My neighbor across the street has clad his house in Christmas lights that shine and twinkle like the Blackpool illuminations through my windows.
Can I get them to turn them off?
PW, St Albans.
Dean Dunham responds: My first piece of advice when faced with any neighborhood problem is to try to resolve the matter amicably, explaining the situation with a view to reaching a compromise.
Here it is worth remembering that the lights will only be temporary so you should initially ask yourself if you can live with them for a short period of time or if they are really causing you enough discomfort to warrant saying something.
The compromise could be that they turn off at a certain time or that only some of the lights go off.
My first piece of advice when faced with any neighborhood problem is to try to resolve the matter amicably, says Dean Dunham.
If talking to your neighbor doesn’t work and they are really causing you a significant nuisance, your next step will be to contact your local council and ask what their rules are regarding light pollution and nuisance lighting.
In this regard, it is worth noting that councils have a duty to investigate complaints about artificial lighting if it could be considered a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
This means that the light must unreasonably and substantially interfere with the use or enjoyment of your home or be likely to harm your health.
If the council agrees that the lights are a legal nuisance, they can serve an abatement notice requiring your neighbor to stop or restrict the lighting.
Before taking any steps, I offer a word of caution. If your actions cause an ongoing dispute with your neighbor, this will not only be uncomfortable for everyone involved, but it will also become relevant information that you will have to reveal when you decide to sell your home and this could discourage the buyer, or even devalue your home. .