Protecting Your Privacy

Author: Garry Crystal

Everyone is entitled to a degree of privacy in their lives and protecting your privacy is a human and civil right. Although not all countries have privacy laws most will, and the laws will include rights prohibiting invasion of privacy in the home and communications.

The Right to Privacy

The right to privacy is perhaps one of the most difficult rights to actually define. We often hear of celebrities talking about the invasion of their privacy by the media and yet privacy laws are set in place to offer protection. The Human Rights Act 1998 guarantees protection of privacy for all in Britain as set out in the European Convention on human rights. However, in the UK there is no actual legislation that recognises rights of privacy.

Defining Privacy

Privacy can be broken down into four individual but linked parts:

Privacy of Information, also known as data protection and includes personal and government records
Communications, this covers the security of issues such as telephone calls, email and postal documents
Privacy of territory including the working environment, the home and public spaces
Privacy of the body including genetic and drug testing and other such invasive searches or trespasses

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The Need for Privacy

Without the governing rules on privacy it would be a lot easier for individuals to gain information on others. It would also be a lot harder for prosecutions against individuals that invade the privacy of others. Data protection is set in place in order that problems such as identity theft do not happen, although identity theft can and often does happen. The right to privacy will sometimes conflict with the freedom of information rules and confusion can occur over exactly where the boundaries are set.

Protecting Your Privacy

With identity theft becoming an increasing threat it is important to take steps towards protecting your own personal information. The Internet has made obtaining personal information a lot easier and bank account theft via the Internet is rife. Once criminals have hold of certain personal information they can open bank accounts, obtain state benefits and passports and even apply for jobs under a stolen identity. Criminals have even been known to search refuse bins to gain paper documentation giving personal details that can be used for fraudulent purposes.

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

Steps to Protect Information

There are a number of simple steps that can be taken to stop personal information ending up in the wrong hands. These steps will include shredding all personal documents such as bank account and credit card statements. Always check bank statements for any transactions that look suspicious. Implementing good virus scanners on home computers and frequently change account passwords. Always redirect mail and inform banks as soon as you move to a new house. Never use public computers to access confidential information.

Privacy Exemptions and the Home

Of course there are certain exemptions to privacy rights. There are a number of complex rules that govern the type of officials that can and cannot enter a person’s home. The police can enter a person’s home but only if they have obtained a search warrant. Similarly, gas and electricity companies can enter a home without permission if they have a court warrant. Court appointed bailiffs can enter the home if permission is granted but they are rarely allowed to break in as is commonly assumed.

Although the general public may find a celebrity’s lack of privacy slightly ironic the right to privacy is an important human right. Breaching a person’s privacy is harassment and there can be legal consequences for those that do so. Identity theft is a particularly serious crime and those found breaking the law can face serious fines and jail sentences.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Discrimination Claim Eligibility Checker lets you determines if your situation meets legal criteria for a discrimination claim under UK law. Try it now →

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Wall Mad 22/05/2021 at 4:54 pm

I have lived my current home for 15 years with a large side plot and big back garden. 4 years ago new neighbours moved in and then the fun began. numerus visits from the council of reports of rats and rubbish in my garden. I have 2 dogs and a waste disposal, no food is wasted, any left overs the dogs will finish it off. Hence no rats. The so call rubbish was recycling.
Then they started saying that the grass verge along side my garage was there's as it was attach to their drive way. I tried to tell them that it was not theirs but mine as my garage over hangs it and my drainage runs though it and if it was theirs I would not be able to get to my gutters or maintain the drains. I started to build a shed on the back of garage. I took a few bricks off my wall to level to run the joists of it. two days latter the council turned up saying that they had a complaint; they tried to say the wall that was tied to my garage was theirs, was once they had seen it they could not see any problem. The wooden fence came down and the wall went up 2.2m plus feet single block with a few columns they raised there side of the wall by 1.5m. I cleared of the side garden so i could put a drive in. Once the earth was removed I was shocked to see the footings of the wall 100mm in depth and 100mm from the block. I informed the council of my concerns and nothing was done about it. I placed a course of blocks against the footings and concrete right up to them reinforcing their wall. shortly after they had built their wall a trampoline, barbeques with them looking down into my garden. I started to clean up my back garden. My dad was a builder a taught me a lot. I wanted to make the top garden assessable for my wife made some plans and set to work 2018. From the bottom to the top garden 2.3m with a slop of 10m. I dug out the footings 8.8m by 1.4m with a death of 1.5m. built my wall main 7.2m by 2.2m by 650mm and side 10m by 2.2m by 430mm hollow blocks and rebar and to be filled with concrete. Filled the void (2 ton digger parked on top of the wall) about to get the concrete delivered and the council turn up as they have had a complaint, work stopped as they are not sure if the wall will topple over. I was told to put in planning, explained about next door and they did not have planning for their wall and you want me to put in planning. I put in planning for the wall steps, garden room and wind turbine. got the plans drawn up and submitted. since then my neighbour has extended the house by a 1/3rd. 2021 told by my neighbour that the plans refused. phoned up and asked if this was true and i was told they were refused under grounds of privacy as i could now look into my neighbours upstairs windows 10m away and the neighbours windows 20m way(know matter were you stand in the top garden you can see window) and look down into their garden. even the steps turned down as you can see into next doors garden. the garden room nut in keeping, even though it was to have a living roof an

