I went against Reddit norms and confronted my neighbour before posting about it. They didn't take me on. Now what?

Posted by PaddedValls@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 27 comments

Neighbour at the rear has a security light that is on *all night* as soon as the sun sets. It completely illuminates the rear of my house and my next door neighbours. I posted them a letter initially, as they weren't in. Then, when I heard nothing and no changes were made, I went out when I saw them kicking around the garden. No arguments or anything. I just said that it's a bit bright and if it could possibly be pointed down more. She said it was to keep their car illuminated incase of thieves, but that she'd speak to her husband. That was 2 weeks ago.

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27 Comments

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ukbot-nicolabot@reddit

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continentaldreams@reddit

Ask them again. We had the exact same issue with our neighbours so we filmed what it looked like from inside the house and went over with evidence. They didn't realise it was as bad as it was and were quite happy to move it - they were embarrassed actually.

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refundpackage@reddit

I wouldn’t say petty as fuck, they’ve communicated twice and both times it’s fallen on deaf ears.

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Naive_Reach2007@reddit

Maybe knock on the door one evening and ask them to come round to see the issue you have. If they refuse, go to the council planning or environmental and ask them about light pollution, take pictures and get the lux level(brightness) they will be able to help.

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RelationshipLife6739@reddit

Just get a bigger brighter light pointed directly at their house and see how they like it.

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tragic1994@reddit

I have the same problem they have a motion light that constantly goes off because they keep their dogs in the garden at night I tried speaking to them but they are polish and apparently don't speak English weather that's true or not Idk but I've been thinking about throwing stones at it until it breaks 😂

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LargeLetter1@reddit

Careful now. 90% of UK Reddit questions could be answered by actually talking to someone.

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pip_goes_pop@reddit

But then we couldn't smugly respond with "what did they say when you talked to them?"

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Stormagedd0nDarkLord@reddit

I still think he should divorce his neighbour.

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RPG_Rob@reddit

He should take out a restraining order against the light.

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Toon1982@reddit

And marry the car?

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Ecstatic_Effective42@reddit

I'm always of the opinion that a large mirror on a post would solve most of these problems. In this case you're helping, as it assists in illuminating the car.

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Pedantichrist@reddit

A concave mirror.

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Healthy_Pilot_6358@reddit

I’ve literally just done the same. Had issues with a neighbour, sent them a text about it (nicely) and they haven’t done anything about the issue. Proves, people are knobheads and you should just come on here and slag them off.

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AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

You could put up a mirror and reflect the light back at their windows? Bonus points if it's a bedroom window.

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rice_fish_and_eggs@reddit

Concave mirror with a focusing lens, luckily summer is just round the corner so it'll work 24/7.

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AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

Yeah, but that's a lot of effort. Talking to the husband would be easier!

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WoodSteelStone@reddit

[Lots of tips here: Justin's Floodlight.](https://27bslash6.com/halogen.html)

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Pukit@reddit

Air rifle.

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GeggingIn@reddit

When we moved into our house, our neighbour opposite came around and spoke to us about the security light flashing on and off. We went round to see what it was like from their perspective and it was really fucking horrendous. We just moved it. Go and speak to them again and offer to show it to them from your house.

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escapingfromelba@reddit

Go and talk to them again, but have a plan that addresses both concerns. For example, that could be offering to work with them one evening to adjust the light. You can for example be the tester who stands your garden as they adjust to give them the heads up as to when it's clear. If the light cannot be tilted right then you could help them create a cowling for it. If you are practical you are volunteer to get up the ladder and sort it (more on that below). Lots of disputes that you see here are in effect one person trying to veto another i.e your concern means that whatever it is that caused them to do something doesn't matter), which means getting a no is far more likely. Loads of people don't know why something is doing something or think that they should fuck off as their concern isn't theirs. In this case there's a good chance they either see you as one of those veto types as it's so common or they are up for adjusting the light yet it's always tomorrow as getting the ladder out after a busy day is a right faff. Day after day rolls around when they meant to be a good neighbour. None of us know, but assuming the worst doesn't help.

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GordonLivingstone@reddit

There are rules around this. Light pollution | North Yorkshire Council https://share.google/4Sq50PJm0t9iK2piJ Maybe point out to them where they are infringing the guidance and say that you will have to contact the council if they don't improve matters. Aiming your own light at their bedroom window might be another option. Couldn't possibly recommend that of course.

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MoleWhackSupreme@reddit

Speak to the husband directly? If that fails move one rung up the escalation ladder lol

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Snoo-84389@reddit

One rung up = spray painting the light to darken it? Or thermo nuclear warfare!

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MoleWhackSupreme@reddit

Depends which side of bed you wake up on that day I suppose haha

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GreenComfortable927@reddit

Talk to him. If this fails, install your own so you really light every crevice of that car (and their house).

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