Hot tub privacy ideas for UK gardens

The best hot tub privacy ideas for UK gardens combine three things: a good position, a screen or planting at the right height, and overhead cover if upstairs windows look down on you. Slatted timber screens give instant privacy, evergreen planting softens them over time, and a pergola blocks the view from above.

Before you build anything, check how tall a fence or structure can be without planning permission, think about how wind will hit a solid screen, and talk to your neighbours. A few hours of planning saves money and keeps everyone on good terms.

Where should you put a hot tub for the most privacy?

Position does more for privacy than any screen. A tub tucked into a corner away from neighbouring windows may need only a short screen on one side, while a tub in the middle of an open lawn needs screening on every side. Our guide on where to put a hot tub in your garden covers ground, access and power in more detail.

Look at sight lines from the height of your head when you are sitting in the water, not when you are standing. When you are seated in a hot tub, your eyes are often below the top of a standard fence, so a 1.8m (6 ft) fence may already hide you from ground-floor neighbours. The bigger problem is usually upstairs windows.

1. Put a garden chair where you plan to place the tub, sit down, and note every window, balcony and path you can see.
2. Stand at your own upstairs windows to understand the angle that neighbours on each side will have.
3. Mark the problem directions with canes or string so you can see exactly where screening is needed.
4. Note the direction of the prevailing wind and where the evening sun falls, because the same screen affects both.
5. Check that you still have access for delivery, the cover lifter and the equipment panel before you fix the final position.

Leave room on the side where the equipment panel sits. A technician needs to remove that panel to service the pump, heater and controls, and planting or a fixed screen right against it makes every repair harder. Check your manual for the recommended clearances, because they vary between manufacturers.

Which hot tub privacy ideas suit UK gardens best?

Most gardens end up with a mix: a screen for instant privacy where it matters most, planting to soften it, and a roof if you are overlooked from above. The table compares the common options on the points that matter in a British climate.

It helps to think of privacy in three layers. One layer rarely blocks every sight line, so most private gardens combine two or all three of these:

• Boundary layer: fences, hedges and screens at the edge of the garden
• Mid-zone layer: screens, large pots or curtains close around the tub
• Overhead layer: a pergola, gazebo roof or shade sail above the tub

Solid structures give privacy on the first day but need firm fixings. Planting takes longer but copes with wind better and looks softer. If you are on a tight budget, start with the side facing the nearest window and add to it over time.

What screens and fences give instant privacy?

Slatted timber screens

Horizontal or vertical slatted screens are the most popular choice around hot tubs. Gaps between the slats let some wind pass through, which reduces the load on the posts, and narrow gaps still block most of the view. Pressure-treated softwood is the usual budget option, while hardwood and composite boards cost more but need less care.

Slatted screens are also versatile. They can stand alone, be fixed to a wall, or be built into a pergola design. In every case the gaps still let light and air through while blocking direct sight lines into the tub.

Typical slatted screen panels cost about £60-£180 for each 1.8m section, and most gardens use three to five panels around the tub area. Composite slats cope with UK weather better than timber and need no annual treatment.

Set posts in concrete in the ground, or bolt them to the deck frame with proper post anchors rather than screwing them to the deck boards. For a 1.8m screen, a common rule of thumb is to sink the posts around 600mm (about 2 ft) into the ground. In exposed sites, use thicker posts and space them closer together.

Bamboo, reed and willow rolls

Rolls of split bamboo, reed or willow are cheap and quick to fix to an existing fence or a simple frame. They suit sheltered gardens and rented homes, but they weather quickly in UK rain and can tear loose in strong wind. Expect to replace them every few years.

Bamboo screen rolls cost about £30-£80 per 1.8m section. You can fit one to an existing fence in under an hour with cable ties or screws and no specialist tools. If you would rather have a living screen, potted bamboo plants start at around £20-£40 each.

Freestanding and renter-friendly screens

If you rent, or you have an inflatable or portable tub, look for freestanding screen panels with weighted or wide feet, or panels that slot into heavy planters. These can move with you and need no holes in walls or fences. Ask your landlord before you fix anything permanent.

A simple renter or inflatable setup uses bamboo rolls on freestanding supports. Three panels typically cost about £60-£150 in total.