Al68 31/08/2020 at 8:49 pm

We moved into our house during 2011, for the first few years life was idealic. We had a semi private patio & a relatively private place to sit just outside our back door , the gardens are sloped and at the higher levels there was a degree of overlooking , but the place outside our back door was our private area. Anyway , my wife was quite friendly with the people next door and would hand in presents on their Birthdays and Xmas. 2 years ago they built an extension , they knew we valued our privacy and trusted them as we got on ok . Well the second storey if the extension has a window which overlooks our full back garden , when we seen the window going in , we contacted the neighbours , they both acknowledged that they knew the window totally overlooks us , their retort was that they had shown the plans to my wife when she was in their house handing in Xmas presents for their kids , she wouldn't know what a houseplan looks like and was more excited about the children . I spoke to the husband and he basically admitted that he had duped us . We are no longer speaking to the neighbours and every now and then the "window gets opened" and I can see the wife hiding out if view , the window now gets used as a weapon to annoy us especially when anyone comes around. The selfish act and the failure of the local council has totally ruined the feeling we have for our home , our one bit if garden privacy has been ruined.

Amb 22/07/2020 at 8:17 pm

I have new neighbours moved in last summer to a house that has virtually no garden, and it backs onto my garden. In the 9 years I have lived in my house not one complaint. In the last 4 months every week if it’s sunny and I have my lounge music on they tell me to turn it down. Today we had a disagreement. I would like to know if I’m in the right here. I have a swimming pool and worked hard for my house it’s 22 out side and the music is chilled out summer vibes on 45 volume. Over the 6ft fence comes a head telling me to turn the music down at 3 pm I know it isn’t loud cause I can hear all the work and grass cutting going on around me. Is she invading my personal space I was just in my undies and now I feel weird and pissed at her. What can I do. !!!!

cynha 21/07/2020 at 12:14 pm

my neighbour is building a playground on their garden. First they raised the garden in maybe 60 cm and its leaning againt my fence. 2nd they started building monkey bars and thats maybe 2meter high. So now I see their heads all the time and will definitly see the kido playing as they will have the perfect view into my kitchen.... can they do this?

Pagey 15/07/2020 at 9:53 pm

Council tenants next door have put a large play are a on legs 6ft hog also large tramplene taking away all the privacy in our garden and in kitchen and lounge

Pagey 15/07/2020 at 9:47 pm

Council tenants next door have put a large play are a on legs 6ft hog also large tramplene taking away all the privacy in our garden

Sue 29/05/2020 at 2:45 pm

We have lived in our property for 10 yrs and have always had difficult neighbours. Recently we are using the back yard more and enjoying with intentions of having Horton installed. My concern is that the neighbours green house is over looking our boundary wall substantially and obviously we appear to see them face to face when we are in our yard. Am I in my rights to have them move their greenhouse elsewhere i their substantial garden thank you.

jacqueline ryley 02/12/2019 at 2:35 pm

Hi I came to live in my home in 2003 and to the left of my home the land was slightly incline because the ground is sloped. But in 2014 a new owner extended what was a single storey detached bungalow and extended so vastly to move the property forward by building brick pillows and then moving the roof forward and then building the front windows forward, all the owner raised the land level much higher so because my place is lower down when they park next door on their drive or walk down the side of the property they view down into my windows. So because I raised the concern about my light outlook and privacy so the more and more was built in fact, one person I suggest commented that it is like a village alongside my place, because many other buildings were built under pd or ld. Saying that more and more has been built, shelter erred along the otherwise to the boundary hedge where the owner has a fence but still strips the hedge along my garden. so in face front and back and rear window have been installed so many roof like velux window and a glass rear upper roof baclony, so all view over into my garden then at the front a large double detached garage with upper many upper velux type roof windows for domestic storey. Then because of the land change effects and my raising about my privacy so then on the othrside planning permission was give preliminary give within approx 5 weeks, for the new neighbours to extend at the rear over a very large extension with new upper floor extension then new front dormer upper window added at the front which were re sited and view down into my living room windows now, then also at the otherside when this neightbour dwelling was just about 600mm from the boundary on the otherside there I a two storey side extension, the other rear extension extended across the back of the dwelling and then a side double storey extension which also extend past the rear of the dwelling and past down the front so to change the original position of where the original front of the dwelling so to move the dwelling forward down the front drive with many upper long window and door back and front so where the neighbour had tried to get cover for privacy with plants over the years, so all now has these two neighbour who want their privacy but have views all over neighbour garden and into my home. How the front window were done was that the owner put the two upper front dormer windows as already being in situ when they were not and the LA passed it when it was not

Sticky 24/10/2019 at 1:26 pm

My neighbours have a flat roof out the back which looks over to our back garden it is not safe to walk on but her children and herself are always up there nosing into our garden and the mother of the house thinks its appropriate in the summer to sunbathe naked up there for all to see.Also we have had problems with children and their friends shouting abuse at us for no reason we did call the police but they can only tell them to keep off the roof any advice on what we can do please

garycb44 22/09/2019 at 2:46 pm

Our neighbour at the end of our garden has placed a trampoline and basketball net against the fence which we feel is an invasion of our privacy and an eyesore. We have asked if he’d move it and he replied “it’s tough s##t. What can we do about it?

