Can Neighbours complain about a shed?

Legal experts claim that a homeowner could make a nuisance claim if a shed is built too close to a fence.

thesun.co.uk - My neighbour's shed is HUGE and ruins the view from my garden

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A LARGE shed next door may spoil your view in the garden or even cause damage to your property. You may be able to get your neighbour to make changes depending how high it is and if it is causing damage - we reveal your rights. 1 There are planning rules when it comes to building a shed. Here is what to check Credit: Alamy Many households will be heading outside to enjoy their gardens as the mini-heatwave hits the UK in the coming days.

But you could have your viewed spoiled by next door's shed.

One homeowner is seeking advice online after claiming that their neighbour has raised their garden and built a shed that now ruins the view.

So what are your rights in this situation?

There are planning rules when it comes to building a shed in your garden so a homeowner could check the size of next door's structure. GardenBuildingsDirect highlights rules that state a shed must not exceed exceed 4metres in height for a dual pitched roof or 3metres with any other type of roof. The height is limited to 2.5metres if the shed is built under metres from a property boundary.

Anything higher may require planning permission.

So you could get a tape measure out if you are concerned that a neighbour's shed breaches planning rules or get your local council to check. Legal experts claim that a homeowner could make a nuisance claim if a shed is built too close to a fence. Commenting on a similar shed dispute for The Sun, Angela Gregson, partner at Royds Withy King, said: "If the impact of the shed is that water now falls onto the garden and this causes damage, there is likely to be a claim in nuisance. "It is the responsibility of the shed owner to make sure rain drains onto his own land." Other lawyers highlight that a homeowner installing a larger shed or building in their garden may face a "right to light" objection. Kingsley Smith Solicitors said: "If you are considering building a new property, extension, shed or garden wall, you must be careful not to impact your neighbour’s right to light. "We recommend seeking legal advice before starting work. If the planned work is judged to affect your neighbour’s right to light, you could encounter loss of light planning objections.

"These can be costly and cause unnecessary delays to a project."

Raising a "right to light" complain may involve going to court and there would be legal fees to pay. The zero cost option is to talk to your neighbour and see if you can come to an agreement. Alternatively, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors offers a boundary mediation service, and neighbours can access 30 minutes of free advice from a chartered surveyor.

Sheds are just one form of neighbour dispute.

We explain whether you are eligible for compensation if your neighbour’s "for sale" sign broke your fence. Garden plants can also cause conflicts, we round up your legal rights if your neighbour’s hedge is taking over your garden. We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk

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Can I build a shed on the boundary?

You should know If your garden shed is close to a boundary, and you have the written approval from your neighbours, you can apply for a Deemed Permitted Boundary Activity. This application replaces the need to apply for a resource consent. You will still need to apply for a building consent, if required.

aucklandcouncil.govt.nz - 1. Check if you need a consent to add, repair or replace a garden shed

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Have your plan ready

Under the NZ Building Regulations there is a lot of building work you can do yourself. The website for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is also helpful. Before checking whether you need a consent for your shed, you need to know:

dimensions of the project (height, total area)

location on property where the project will go

size of the property in square metres

total pre-existing building coverage on property

total pre-existing hard surfaces on property.

Depending on the size and design of your structure, the work (design and/or construction) may be required to be carried out by a Chartered Professional Engineer and/or Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP).

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