1. Fix each bamboo roll to a freestanding frame or a weighted parasol base with cable ties.
2. Arrange the panels in an arc around the tub, leaving a gap on one side so you can get in and out.
3. Add a stone or concrete block to each base so the panels stay upright in wind.
4. Check the cable ties and bases after any windy spell.

Using 1.8m (6 ft) bamboo panels, fix each one to its frame with cable ties at the top, middle and bottom so it cannot flap or sag. A setup like this usually takes under two hours to build, and about 20 minutes to take apart and store when you pack the tub away.

Weigh down or tie back freestanding panels before a windy night. A falling panel can damage the tub cover, the shell or the soft walls of an inflatable tub.

Curtains on tension rods for inflatable tubs

Curtains give an inflatable tub privacy on every side and come down completely when you pack the tub away. Expect to spend about £80-£200, and nothing needs fixing to the house or fence.

1. Set up four freestanding posts around the tub, or use an existing pergola frame.
2. Fit bungee cord or tension rods between the posts at about 2m (6 ft 7 in) high.
3. Hang waterproof outdoor curtains from the cords or rods.
4. Draw the curtains closed while you soak, then open them afterwards so the area can dry and air out.

Folding corner screens

A hinged or L-shaped folding screen blocks the two most common sight lines at once, for example a neighbour's window and a side path. It needs no fixings, folds flat for storage and typically costs about £40-£100.

Folding corner screens work especially well for an inflatable tub placed in a garden corner, where the sight lines from two neighbouring gardens meet. Rattan-style and bamboo-style versions are common. Stand the screen on the open sides of the corner, keep it a little away from the soft walls of the tub, and weigh down the feet in windy weather.

Outdoor curtains and shade sails

Outdoor curtains on a pergola or gazebo frame can be opened for the view and closed for privacy. Shade sails block the view from upstairs windows and give some shade, but they catch a lot of wind.

A shade sail is a tensioned panel of fabric, usually triangular or rectangular, stretched between posts, walls or a mix of both. Because the fabric is pulled tight, each corner pulls hard on its fixing, so every corner needs a sturdy anchor point such as a post set in concrete or a solid masonry wall. Do not fix a sail to a fence post, gutter or cladding that was not built to take that load.

Choose waterproof fabrics for UK use. Shade sails should be rated for wind of at least 80 km/h (50 mph), with reinforced corners and stainless steel fixings, because cheap sails tend to shred in strong gusts. Sails cost about £30-£120, and waterproof curtain panels about £25-£70 each.

Choose fabrics made for outdoor use, as they resist mould and fading better than indoor fabrics. Take sails down and tie curtains back before strong winds, and bring both indoors over winter so they last longer.

Shade sails and outdoor curtains are semi-permanent. You can take them down in autumn, store them over winter and put them back up in spring. This makes them a good choice for renters who cannot make permanent changes, as long as the anchor points are freestanding posts or your landlord agrees to any fixings.

Which plants make a good privacy screen around a hot tub?

Plants filter wind rather than blocking it, soften the look of fences and give privacy that improves each year. The trade-off is time, plus some care to keep leaves, needles and roots away from the tub.

Evergreen hedges and shrubs

Evergreens keep their leaves in winter, which matters because many owners use their tub most in the colder months. Common UK choices include cherry laurel, Portuguese laurel, photinia, griselinia and pittosporum. Griselinia copes well with salty coastal wind.

Laurel grows roughly 60cm (2 ft) a year, makes a very dense screen and tolerates shade, so it suits north-facing gardens. Photinia 'Red Robin' has bright red new growth and a compact, upright habit, which helps in smaller gardens where spread is a concern.

A hedge is a permanent planting, and a healthy, well-kept hedge can add to the value of a property. For that same reason it suits owners rather than renters. If you rent, use potted trees or movable screens instead, which you can take with you when you leave.

Avoid prickly plants such as holly or berberis right next to the tub, where people walk with bare skin. Yew and laurel are poisonous if eaten, so think carefully if you have young children or pets. Leylandii grows very fast, up to about 90cm (3 ft) a year, but needs regular trimming to stay at a sensible height, and it can upset neighbours if it gets too tall.

Most hedges take about 2-4 years to reach full screening height. Plants for a 6m (20 ft) fence line typically cost roughly £150-£400, depending on the species and the size of plants you buy.