Fencing Mad 15/08/2019 at 1:22 pm

The background...guidance very much welcome and appreciated:

- During the period of high winds in mid-March the boundary (wooden fence supported by concrete posts) between my property and my neighbours (end of garden, not side)

- This meant the fence was not only beyond repair but the supporting concrete posts and one corner post need to be replaced entirely.

- I spoke to the Council and Land Registry who said where a border was not designated (unlike one other border adjacent to my property which I am responsible for) the most common and sensible solution was for both parties to spilt costs and arrange the repairs. I spoke to RICS also who confirmed that this was the case.

- We have tried several times to speak to the neighbours, including polite letters posted through their door. However, other than a brief voicemail left by them a while ago saying basically saying "you fix it, not our problem" they are not engaging in contact.
We have sought quotes from reputable tradespeople and have included this information in correspondence to them, but they have chosen not to reply in any form.

- All we are trying to do is reach a solution - ideally splitting the cost of repair given the boundary is not designated. However, they are unwilling to communicate do I have any legal routes to sort this, particularly whether they are infringing my right to privacy.

- To note - Even if I were to proceed and try to get the boundary repaired, the tradesperson would still need access to their garden.

Thanks in advance!

Happy 23/06/2019 at 1:28 am

Hi, My neighbour removed the fence in between two properties and intrude the privacy and security to our garden and entire kitchen and dining area, is there law of human right regarding privacy in place to help us to deal with it ? he's selling some stuffs so there're also many strangers(customers)come and go, we have daughter staying with us, how can we protect us? I appreciate you suggestions, thanks a lot.

AJ73 09/05/2019 at 10:15 pm

According to property deeds, the fence to the rear of my back garden is my property boundary.
A neighbour contacted me regarding changing my fence (she also contacted another neighbour about replacing their boundary fence as she wanted all the fencing to be the same in her garden). Her garden runs perpendicular to mine.
I phoned to discuss the matter the same day as receiving her note only to be told by her that she had already purchased the fence. I wanted to discuss the height of the new fence as the 5ft fence that was already there was not high enough as she has a large trampoline placed at the end of her very long garden. The trampoline is directly in line with my garden and house and geographically, the trampoline is closer to my property than her own. That combined with two very noisy children who are constantly disturbing our privacy means that I am unable to sit and enjoy my space.
As a good will gesture I made a financial contributed to the fence as it is my responsibility and was in some disrepair (I had only recently moved into the property and hadn't got round to replacing it at the time).
Who's property is the fence, as the neighbour is adamant that it is hers?

Auntie Nutty 08/05/2019 at 9:35 am

Hello there, wondering if you can help.
I long term rent an end house of a street, (council owned). To the left of my property is a footpath then a 5ft grass verge, then the main road.
The 1m fence is in a severe state of disrepair due to storms. There is also a busy bus stop situated on grass verge.
My question is am I allowed to ask for a privacy fence as the path is 2ft higher than my sloping garden?
I have 2 children. in 9years we have never been able to enjoy the garden due to lack of privacy. I dug out a level circular section last year for the children to finally have a usable pool, but the amount of unwanted stares into my garden from strangers and bus users put us off and I took the pool back down.
Please help.

Juls 01/05/2019 at 10:56 am

Hi
We have lived in our house for 19 yrs. We have 6 ft fence up in our back garden, which is ours.
And our neighbours have put down decking which comes up about 2ft up our fence, so now they can look straight into our kitchen window. So I would like to know where stand on our privacy please.
Hope you can help

simon 22/04/2019 at 9:58 am

Hi, moved into a new home recently and with the weather this weekend being great, two of the neighbours have erected a trampoline directly on either side of my bound fence. It means I cannot outside into my garden without being watched by two lots of kids. Furthermore and which really upsets me, I have no privacy in my own kitchen/ dining room as both trampolines peer directly into that room. When the kids are out playing I'm directly being watched in my own kitchen, I feel I'm in a gold fish bowl. What law can I use to uphold my right to privacy please. Surely if I was to put up a step ladder against my fence and sit and watch the neighbours in their own house, the police would be knocking on the door, therefore that same piece of law should in theory hold true for my circumstances? Please help

Cirisi 04/03/2019 at 3:52 pm

A new mixed retail and office building recently went up. We were told that the balconies looking into our flats would be shielded with trellis' to protect our privacy. Only a section was added that doesn't protect our privacy at all. We consistently were told that it would happen. Now the building is done and the reply about the trellis is that it's done and that's what was approved all along by us and the council. So we are on full display to the balconies. What can we do?

CivilRightsMovement Editor 29/08/2018 at 11:20 am

Whose fence is it? Is it joint responsibility? There is no obligation on a property owner to erect/keep a fence unless it's stated in the deeds. You could erect a fence of your own on your side of the boundary?

