Servitude de vue

09:09 Dec 15, 2021 

The openings created do not seem to have been within France's legal separation distances, hence the dispute.

However, when the building permit was filed, the town planning department simply referred the applicant back to the Civil Code on property limits and views saying that the work could be subject to recourse.

Easement of light may be the nearest equivalent for a UK audience in this case, just for my own information is 'right to light' to be avoided?

20:50 Dec 14, 2021 

The actual term or expression that will best fit will depend on where the target reader is located. Both suggestions made thus far are apparently from the same source, but neither indicated the source. https://www.alburolaw.com/easement-of-light-and-view

Here's a take on the UK easement, licence, right, etc. Note the importance of the distinction between "light" and "view". Not thesame thing. http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/protecting-a-right-to-a...

What's important in the long run though, is rendering the FR source as accurately as possible. The key point is: what does the FR mean? And for that, an official French source should be tracked down.

14:36 Dec 14, 2021 

There is no equivalent to this in English. Anything regarding this matter is examined on a case-by-case basis applying the tenets of 'residential amenity'.

See https://beta.southglos.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/Assessing-r...

and a recent question here:
https://www.proz.com/kudoz/french-to-english/real-estate/702...

So you have to express it in more or less simple English, e.g. 'it would appear that X did not authorize these outlooks onto / these windows overlooking his property'.

The 'servitude' business assumes, of course, that the windows created are within France's legal separation distances (0.6m or 1.9m from the boundary line, depending on layout). Otherwise windows may be created without permission.

You'll find helpful diagrams here:
https://perie-archi.fr/servitude-de-vue/