Bamboo: choose the right type

Bamboo grows quickly and moves gently in the wind, which many people like around a hot tub. Choose a clumping type such as Fargesia, which spreads slowly. Running types can send roots a long way under fences and patios, so only plant them in large containers or behind a proper root barrier.

Bamboo is evergreen, so it keeps screening through winter. In UK conditions some types can grow up to about 90cm (3 ft) a year and reach 2-5m (about 6.5-16 ft), depending on the variety and the site.

If you plant running bamboo in the ground, bury a solid root barrier at least 60cm (2 ft) deep around it. Without one, it can spread into neighbouring gardens or lift paving, and running bamboo has been reported breaking through patio slabs within two to three years.

For bamboo in pots, use large containers at least 45cm (18 in) in diameter. A pot stops the roots spreading and lets you move the screen if your needs change.

Large pots, pleached trees and tall grasses

Large containers give instant height and can be moved if your needs change. Use heavy pots with wide bases so they do not blow over, and remember they need watering in dry spells. Tall grasses such as miscanthus give a soft summer screen, though they turn brown and thin out over winter.

Good potted trees for privacy include pleached hornbeam on a frame, standard bay trees and columnar Italian cypress. All three grow tall without spreading wide, so they fit close to a tub. Expect to pay about £40-£120 each, depending on size.

Place two or three large containers in an arc around the tub. This forms a mid-zone screen close to where you sit, and it works alongside a boundary fence or hedge rather than replacing it.

Pleached trees are trained with a clear trunk and a flat panel of branches on top. They add screening above the line of a fence, which helps with upstairs windows, without taking much ground space. Evergreen options such as pleached photinia or laurel keep their leaves all year.

Living walls and climbers

A trellis covered in climbers turns a plain fence into greenery. Evergreen climbers such as star jasmine or ivy cover a screen all year, while most clematis and climbing roses drop their leaves in winter. Living wall systems with built-in watering look smart but need more care than a simple trellis.

Living walls take up very little floor space, so they suit small or paved gardens. Real modular systems planted with ivy, ferns or trailing geraniums cost about £80-£300 and need regular watering.

An artificial living wall uses panels of fake plants arranged to look like a planted wall. Expect about £30-£120. It needs no watering or upkeep, so it suits busy households that want the look of greenery without the care.

Artificial foliage panels

Artificial foliage or faux hedge panels give a green screen with no watering or trimming. They typically cost about £20-£60 for each 1m x 1m (about 3 ft x 3 ft) panel. Choose UV-stabilised panels so they do not fade quickly in sunlight.

The panels attach to an existing fence with cable ties or removable hooks, so they leave no marks. That makes them a good choice for renters and for paved gardens where planting is impossible.

Keep planting a short distance from the edge of the tub. Falling leaves, pollen and petals end up in the water and clog the filter, and strong roots can push against a concrete base or decking over time.

Can a pergola or gazebo stop people seeing in from above?

If neighbours can look down from upstairs windows, side screens alone will not help. Some kind of roof is the only way to block that view. Pergolas with slatted or louvred roofs, gazebos with solid roofs and retractable canopies all work, and each lets in a different amount of light.

If you are overlooked from a significant height, such as a second-floor window or a raised neighbouring garden, spend on overhead cover first. A shade sail or a pergola roof deals with the worst sight line, and side screening can follow later.

A pergola is an open-roofed frame of posts and beams, so on its own it gives only partial cover from above. A gazebo usually has a fixed roof and gives more protection from both weather and views.

A gazebo with a solid roof keeps rain and leaves off the cover and gives the most privacy from above. Our guide on how to choose a hot tub gazebo explains sizes, materials and anchoring. For a wider look at roofs and canopies, see these hot tub shelter ideas, from pergolas to canopies.

To complete the screening on all sides, grow climbers such as wisteria or jasmine over a pergola frame and add side panels or curtains. Wisteria loses its leaves in winter while star jasmine stays evergreen, so mix them if you want cover all year.

Entry-level timber pergola kits cost about £500-£800, and professional installation adds roughly £300-£600. A bespoke timber pergola, designed and built for your space, typically costs £3,000-£8,000 installed.

At the top end, some automated covers rise on a motorised frame to form a gazebo-like enclosure with side curtains. This combines the cover and the privacy screen, so there is nothing to set up before each soak. Expect roughly £3,500-£6,000.