Tasha 21/08/2018 at 10:55 pm

Hiya, our next door neighbour bought the property 2 years ago, before then the property was empty for 5 years. The fence between our property's is hardly there, as it is over 20 years old, it's dropping to bits and has many holes in, one which they tried to patch up with old pallets, but they can clearly see into our garden and us them. We can't have a pet as even a very large dog could easily get under the fence or through the holes onto there property. The only private part of our garden is near to our back door/patio doors, now the neighbours tenant has made a very large children's climbing frame right on top of the fence near to our back door, the tenant was up it today painting it and kept looking into our middle room. Can we force the landlord to replace the fence and move the climbing frame? We don't talk to the tenant as he is ignorant and his son verbally abused my disabled father, just because he said that we parked the car too close to his brother's, yet there was miles of room in between them. I am also partially disabled too and have mental health difficulties . Please help, as it is all getting to me

Fletcheee134 15/08/2018 at 9:58 pm

Hi was wondering out anyone can help. I'm in a rental property and surrounding my house is a church to the side and a secondary school to the rear of the property, my landlord has decided to take down the rear garden wall which is easily 8 ft tall and replacing it with a 4ft wall, they've not even contacted me regarding this. I spoke to the building firm and they said as I don't own the building there's nothing I can do. I'm scared and concerned as the secondary school can see straight onto my garden as well as everyone else as it's next to a town centre, where do i stand regarding the privacy of the home and my family

CivilRightsMovement Editor 13/08/2018 at 11:18 am

Yes, do raise this with the anglers club. As your home is so near to the place where the fishing is taken place this could be regarded as a nuisance. If they're not will to do anything about it, contact environmental health who might be able to take action.

Anna 11/08/2018 at 11:57 am

We have a 6 acre lake in grounds. We only own a small part of the lake and a private fishing club own the rest. We have 400ft of lake bank on our property which faces our house and looks onto our main living area and bedroom windows.
Anglers use mainly just the 2 banks nearest our home (better fishing location as fish gather near our floating bird nesting boxes) overlooking our garden and house and when they might fish they are, inadvertently I’m sure, shining powerful torches onto our land and property through the night. This is intimidating and we are never sure if it is an angler or intruder on our land.
Do we have any right to raise this with the angling club in hope that night fishing is not permitted on the 2 banks backing on to our property, and to ask that night fisherman use the other banks on the 7 acres available?

CivilRightsMovement Editor 06/08/2018 at 3:32 pm

It's unlikely that environmental health would take action because of this, but you may be able to civil action via the courts for this. Talk to environmental health first to see what they advise.

JH 04/08/2018 at 11:20 pm

My neighbours have a trampoline which is right next to the fence on the side that is our boundary. The children look into our Garden and makes a loud banging which can be heard from inside. Does this affect any law? And if so what could be do to get them to move it

DH 14/07/2018 at 1:09 pm

I recently purchased a shared ownership flat. All the flats in the building have a terrace/balcony. Our terrace is below the communal terrace, so there are constantly people standing at the fence which looks over our property, making lots of noise as they are usually drinking alcohol. We have absolutely no visual privacy whatsoever :-(
The worst incident was a few weekends ago when someone urinated from the communal terrace onto our patio!

We are wondering whether we have any rights to force the Housing Association who manage the building to put a barrier in place to deter people from standing over our terrace and as a result cause issues of nuisance, worst case scenario aggressive behaviour?

I did contact them about this but they said a barrier would only be put in place if all residents agreed with a fee being added to everyone's service charge... Needless to say, no-one will agree! And we wonder why residents should have to pay for this work when this is a design flaw, which they are responsible for!

We'd be willing to split the costs with HO so I'm thinking of getting in touch with them again with a few clauses from our lease re: privacy.

Any advice you could impart would be much appreciated.

With many thanks
DH

Harvey 13/07/2018 at 4:15 pm

We live in a semi detached house with small front garden and path and parking, our neighbours have this area paved and has decided to park at an angle facing our front lounge, she and passenger can see us sat on our sofa thus resulting in us keeping our blinds closed ..I believe the garden area was never meant to be used as parking (privacy garden) is there anything I can do to resolve this. ( we don't speak to the neighbours)

LHeck 12/07/2018 at 11:14 pm

Hi can anyone help..i privately rent my home and am having problems with my neighbour on my left..4 times now I have caught him looking over our fence which is 6ft tall, he stands on something to do this, is he allowed? Also he has a brick 1 story outbuilding at the side of our fence which he uses for his business and his window is facing our bedroom window so he can see straight in, is this an invasion of our privacy and is there anything I can do about it?

soosoo 06/07/2018 at 7:14 pm

The neighbour whose hedge runs along the bottom of our garden has been talking, for some years, about reducing the hedge by about a foot, this was absolutely fine with us. We came home on Saturday to find that he has had the hedge cut down from approximatley 5' 6" to 3'.... we were devastated!!!

We have completely lost all privacy, as well as the feeling of security as the rest of our property is completely enclosed.

I also have another reason for needing this privacy, I suffer with psoriasis and can be absolutely covered, therefore I really value my privacy and also the sun helps my condition, as the situation stands I will not even go into the garden despite all this wonderful weather which could help my condition.

Is there anything we can do about it?

CivilRightsMovement Editor 15/06/2018 at 2:04 pm

Contact your environmental health department about the noise. If you think there is anything inappropriate about this contact your local community police.

emj 14/06/2018 at 2:26 pm

Our garden is overlooked by the church hall, which is used for various classes. The problem i have is that the ballet class that runs on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 3 to 6 and also on a saturday morning plays the music so loud that i can hear it in my living room, even with the television on. The windows of the church hall, which are upstairs also look directly into my garden, so i have the dance teacher and pupils overlooking my garden. They often stand at the window looking down I also have a direct line of site from my patio into the room were they are dancing, which i feel is inappropriate considering that young children are being taught in there,

