Locals blast neighbour for building an illegal TREE HOUSE overlooking their homes and fume 'the council are doing nothing'

Furious locals living on a leafy upmarket street have slammed their neighbour for building an illegal treehouse they claim destroys their privacy.

Residents say Michael Cairn's wooden outbuilding looks into their homes, some of which can sell for up to £600k, in Clarkston, East Renfrewshire.

Mr Cairns built the three house at the end of his back garden without planning permission four years ago.

Neighbours say they have to keep their bedroom blinds closed as you can see right into their rooms from the treehouse.

Neighbour Dr Dennis Jackson has slammed the council for failing to stop Mr Cairns.

He told MailOnline: 'They keep telling us that something will be done about it, but when? It's four years too late. The council is gaslighting us and it's not good enough.'

Dr Jackson and other neighbours have complained to East Renfrewshire Council and now officers have ruled the house's must be moved away from the direction of facing properties.

Mr Cairns may also be forced to dismantle it by his local authority if he doesn't make the recommended changes.

Neighbour Dr Jackson claims the issues first started when the neighbour asked if he could trim the trees near his property.

He said: 'Michael knocked on our door one day and asked if it was okay to trim the tree a little because it was overgrown and he had safety concerns.

'Obviously, my wife and I said yes, and gave him the go-ahead to assess our garden.

'But that wasn't the reason he wanted to trim the tree, he was doing it to prepare the installation of that treehouse.'

However, to his surprise, a tree house was then installed in the garden, which the 67-year-old claims anyone on the tree house can look right through his daughter's room.

He said: 'Our concerns were first reported to the council during the coronavirus pandemic, but I was told that because the council was on furlough nothing could be done about the treehouse.'

Dr Jackson claims not enough is being done to ensure the privacy of those living on the street.

He said: 'Four, almost five years later, and nothing has been done - it's terrible.

'My daughter needs to keep her bedroom blinds closed constantly because you can see right into her room from the treehouse. It's really not fair.

'An officer from the council has been round, however, she was unable to access his property so she could only really see from the back lane.

'Michael said this was built for his grandchildren, but that's nonsense - it's been teenagers who have been using it.

This guy is basically bullying us with this treehouse, he knows what he's doing.'

He added: 'Even if the changes recommended by the council are implemented, my daughter would still feel very uncomfortable. It needs to be taken down.'

An official told the council's planning committee: 'My advice is that the proposed amendments would address overlooking.'

He said a door at the front would be 'blocked up' and 'a new door will get formed on the side'.

MailOnline approached Mr Cairns for a comment, but he was unavailable.

East Renfrewshire Council has been approached for a comment.