Allow enough height for the cover lifter to fold back, and enough open space for steam to escape. A roof that is too low traps moisture, which leads to mould on the timber and condensation dripping back into the tub.

If you want lights, sockets or a heater fitted to the structure, use a registered electrician. In the UK the work must meet BS 7671, outdoor circuits need RCD protection, and in England and Wales new circuits are notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. Other countries have their own rules, so check locally.

How tall can a hot tub screen or fence be in the UK?

In England, a fence, wall or freestanding screen can usually be up to 2m (6 ft 7 in) high without planning permission. If it is next to a road used by vehicles, or the footpath of such a road, the limit is usually 1m (3 ft 3 in). Most councils count trellis fixed on top of a fence as part of the total height.

Pergolas, gazebos and other garden structures

Garden structures such as pergolas, gazebos and hot tub shelters are generally treated as outbuildings. Under permitted development rules in England, a structure within 2m of a boundary can be no more than 2.5m (8 ft 2 in) high overall. Further from the boundary, higher limits apply, and outbuildings must not cover more than half of the garden around the house or sit in front of the main face of the house.

A structure more than 2m from every boundary can be up to 4m (13 ft) high with a dual-pitched roof, or up to 3m (10 ft) with a flat or other roof, under permitted development in England. The eaves must still be no higher than 2.5m.

If you need planning permission

If your plans go beyond permitted development, you will need a householder planning application. Councils aim to decide most of these within about 8 weeks. The fee is set nationally and has risen in recent years, so check the current figure with your council before you apply.

A structure attached to the main house, such as a pergola or covered enclosure fixed to the back wall, is treated differently from a freestanding outbuilding. If it goes beyond the size limits for house extensions, you may need full planning permission, so check before you fix anything to the house.

Many councils offer pre-application advice, sometimes free and sometimes for a fee. It costs far less than being told to take down an unauthorised structure later.

Raised decking and platforms

Decks or platforms more than 30cm (12 in) above the ground usually need planning permission. This catches many raised hot tub decks, so check before you build. Our guide to hot tub decking ideas for UK gardens covers heights and structure in more detail.

Hedges and the high hedge rules

There is no planning limit on hedge height, but a neighbour can complain to the council about a hedge that causes problems. In England and Wales, the high hedge rules cover a line of two or more mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs over 2m tall that blocks light or access. You are expected to try to settle it with your neighbour first, and the council may charge a fee. See the GOV.UK guidance on high hedges, trees and boundaries.

When the usual limits do not apply

• Listed buildings, where even small changes may need consent
• Conservation areas, National Parks and National Landscapes (formerly Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), where limits are tighter
• Flats and maisonettes, which do not have the same permitted development rights as houses
• Homes where the council has removed some rights with an Article 4 direction
• New build estates with restrictive covenants in the deeds
• Rented or leasehold homes, where you need consent from the landlord or freeholder

Wales has similar rules, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own. Limits also differ across the rest of Europe. Read the GOV.UK planning permission guidance or ask your local planning authority before you build.

Planning rules change and depend on your exact property. If you are unsure, ask your local council for advice, or in England and Wales apply for a Lawful Development Certificate before you build. Taking down a structure after a complaint costs far more than checking first.

How do you stop wind blowing through your hot tub area?

Wind is a bigger issue than rain in many UK gardens. It cools the water surface, increases heat loss, makes wet shoulders uncomfortable and can lift a cover that is not strapped down. A well-placed privacy screen can help with all of these at once.

Solid fences block the view completely, but wind hits them at full force and tumbles over the top, causing gusts on the sheltered side. Slatted screens, hedges and trellis slow the wind down instead of stopping it dead, so the air behind them is calmer and the posts take less strain.

• Screen the side the prevailing wind comes from first, which for most of the UK is the south-west
• Choose slatted or planted screens rather than solid panels in exposed or coastal gardens
• Use heavier posts, closer post spacing and concrete footings in windy spots
• Keep the cover straps fastened whenever the tub is not in use
• Take down shade sails and tie back curtains before storms
• Check all fixings after every big storm

In a very exposed garden, a slatted screen on the windward side with planting in front of it gives the best shelter. If your tub sits close to the house, the building itself can act as a windbreak, and our patio hot tub ideas show how to use that space well.