Stevo 04/05/2018 at 6:57 pm

My neighbours are building a raised seating area at the back of their garden with a small dividing wall brteeen the area and rest of garden but due to the current height of.the garden and proposed height of.the new seeting area we will have no privacy as the seating area would look directly into our patio doors at the rear of our house, and our patio at the back of our house.We spoke to our housing association about this and they have told us that it would be upto the council planning departmet to state if it would be a breach of.our privicy during the process of them applying for planning permition which they have not done. We was wondering if we can take any action against this

JoJo 14/03/2018 at 8:44 pm

Me and my husband live in a stone house that's been converted to two flats that's owned by the council. We live upstairs and our garden is the front. The neighbour lives downstairs and her garden is to the back. The neighbours Windows are in my garden. My upstairs Windows face her garden. The garden is communal, but it's all fenced off. She can't walk into my garden like I can't walk into her hers. We also have our own entrances. She's bought the inside space of the flat but the council still own the land. My problem is which is serious we have no privacy. She is a very nosey neighbour and brings her family round when we are having friends round and socialising in the garden like barbequing or just relaxing in the garden. She as curtains up but she pulls them back to nosey. I have two autoimmune diseases RA and Lupus. I need to be able to sit out to boost my vitamin D levels. I would like to know if there's anything we can do bout the privacy. The two Windows that are in my garden are the bedroom and living room.

Trees 06/03/2018 at 5:00 pm

Allegaly the police told my ex partner to film me but he has been filming from my own front garden of wich i have not given him permission nor gave him permission to enter he has filmed me through my window and i would like to know where i stand on this ?

smp 01/03/2018 at 9:52 pm

Are there any laws on having a large trampoline in a garden? Last summer my neighbours placed a large trampoline (tad taller than my conservatory) at the top of the garden right next to the fence which means I have no privacy in my small garden. Besides the constant noise and screaming and bouncing the ball off my conservatory I cannot sit outside in the garden any more nor even manage a quick weeding session at the bottom of the garden as the children always choose to face my way and stare into my garden when they are in the trampoline, screaming my name but worst of all screaming the name of my little dog and taunting her all the time. It really spoiled my summer last year surely I have a right to some privacy in my own garden?

I would be grateful for any advice. thank you.

CivilRightsMovement Editor 24/01/2018 at 3:08 pm

Your deeds will tell you whether you own a share in the road and whether you have any corresponding rights and responsibilities. You could try talking to your plannign department about the possibility of extending the wall height of your rear garden.

Redrowtakethe**** 23/01/2018 at 11:10 pm

We brought a Redrow home in 2016. Since purchase they have mis sold to as many as 2O households through mis advertising and sales consultants providing incorrect information. The lastest development is a road owned by the “management estate company” which I’m almost 99% sure we own a share as freeholders was supposed to be a gated access road to service utilities. This is now being pedestrianised. I have a 2 meter wall surrounding my plot. However, the service road is 9 ft higher than my garden and house level. Anyone standing on the road which is to be pedestrianised will be at knee height and can look straight into my garden and property. We are very security conscious because of our line of work and would not have purchased this property had we known it’s intended use. Do we have any privacy rights? Rights as a shareholder of the land to change use? Would planning offers be able to get involved? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Kirsti Thomson 19/01/2018 at 5:05 pm

The building next to my home has been granted permission to change to a restaurant. This is abut to my land and 4 large restaurant windows look directly into my family bathroom. The planning department say this is not an invasion of privacy?

CivilRightsMovement Editor 12/01/2018 at 2:59 pm

This depends on which area of the garden is overlooked e.g whether it is close to the house/where the neighbour would be sitting out etc. Also the fact that the view is from a garage rather than from a main/regularly used room in the house could make difference. Tell your friend to ask the planning department. If it was a really a concern, it would have been useful to have addressed this before purchasing the property.

R4VING 10/01/2018 at 7:47 pm

Hello, my friend has recently purchased a property, but Their next door neighbours have a garage now that garage has windows on the side of it that look into my friends garden, now surely this isn’t legal ? What should they do? Isn’t this invading of privacy or something?.
Sorry if my wording isn’t correct but hopefully you get my point, thank you

kevinandlyn 01/01/2018 at 6:50 pm

Our new neighbours bought a large trampoline and have positioned it in their front garden, directly opposite our lounge window, which means we have lost all privacy and if they bounce high enough, they would also be able to see into the bedroom window. The noise levels are such that when the trampoline is in use we hear it over the sound of the TV.
They have a walled back garden and if the trampoline was placed there, it would remove all these problems.

CivilRightsMovement Editor 06/12/2017 at 3:48 pm

Planting trees and shrubs in your garden is entirely up to you, your neighbour can't do anything about this apart from cut back any branches that overhang their side of the boundary. If you have several evergreen trees in a row...that are extremely high, your neighbour might have cause to complain under high hedges legislation but it doesn't sound like that is the case.

hullensian 30/11/2017 at 6:04 pm

I have unpleasant neighbours who place their sunloungers about 3 feet away from our common boundary and gaze into my garden (and sometimes directly towards my kitchen window) every day for about six months of the year from 10.30am to teatime. I find this intimidating. I have some deciduous trees and shrubs - none of them on the boundary - and he keeps complaining that they are cutting down the amount of sunlight they get and I should cut them down. The shrubs provide the only little bit of privacy I have. He recently asked me if I thought if fair that they had to sweep up leaves twice a week. I was tempted to ask why he thinks they are called "leaves" but he has a filthy temper. Last year he shouted at me that he would come over the wall (his wall) and cut down the trees himself (he denies this now).

