What is a Light Obstruction Notice

What is a Light Obstruction Notice?

Steps to Apply for a Light Obstruction Notice

Apply for a Light Obstruction Notice

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Bankside Yards – Assessment of Damages

How to Register a Light Obstruction Notice

Why use a Light Obstruction Notice

Why Developers Use Light Obstruction Notices: Protecting Future Schemes

Light Obstruction Notices

A Light Obstruction Notice (LON) is a powerful legal tool that can prevent neighbouring properties from acquiring a right to light, which could otherwise delay or derail your project.

Anstey Horne are the UK’s leading specialists in rights of light, helping developers across England and Wales mitigate risk and preserve their development potential.

Under the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/7-8/56/contents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rights of Light Act 1959</a>, a Light Obstruction Notice creates a notional (legal) screen across your boundary.

This hypothetical obstruction is registered as a local land charge against neighbouring land and interrupts the 20-year period required to gain a legal right to light under the Prescription Act 1832.

No physical barrier is needed – the law treats the notice “as if” an obstruction exists.

If no objection is raised within 12 months, the prescriptive clock is reset to zero.

This allows developers to avoid costly delays, design compromises, or compensation claims.

When Should You Consider Serving a Light Obstruction Notice?

Light Obstruction Notices are most effective when used proactively.

If a neighbouring window has had unobstructed daylight for nearly 20 years, the owner may be on the brink of acquiring a legal right. Serving LONs before the 20-year mark can:

Prevent the acquisition of new rights of light

Secure long-term development potential – even if construction isn’t imminent

Identify existing claims early through statutory neighbour notifications

Avoid expensive litigation or redesigns during planning or construction phases

Best practice: Begin assessing potential rights of light issues once adjacent buildings are approaching 18 years of uninterrupted light.

We handle the entire process of serving Light Obstruction Notices and diligently monitor them throughout the period required for them to take effect, which can extend beyond one year.

In addition, we maintain close collaborations with law firms that specialize in this niche area of property development. 

Should you require legal advice or representation, we can recommend experienced legal advisors who can assist you in navigating these complex matters seamlessly.

At Anstey Horne, we provide a comprehensive end-to-end Light Obstruction Notice service, including:

Analysis of neighbouring apertures and potential risk

Determination of when and whether prescriptive rights may arise

Feasibility studies on whether a LON is the most appropriate tool

Coordination with your wider legal or development team

Preparation and submission of applications to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber)

Notification of all affected parties and interested landowners

Local registration of the LON as a land charge

Monitoring throughout the one-year notice period

Referrals to trusted rights of light solicitors when legal action or defence is required

Integration with negotiation, design strategy or insurance solutions

A single unchallenged window could cost your project months of delay or six-figure compensation. By serving a Light Obstruction Notice, you take control of the legal position before problems arise.

With offices in <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/contact-us#london">London</a>, <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/contact-us/#birmingham">Birmingham</a>, <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/contact-us#bristol">Bristol</a>, <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/contact-us#cardiff">Cardiff</a>, <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/contact-us#leeds">Leeds</a>, <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/contact-us#manchester">Manchester</a>, <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/contact-us#norwich">Norwich</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/contact-us#plymouth">Plymouth</a> we provide advice on LONs on sites all around the UK.

For more information on Light Obstruction Notices, how a right to light is acquired, measured and defended, please also see our <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/services/rights-of-light-fact-sheet">Fact Sheet</a>.

The Land Tribunal's <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-land-charges-pg79/local-land-charges#:~:text=2.6%20Light%20Obstruction%20Notices" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">explanatory note on LONs can be found here</a>.

Contact Us

For advice on rights to light direct from one of our surveyors, please call our Rights to Light Enquiry Line on <a href="tel:020 4534 3138">020 4534 3138</a>.
If you’d like us to call you, please fill in our <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/contact-us#contact">Contact Us</a> form and we will call you back.

Light Obstruction Notices Blogs

Featured News

What is a Light Obstruction Notice?

Blogs

Apply for a Light Obstruction Notice

Bankside Yards – Assessment of Damages

How to Register a Light Obstruction Notice

Why Developers Use Light Obstruction Notices: Protecting Future Schemes