How do you keep the peace with your neighbours?

A privacy screen protects you, but it also changes your neighbour's view and possibly their light. Talking to them before you build is usually quicker and cheaper than dealing with a complaint later. Show them what you plan and listen to any worries about height or shade.

• Check your title deeds before fixing anything to a boundary fence, and never attach screens, trellis or planters to a neighbour's fence without permission
• Keep posts and footings on your own side of the boundary
• Point lights down and away from neighbouring windows
• Keep music and voices low late in the evening, because sound carries further at night
• Place any heat pump or noisy equipment away from neighbouring bedrooms
• Plant hedges far enough back that you can trim them from your own land, or agree access with your neighbour

A screen works both ways. Your neighbours may want privacy from your garden too, and a well-built screen with a tidy face on their side is often welcomed.

What about an enclosed or indoor hot tub?

Garages, garden rooms and fully enclosed gazebos give complete privacy, but they bring new problems. Hot water releases a lot of moisture, and sanitiser by-products can build up in the air if there is not enough ventilation.

• Ventilation: openings or an extractor fan to remove damp air and chemical smells
• Floor strength: a filled tub with people in it can weigh well over a tonne, so check the base can take the load
• Drainage: somewhere for water to go when you empty the tub or if a fitting leaks
• Ceiling height: room for the cover lifter and for steam to rise above head height
• Moisture-resistant materials: bare timber, plasterboard and metal fittings suffer in damp air
• Electrics: a dedicated, RCD-protected supply fitted by a registered electrician

Putting a hot tub in a garage

Garage floors are often not designed for the weight of a filled tub with people in it, which can be around 1,500-3,000kg (about 3,300-6,600 lb). Get a structural survey before you install. Work on the structure and ventilation typically adds about £500-£2,500 on top of the cost of the tub.

For ventilation, a common target is mechanical extraction giving at least two air changes per hour, plus a separate fresh-air inlet placed away from the extractor outlet. Guidance varies, so ask a ventilation specialist to size the system for your space.

Fit a carbon monoxide detector if a boiler or any other gas appliance is in the same enclosed space as the tub.

Manage humidity with vapour barriers on the walls and ceiling and a dehumidifier. Plan a drain point before installation, because you will need to empty the tub for a water change roughly every 3-4 months, or as your manual advises.

Purpose-built garden rooms

A purpose-built, insulated garden room designed around a hot tub makes ventilation, insulation and drainage easier to get right than a garage conversion. Expect about £8,000-£15,000 installed, not including the tub. It usually falls under permitted development if it meets the height and garden coverage rules above.

A dedicated garden room lets you use the tub comfortably all year, whatever the weather. It also shelters the tub from rain, frost, sun and wind, which can help the cover, cabinet and equipment last longer than they would in the open.

Sunken hot tubs

A sunken tub set into decking or the ground lowers your head height, so a shorter screen hides more. It still needs access to the equipment panel, good drainage around the pit and a check on ground conditions, so get professional advice before you dig.

A tub sunk flush with decking needs the least extra screening of any option. Expect roughly £5,000-£15,000 for the work, depending on excavation depth, decking and drainage.

Never use a hot tub in a closed space with no airflow. If the air feels heavy, smells strongly of chemicals, or you feel light-headed or unwell, get out, open the space up and check the sanitiser level and water balance before using it again. Speak to your GP or call NHS 111 if symptoms do not settle.

How do you stay safe in a private hot tub?

A private, sheltered tub tempts people to stay in longer, often in the evening and sometimes alone. Heat affects the body more than most people expect, so a few simple habits matter.

Keep the water no hotter than 40°C (104°F). At temperatures above 38°C (100°F), limit soaks to around 15-20 minutes, then get out to cool down and drink some water. Two continuous hours in hot water risks overheating, dehydration and strain on the heart. Manufacturers' advice varies, so check your manual too.

If you want a longer evening in the tub, split it into several short soaks. Get out, sit somewhere cool for a while and drink some water, then get back in. This is much safer than staying in the hot water continuously.

Keep soaks shorter for first-time users, children and older adults, who can feel the effects of heat sooner. People with heart conditions and people who are pregnant should keep their sessions significantly shorter than other adults, after checking with their GP or midwife.