When I suggested he moved his sunloungers to the other side of the garden he retorted that he would have to move his pots (their garden consists of twee ornaments, children's windmills and a few plants in pots...think the children's section of a municipal cemetery.

I am quite confident that I am not breaking the law.

I know what I must do - 6ft fence erected on my side of the boundary - but I fear reprisals. Think I just need the sympathy vote really. Thanks for reading.

CivilRightsMovement Editor 27/11/2017 at 3:38 pm

If you feel the cameras are unnecessary and an invasion of your privacy, first make a complaint to the Housing Association via their complaints procedure. If that doesn't resolve things, you should seek advice from the Information Commissioner's office.

Tubd 24/11/2017 at 1:08 pm

We live in Housing Association and have a power crazy estate manager. We now have cameras put up covering all areas of our communal garden literally everything we do in the garden is seen on camera is this an infringement of privacy?

Jennifer 22/08/2017 at 9:55 pm

We are in the middle of building works to which our very difficult neighbour objected. Since the work has started she has:
- harassed the builders through the hedge (the builders want to go to the police but so far we have asked them not to as would prefer to avoid the hassle)
- come onto our property with a pair of scissors and a spray bottle hidden up her sleeve which she used to cut and spray some plants (we have no idea why or what was in the bottle)
- come onto our property and taken pictures including a picture of the inside by holding her phone up to the window
- regularly bad mouths us and our builders saying but very nasty things

We have cameras up as we have moved out whilst work is being done and have most of the above on tape but have so far avoided going to the authorities as he had hoped she would just get bored. Any thoughts on whether we have grounds for prosecution (or at least grounds for prosecution) so it's a fair threat to make?

CivilRightsMovement Editor 30/06/2017 at 12:04 pm

If you are concerned, mention it to your local PCSO or you could consider a private legal action.

ShellyHG 29/06/2017 at 12:38 pm

We are having problems with our neighbor taking photographs of our back garden & front of the house when we are parking our car, he has made several complaints to the council because we feed wild birds. Our garden is enclosed by a 6ft wall all the way round, but he is taking photographs from his the upstairs window. My concern is for our privacy & my young grandson who is here most day.

CivilRightsMovement Editor 16/06/2017 at 11:32 am

Firstly - don't leave private letters open on the seat of your car. Secondly report it to the local police (non-emergency number 101)

Bicquette 13/06/2017 at 7:37 pm

We caught our neighbours twice taking picture of private letters left on our front seat in the car on our drive. We have him on our cctv camera doing so. What can we do to stop him.

CivilRightsMovement Editor 19/04/2017 at 10:04 am

You could use a free standing trellis and also try some fast growing plants. Speak to your landlord, they should be able to help you with this.

Tash 16/04/2017 at 12:42 pm

I've had problems with my neighbour since he moved in. He stunk my house out with weed, not sure if he was growing it or smoking lots of it but my son was unable to sleep in his bedroom for about 2 weeks. Police were informed. He has also been aggressive and intimidating towards me and friends so he's been issued with a PIN. Now he's got a chin up bar contraption in his garden that when extended is over 7ft high. He then spends ages working out on it and looking into my garden and he keeps looking round and staring at me through my French doors and into my lounge now making me feel uncomfortable in my own home. It's his way of making me feel intimidated. He like to have a go at women!!! The only thing I can think off is to put up some trellis but I'm in rented property and not sure who 'owns' tgat part of the fence.

Tina90 20/01/2017 at 9:11 am

Hi there,
Someone recorded me and my partner doing exercises on the gym and inserted on Facebook... now this video is "flying" through the Internet, poeple are making fun of us and writing some nasty comments. We know who did this. Can we do something to punish this guy for this?

Nwa 18/01/2017 at 4:37 am

For the past 2 years I have been gang starked I use to chill with so called friends I thought were o.k I live in a block of flats I am constantly getting electronic harassment the flat above me and below me have this box they have to plug in it detects me also when I'm consous and subconscious I.e sleeping or not it gives me bad head aches I can't sleep at night also there doing v2k I've been to the police station a few times but was turned away receptionist saying your not wanted for nothing the boxes bleep every time I go in to a day dream. Also my mail was getting posted to a flat above were a man would sneek down and post it mid day the nock as his doing it and run back up stairs I was and still am under constant servaliance. I know the equipment thay use from radiation to RF signals I have high readings of radiation as evidence and images / videos covert harrasment u.k told me they do this if your a drug dealer or a pedometer which I am not in sat with so called mates who smoked wacky surly this is illegal have they a court order dci investigators. I've been told by the flat on top of me she tells her boyfriend and he tells his friends and word comes back to me so just to piss of the council/vsk/gang stickers I do and think of stupid stuff. I'm a father to my son i work part time wat can I do please help. I can't call 999 only 101 for a officer to come take a statement wat will that do.

CivilRightsMovement Editor 14/12/2016 at 11:35 am

Yes tell the police about it again - "come off social media" seems to be the standard response to someone reporting being stalked or harassed online. Why should you come off social media because of someone else'e irrational behaviour? They should already have issued your ex with a PIN (Police information notice) and should now be taking further steps to monitor his behaviour. If you can...speak to a solicitor and ask if they can send a warning letter with a view to court action if it doesn't stop.

