Homeowners say 'anyone can see in' their £170,000 home in row over raised pavement

A South Tyneside couple have slammed a housebuilder for what they say is an unwelcome step on their property ladder.
Garden Gate Drive residents Lee and Mel Taylor are unhappy with different fence heights with neighboursGarden Gate Drive residents Lee and Mel Taylor are unhappy with different fence heights with neighbours
Garden Gate Drive residents Lee and Mel Taylor are unhappy with different fence heights with neighbours

Melanie and Lee Taylor claim they have only limited privacy due to a planning flaw by Keepmoat Homes at Garden Gate Drive, Laygate, South Shields.

They say the foundations of some neighbouring houses, built after they moved into their £170,000 four-bed home in 2015, are 14-inches higher than theirs.

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It means a concrete path which runs outside and by the side of their garden, is a foot-and-a-half higher at ground level.

Garden Gate Drive residents Lee and Mel Taylor are unhappy with different fence heights with neighboursGarden Gate Drive residents Lee and Mel Taylor are unhappy with different fence heights with neighbours
Garden Gate Drive residents Lee and Mel Taylor are unhappy with different fence heights with neighbours

Melanie, 42, a cyber security consultant, and former Nissan worker Lee, 45, say it allows even the smallest of visitors to easily peer into their back garden and living room.

The couple, who have four children, say Doncaster-based Keepmoat will not raise the height of the fence.

Melanie said: “The fence is so low that anyone using this path can see right into our property.

“The fence and the path are an eyesore for us.

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“Keepmoat say we should have complained within the two years of our warranty, but the other houses weren’t there then, so we had no way of knowing.”

Lee added: “Keepmoat’s attitude has been very disappointing. Anyone can see in – we have a hot tub, but get no privacy.

“It’s not the neighbour’s fault, it’s all to do with the way Keepmoat designed this part of the estate.”

They say the raised garden of a second neighbouring property is also causing water issues.

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Keepmoat Homes said: “The properties to the rear of Mr and Mrs Taylor were completed within their two-year warranty period which gave 10 months for them to report garden drainage issues.

“The properties to the right of Mr and Mrs Taylor were completed outside of the warranty period in October 2018, and we have no records of garden drainage issues being reported up to July 2020.

“There was an issue reported relating to standing water on the path to their garden which our site team resolved in April 2019 when it was reported.

“Keepmoat Homes fencing specification is to provide a 1.8m high fence which was installed when the Taylors purchased the property.

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“However where there are level differences between adjoining properties, then this will influence the height of the neighbouring fence both up and down.”

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