Prolonged heat can cause hyperthermia, with dizziness, nausea and, in serious cases, loss of consciousness. Falling asleep in a hot tub can be fatal, so avoid soaking when you are very tired or have been drinking alcohol. The NHS explains the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Hot water widens blood vessels, which can cause dizziness or fainting, especially when you stand up. If you have a heart condition or high blood pressure, are pregnant, or take blood pressure medication, blood thinners or sedatives, speak to your GP, pharmacist or midwife first. If you get the go-ahead, keep the water cooler, around 36-37°C (97-99°F), and do not soak alone.

Many people over 50 use hot tubs safely with sensible precautions, and they can enjoy benefits such as relief from joint pain and help with relaxation. Because hot water lowers blood pressure, stand up slowly, use a handrail and keep soaks short to reduce the risk of dizziness or fainting.

For people with Parkinson's, warm water can temporarily ease muscle stiffness and tremor, and buoyancy makes gentle movement easier. Short-term trials of aquatic therapy have shown improvements in movement and quality of life. These benefits do not remove the risk of losing balance when getting in and out.

Anyone with balance problems, including people with Parkinson's, needs non-slip steps, grab handles and a companion present. Check with a neurologist before making hot tub use a regular habit.

Get out, sit somewhere cool and drink water if you notice any of these signs:

• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Nausea or a headache
• A racing or pounding heart
• Confusion or feeling unusually sleepy

Speak to your GP or call NHS 111 if symptoms do not settle quickly. Call 999 if someone faints, collapses or cannot be woken.

What mistakes should you avoid?

• Screening only at ground level when the real view is from an upstairs window
• Building a solid screen in a windy spot without strong enough posts
• Blocking the equipment panel, cover lifter or filter access with screens or pots
• Planting trees with heavy leaf, berry or sap drop over the tub
• Choosing running bamboo without a root barrier
• Buying a cheap shade sail that is not rated for UK wind
• Putting a filled tub on a garage floor without a structural survey
• Going above 2m on a boundary, or above 2.5m with a structure near one, without checking the rules
• Closing in a gazebo completely with no ventilation
• Building first and telling the neighbours afterwards

Summary: build privacy in layers

Start with the position, then add screening where the sight lines need it, and add a roof only if you are overlooked from above. Slatted screens give instant privacy and handle wind well, while evergreen planting softens them and improves every year.

Keep fences to 2m and nearby structures to 2.5m unless you have checked the rules, leave room for servicing and fresh air, and talk to your neighbours early. A little planning gives you a private, sheltered tub you can enjoy all year.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to make my hot tub more private?

Deal with the single worst view first. A roll of bamboo or reed fixed to your own fence, or two or three tall plants in heavy pots, can hide the tub from the nearest window for little money. Moving the tub into a corner before it is filled costs nothing and can halve the amount of screening you need.

Does a screen on raised decking count towards the 2m limit?

Often, yes. Councils usually measure height from the ground, so a 1.8m screen fixed on a deck that is 40cm (16 in) high may be treated as 2.2m tall. The deck itself may also need permission if it is over 30cm high. Ask your local planning authority how they measure before you buy materials.

Will a privacy screen help keep my hot tub warmer?

It can. Wind passing over the water and the cover carries heat away, so a screen on the windward side can reduce heat loss and make the heater work less hard. The effect depends on how exposed your garden is. A well-fitting cover that is strapped down still makes the biggest difference to running costs.

How far should plants be from my hot tub?

There is no single rule. Leave enough room to walk around the tub, lift the cover and remove the equipment panel without pushing through branches. Keep trees with large root systems well away from the base, and avoid anything that hangs over the water, because falling leaves and pollen quickly clog the filter.

What privacy options work for an inflatable hot tub?

Freestanding screen panels with weighted feet, pop-up screens and tall plants in pots all suit an inflatable tub and can be moved when you pack it away. Keep screens a little away from the soft walls so they cannot rub or puncture them. If you use a pop-up gazebo with side walls, leave at least one side open for airflow.

Do I need my neighbour's permission to put up a privacy screen?

Not usually, if the screen is on your land and within the height limits. You do need permission to attach anything to a fence they own or to work from their side. Talking to them first is still wise, because a screen that blocks their light or view is more likely to lead to a complaint.