Dee 13/12/2016 at 11:56 am

I split from my ex end of July 2016 he's not left me alone finding ways to contact me sending flowers gifts to my house and work also sending letters , i ended up asking him over twice to talk but got nowhere , I was advised by the police to come off social media but he is now messaging other people I don't know telling them about my past when I was 15 telling them how I was raped and molested, can the police do anything about this ?

CivilRightsMovement Editor 13/12/2016 at 11:49 am

Yes this sounds like it is an invasion of privacy, she should raise a formal complaint.

Vicp45 11/12/2016 at 6:36 pm

A work colleague filmed my sister amd shared the video to management amd another staff member without my sisters consent. Is this legal in the UK?

jb 11/12/2016 at 5:59 pm

my work mate use my phone and take a photos of another work mate, what kind of offence is this under privacy law

Wjm1964 09/12/2016 at 7:59 pm

The UK government quietly phased out TV detection vans as they were allegedly breaching European privacy laws. Fast forward and now we have Automatic Number Plate recognition cameras on our roads and CCTV everywhere. So our movements are recorded? How is this legal? To the "But I don't mind as I've done nothing wrong" thinkers - if you don't exercise your rights now, how will you react when it's your turn to need them and they are no longer there. Snowden exposed the levels of illegal surveillance yet we are monitored more than any other nation on the planet. I have no doubt every journey we make, where too, when, times etc are recorded.

Bluesky 20/11/2016 at 1:30 pm

Hi there! I purchased a flat in a managed block of flats last year. The building is long and there are two exit points, front (main with a coded entry) and rear (manually operated). Only front can be used for entry as rear exit is meant to be a fire door which closes behind you. Our facilities like bin store, cycle store and car park are at the back. Residents have been accessing these through the rear door for a year since flat were built.

We've had problems with rear door being left open and in response to that the building management company placed inward-looking fake CCTV camera and an alarm which they switch on during the week. At the same time, they wrote to all residents saying there is nothing in building regulation that would prevent the use of the rear door.

They are planning to install more CCTV cameras around the building.

I feel this is intrusion of privacy and find the fake camera intimidating. My flat is right on the rear end of the building so I rely on using the rear door.

Is there anything that we can do to stop the management company from installing more cameras around the building and make them remove the fake camera already there?

Thanks

CivilRightsMovement Editor 09/11/2016 at 12:31 pm

You could try making a complaint to the landlord/owner of the property. If they behave like this to all the tenants, eventually their reputation may become sullied. You could try and claim damages for the mididentification issue, but you'd need to seek legal advice on that.

Harrassed Tenant 08/11/2016 at 4:31 pm

Hi,

I'm renting a property under a short-hold tenancy agreement. I get a property check at least once a month. The letting agents point out anything less than showroom standard cleanliness and make demands unrelated to the property's state of repair. They are often rude, too. The whole process is humiliating. They once rang me to demand non-existent rent arrears and were deeply hostile over the phone. I discovered later that they'd misidentified me. I got no apology nor were they the ones to even notify me of the mistake.

I feel humiliated and harrassed. What do I do?

CivilRightsMovement Editor 18/10/2016 at 11:41 am

This sounds very unprofessional. Ring the council and ask another member of staff why the council needs this information and ask them to make any requests in writing.

Titan 17/10/2016 at 7:28 am

My Neighbour works for the local council in some capacity or other my issue is she keeps coming to the door requesting personal information which i am uncomfortable discussing with her like my national insurance number etc saying if i dont tell her i can be fined £1000 i dont mind the council having my information but i would of thought they would write to me directly.

CivilRightsMovement Editor 06/10/2016 at 11:23 am

As long as the employees are aware they could be on cctv, an employer is allowed to install monitoring systems such as cctv. They cannot monitor private space such as toilets, break areas etc

Twinkletoes 04/10/2016 at 5:37 pm

I have been going to a local caffe for about 4yrs. And made friends with some of the staff,I was very surprised when they told me. That them and the custermers are being watched every Minute they are open by the owner from his home.
Even when he goes out of the U.K. He is watching every one on his laptop if he see's them doing nothing and talking to custermers he phones them on his phone to go and do something .
I think that is out of order ,it is a invasion. On his working staff and customers of privacey

Lucy 02/10/2016 at 5:36 pm

Good afternoon, I have a query here. The colleague from work has disclosed the text messages sent between me and her. These messages were sent on Sunday which is not office hour. There is evidences that we used to make comments relating to work outside the office hours. She used to claim I am her friends. The messages contains my view on the way of her working. I think she should stop working like such a manner and possibly this office is not suitable for her. The messages were written in Chinese as both of us are originally from China. She has reported this message to the employer without my consent. She alleged that she has apprehended the sense of threat from me. Do I have any rights of pretection my privacy as I considered she breached the confidence and invaded the privacy. Please advise.

CivilRightsMovement Editor 22/08/2016 at 12:54 pm

No not really. Check with your local planning department to see if raised lawns contravene local regulations.

Bubbles 21/08/2016 at 1:19 pm

My neighbours have levelled their garden and now when they stand on their new lawn they can see right into my garden and kitchen. Are they breaking any privacy laws ?

Lex 07/08/2016 at 8:46 pm

I was recently called into a meeting at work where a co-worker admitted picking up one of our 4 phones in order to purposefully listen in on a private conversation I was having with my husband. I was wondering if there was a law or legislation that would back me up when speaking to the management about this?
Any advice would be fantastic

CivilRightsMovement Editor 08/06/2016 at 11:14 am

They cannot be made to build their fence higher, but there is nothing to prevent you from erecting your own fence on your side of the boundary (within planning constraints) or planting some suitable tall bushes or trees.

