Working from home isn’t going anywhere. Analysis published by the Office for National Statistics found that more than a quarter (28%) of working adults in Great Britain were hybrid working between January and March 2025.*
Working from home can reduce commuting costs and offer greater flexibility, but without a dedicated workspace, it may become harder to maintain a clear boundary between work and home life.
Having a dedicated workspace, rather than working from a desk in the living room or at the kitchen counter, can help create that separation. A garden office may provide some much needed separation between work and home, but placing one in the wrong spot could create a different problem altogether: a fallout with the neighbours.
From buildings that overlook the garden next door to rainwater running across the boundary, seemingly minor decisions can cause complaints and potentially expensive changes later.
James Rice, Garden Buildings Expert & Spokesperson at Garden Buildings Direct said:
“Most garden office disputes do not begin with the office itself. They begin when a building affects the property next door through its height, position, windows, lighting or drainage. Meeting the permitted development rules is important, but it does not automatically make every design neighbour friendly. A garden office can remain within the planning limits and still cause tension if it blocks light, overlooks a private garden or becomes difficult to maintain without entering someone else’s property.”
Rice shares seven mistakes that could turn a new garden office into a source of conflict between neighbours.
1. Assuming permitted development means anything goes
Many garden offices in England can be installed without a full planning application, but permitted development still comes with limits. If the building sits within two metres of a boundary, its overall height must not exceed 2.5 metres.
Additional restrictions may apply to listed properties, flats, maisonettes and homes in designated areas. Checking with the local planning authority before installation is far easier than having to alter or remove a building following a complaint.
2. Building directly against the fence
There is no general rule requiring a garden office to sit a particular distance from a wooden fence, but squeezing it tightly against the boundary can create practical problems.
Space may be needed for guttering, timber treatment and future repairs. Access through the neighbouring garden cannot simply be assumed, so leaving a maintenance gap could prevent an awkward disagreement later.
3. Pointing windows towards the neighbouring garden
Large windows can make a garden office feel brighter and more spacious, but they can also leave neighbours feeling overlooked.
The position of the desk, doors and windows should be considered before installation. Frosted glazing, blinds or repositioned windows can help protect privacy without sacrificing natural light.
4. Sending rainwater across the boundary
Rainwater should drain safely within the property rather than collecting around the office or flowing into the garden next door.
Guttering and drainage need to be planned before installation, particularly when the roof slopes towards a boundary. What appears to be a minor runoff problem during light rain can become a major source of friction during a downpour.
5. Ignoring the effect on daylight
A garden office may meet the permitted height limit but still feel imposing when placed close to a neighbouring patio, window or seating area.
Considering the path of the sun and the building’s shadow can help prevent it from unnecessarily blocking light. Moving the office slightly or choosing a lower roof design may make a significant difference to the neighbouring property.
6. Allowing lights and noise to spill next door
Outdoor lighting, calls taken on speakerphone and doors opening and closing early in the morning can all disturb neighbouring households.
External lights should point downwards and away from nearby windows. Keeping calls inside, closing windows during louder meetings and using the office at reasonable hours can help maintain the peace.
7. Starting work without warning the neighbours
Not every garden office installation requires formal notice, but surprising the neighbours with builders, excavation and deliveries is unlikely to encourage goodwill.
Work involving a shared boundary, party wall or excavation near a neighbouring building may fall under the Party Wall etc. Act. Even where formal notice is not required, explaining the plans and likely installation dates beforehand can resolve concerns before they become complaints.
Rice added: “Speaking to the neighbours does not replace planning permission or any formal notice that may be required, but it can prevent misunderstandings. Sharing the proposed position, height and installation dates gives them an opportunity to raise practical concerns before the work begins.A small adjustment at the planning stage could be much easier and less expensive than dealing with a complaint once the garden office is already in place.”
Garden Buildings Direct is a family-run retailer and manufacturer of outdoor buildings and leisure products. Established in 2000 and part of Kybotech Ltd, the company designs, manufactures and delivers a wide range of garden buildings, including sheds, summer houses, log cabins, playhouses and garden offices.
