The tenant really enjoyed spending time on his balcony, but the next door neighbors started complaining about their lack of privacy

In today’s story, someone who rents an apartment with a nice balcony spends most of his time at home on the balcony.

The problem is that the neighbors feel like they have no privacy.

Let’s see how the story develops…

I have an apartment in a large house that was converted into four apartments. It has a nice balcony off the kitchen, is quite large and I spend a lot of time out there.

Since I live in a city and am on a tight budget, having my own outdoor space has been my dream for a while now.

I’ve done a lot to make my balcony cozy; Two outdoor sofas around a coffee table in the middle, a small dining table with chairs in the corner that is also good to work at.

A small minibar for food preparation above a mini fridge. Cozy heat lamps and a few glass candles. Hanging plants and succulents. A small outdoor bookcase with closing glass doors to keep books dry.

OP explains what the inside of the apartment looks like.

It is by far the nicest part of my apartment, the rest of the apartment is a pretty but very compact studio. A narrow little kitchen, a small bathroom, a hallway and a small bedroom.

No living room or dining room or anywhere indoors to entertain or just sit back and relax.

That’s why I spend a lot of time on the balcony. Even if it’s cold or rainy outside, the overhang will keep you dry and the heat lamp will keep you warm.

OP’s neighbors have complained about how much OP is on the balcony.

My job in the software industry allows us to work remotely when we don’t have meetings. So I work from my balcony most days.

I also like to sit outside to eat and when I meet friends.

There are single-family homes on both sides of my apartment building, and since I’ve lived there, both families have told me they don’t like how long I spend outside on the balcony.

OP explains why a family complained.

The first family’s house is positioned so that I can see through the windows on the side and back of the house. It also overlooks the back deck.

I never snoop or stare, but the father of the family has told me he doesn’t like it when I’m outside all the time and can look into their bedrooms. He said his wife complained to him about changing in her bedroom and then realized there were people who saw it.

I said I wouldn’t look, and I don’t think my friends are the type either.

OP explains why the other neighbors are upset.

The second family’s house is on the other side. From the balcony I can see their backyard and the small pool. And the couple who lives there told me they’re frustrated that they can never enjoy their pool privately because I’m always out there, often with friends.

They once asked me if I could keep people off my balcony for a day because they wanted a pool party without a bunch of strangers “watching from above,” and I said sure, I had no guests that day.

However, I ended up sitting outside reading and they got mad at me. I guess there was a miscommunication and they didn’t even want me out.

OP wonders if spending so much time outside is a problem.

AITA for spending so much time on my balcony?

I feel like I should be able to enjoy it, it’s part of my apartment, but the two homeowners on either side hate that I can see into some windows and their backyards.

However, I’m not a snooper!

Maybe OP could put up some sort of privacy fence like bamboo or a privacy screen around the balcony since it sounds like OP doesn’t want to snoop but just enjoys being outside. This way the families would not have the feeling that they were being spied on.

Let’s see how Reddit reacted…

This reader suggested ways for homeowners to fix the problem.