Moi 06/06/2016 at 7:27 pm

Hi my neighbours have erected a swing slide and the biggest trampoline you have ever seen! Consequently I have zero privacy in my garden as these objects are right by the fence in between our houses. It's making me feel really upset. I used to love the peace sitting in my garden, which I no longer have! Advice please, it's their fence which needs to be higher, they say they can't afford this!

CivilRightsMovement Editor 04/04/2016 at 2:44 pm

It's not offence to record the conversation, but you may not be able to use the recording as evidence in any ensuing action (such as court proceedings, police investigation etc)

CC 01/04/2016 at 8:00 pm

My neighbour has historically been quite aggressive when speaking to me, a few days ago they erected a new door and attached one side to my fence post which has pushed my gate and damaged the lock. Expecting my neighbour to react badly to the news I went to his door and stared recording on my phone. The wife answered (rather than the husband) but I continued to record without her knowledge. I told her about the fence but we moved to my property when her son can out and told her that I was recording. She told me that I have committed a crime and would go to jail; she would call the police. Am I really in trouble?

CivilRightsMovement Editor 01/12/2015 at 12:25 pm

You would need to seek legal advice on this. As you knew you were using a business phone/email this should have been something you might have been aware of.

Shadow 30/11/2015 at 9:03 am

Do I have any rights? my future ex husband of 15 years whom I helped in his business unpaid and as his wife gave me an email address to his server and domain to use as my own to contact customers along with friends & family. He also gave me a mobile company phone as he told me it would be cheaper to do it as a business. Since breaking up in May 2014, how naive of me the penny dropped last December 2014 that for the last 14 years I have had no privacy, he has read every private email i sent out to my friends and family. He also knew with the mobile itemized bills of all my contacts. I feel violated by his actions it has affected me deeply. Can you advice me please. Kind regards Shadow

CivilRightsMovement Editor 23/11/2015 at 11:03 am

No if it is part of the necessary security and safety procedure and the clients are aware of it in advance, it probably isn't an invasion of privacy.

Tired 20/11/2015 at 7:15 am

I work in a large homeless hostel. Every morning at 08:30 and every night at 10:30 staff have to go round to each room to do checks, it's checking who is in and who is not in the building, if we get no answer knocking on their door we have to let ourselves into their room, often we find them asleep and we inadvertently wake them up. We also in the afternoon at 2:30 do welfare checks where each room is checked. Is this an invasion of their privacy

CivilRightsMovement Editor 01/10/2015 at 12:26 pm

Gosh we're not sure about this if the washing was on the inside! Many flats/apartment blocks have rules about hanging washing outside, on balconies etc. You'd need to seek expert advice from a legal professional.

Mike 27/09/2015 at 4:57 pm

I live in a 8th floor flat. Recently I received a letter from the management company for the block saying I should cease hanging my washing in my window. Now my window is not visible from ground level the only people that can see it are 2 flats on the other side of the block. One of these flats have complained to me previously. It might sound petty but do I have any grounds for invasion of privacy? By them Looking in through my window?

Nattybean 09/05/2015 at 11:20 am

I have been having a lot of problems with my next door neighbour including threats of violence. She has threatened to burn my ex partners van out when he visits me. I am a disabled single mother and rely on him a lot for help. I have also received threats from my neighbours ex partner who is in prison for stabbing someone. Last night my ex did a bonfire in my back garden to get rid of some rubbish for me and my neighbour stood in her window filming us with her mobile phone. Is that allowed!? It's making me feel uncomfortable and verging on harassment I feel. Any advice would be appreciated.

CivilRightsMovement Editor 16/02/2015 at 11:08 am

@Imsarky. Your legal representative should know what to do in these circumstances.

imsarky 13/02/2015 at 4:03 am

Recently at a meeting with in my local town hall ,I was left with my legal representative (a trainee) to talk in private .Only to open the door to find that the council worker had been spying on us.What legal action can I teams against this council worker and or the council.

Greenfingers. 15/12/2014 at 10:25 am

To
The Correspondence Dept,
Civil Rights Movement.

As a keen studier of different aspects of privacy laws in the UK, i would be interested to hear from you the exact legal status curently apropos of invasion of privacy, in relation to taking legal action[s.] Also, as i am an active campaigner for human rights, part of which involves carrying out feasability and probability studies on the use of modern technology, that aids the facilitation of such crimes, the information and support that you may give will be most welcome.

Seasons Greetings.
Ian Lawson.

edd 07/07/2014 at 3:15 am

If a loan company has passed your information and personal details onto a debt collection agency to recover the remaining balance due without your knowledge or permission to do so. Has the loan company then violated the data protection act and also your personal right to privacy. As this action then leads to serious harassment by the debt collection agencies who are now in possession of all your personal and financial details? Can anyone advise please ???

liz 25/06/2014 at 2:11 pm

i am a council teneant and i have a side entrance to get into my house the neighbour who is a freeholder front door is oppsite due to burglery they put cctv on there side which capture's me and my family the council said they have done all they can but i still think my privacy is being invaded please can you advice kind regards elizabeth grace

od4u101 20/04/2014 at 11:42 am

Is the intention of the UK government to sell private information in brach of my Civil Rights?

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