Since the pandemic, luxury sheds and garden rooms have proliferated across Britain, transforming backyards into home offices, gyms and extra living spaces. The boom has come with an unexpected cost: rising neighbour tensions.
Linda installed a two-room garden room at the bottom of her garden. The structure measures 7.25 metres by 2.74 metres, or 3.5 metres including the raised decking. It sits about 30 metres from her neighbours' house.
She initially loved the setup. The shed is clad in wood, set on decking, and offers countryside views from her desk. It solved a practical problem: her toddler would tear through her dining room when she tried to work there. The Scandinavian design appealed to her aesthetically.
Her neighbours did not share her enthusiasm. They objected to the size and position of the structure. After construction finished, conversation between the households largely ceased. The gardens are separated by a low fence, making the awkwardness unavoidable.
The tension has changed how Linda uses her own space. She now faces her desk toward the wall rather than the window. She avoids sitting on the decking. "What if they see me?" she says. "It's a horrible feeling."
Linda's experience reflects a broader pattern. Garden rooms and luxury sheds have become common since 2020, as remote work and lockdowns pushed people to seek dedicated workspace and extra room at home. Planning applications for garden structures have surged. Alongside the construction boom, disputes between neighbours over size, design, privacy and visual impact have mounted.
The conflicts raise questions about garden boundaries, property rights and neighbourly coexistence in densely populated areas. Many disputes remain informal and unresolved, leaving residents like Linda caught between enjoying their own space and managing resentment from those next door.