitted to council regarding overlooking and overshadowing! Thanks! I think the neighbour house was already built before our house. Here is the link to the Siting document, it's a PDF that you can download and read, it has all the regulations regarding overlooking, whether it be to ground, or to neighbour's windows, and what is required. https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/99388/PN-47-Siting.pdf Or maybe you can appeal against the council if you feel it is unjust as obviously the house has been like that since before you moved in? https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/about/building-appeals-board Re: advice on complaint against windows overlooking neighbou 9May 09, 2020 2:19 pm luxbuild I thought bedrooms were treated different than common living areas, but anyway if the council has said it needs something to give the neighbors some privacy, maybe you can put in a privacy screen over the bottom part of the window and keep the top clear to allow full light in. There is a difference between habitable rooms and "utility" rooms (Kitchen/Laundry/Bathroom) But Bathrooms are treated differently again as they're required to have obscure glass to prevent looking in from all other allotments (vs Overlooking protections which are specific to an individual development looking into another individual development) Re: advice on complaint against windows overlooking neighbou 10May 10, 2020 1:33 pm If council are making the claim, get them to show you from their approved drawings they have which windows are to be frosted. Or get them to prove you changed them to clear. If they have the evidence that is fair and reasonable, if not. Councils municipal surveyor can deal with your neighbour direct. Dont waste any of your time and money for a request the council has the answer to. Sometimes I find councils just bend the knee to complaints to please those who do so. Good luck Registered Building - Always happy to help where I can and simply loves the game. DM me if you need help in VIC. Re: advice on complaint against windows overlooking neighbou 11Aug 08, 2020 8:40 pm Thanks a lot for your suggestions, everyone. I got busy with the COVID world. The council simply said that it was part of the original permit and asked us to change the windows to obscure glazing. We got the windows films to make it obscured (can't be bothered fighting anymore) and just waiting to hear back from Council, who probably stopped working after lockdown started. Thanks all for your comments. In my experience roof is essential element of the building envelope and hence a common property and should be covered by owners corporation however a detailed review of… 3 6197 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair I'm in WA and our sandy soils make drainage a bit easier but this is what I'd be doing. Dig down to your footings and let the wall dry out. Clean it all well by brushing… 1 5235 6 4398 |