Garden situation

[BigRedLondonBus]

Please someone give me advice, I live in a gf maisonette, there is a cupboard in the garden which use to be an area where the upstairs flats store their bins. When I moved in I noticed that the area had a door which led to the upstairs flats. I enquired this with the council and was told that years ago the upstairs flats use to store their bins in the area but that no longer applies as the bins are now kept at the front of the building and that my garden Is sole use. Next door put up a door to block of the area so she has privacy when this use to occur.

Well after 4 years of living here I am now being told that the bins will be returning to this area. Meaning upstairs flats will be able to access my garden and my children play out in the garden so I’m not really happy with random people (I don’t know any of them there has been 3 different people in the flat above me in 4 years and the other flat I have no idea about) being able to walk in.

I’ve put up a bamboo screen temporarily to mark a boundary and for privacy but I would like to add something more permanent and more private but I can’t afford what next door has done (see pics) I was thinking of maybe a 6ft fence panel but when asking for ideas on a diy site I was told there is no way my garden is sole use and must be shared if they have access to the cupboard. But the council said it was sole use. Any ideas? It’s such a random set up for a garden that it’s hard to even explain it to anyone.

[BigRedLondonBus]

The door next door have put up

[BigRedLondonBus]

Door to upstairs flats

[Bluntness100]

I don't really understand, hasn't the council now said it's no longer sole use?

[peridito]

I think if it were me I would ignore comments from the diy site .How can they know whether your garden is sole use or not ?

If you've been told that the garden is sole use by the council then I would go with that ,though I guess you might want to get this confirmed if possible .

If it were me ,as I lack the skills to put up a fence panel and have a limited budget I would buy 3 plastic pots ( Wilko ,Poundstretcher ,Homebase have reasonable ones ) and use them with a couple of bamboo canes in each to support the screen you've already got and add a climbing plant .I'll leave it to the experts to suggest a climber but will toss in the idea of russian vine .

I don't know if my suggestion would work and I guess filling the pots might be costly unless you already have something you could use as heavy crocks in the bottom and soil ?

[BigRedLondonBus]

This is the set up if that’s any clearer, it’s such an unusual situation that it is hard to describe, so I would be putting something up like ndn door but on my side. It might not seem like a massive issue but the flat directly above me is private rented and the tenants change frequently (3 in 4 years) so it would effectively be strangers coming in and out, my children use the garden unsupervised which I would have to stop, and just generally I wouldn’t want to be sat in my garden with random people walking in and out. There are 2 flats above. Also wouldn’t want them to think they could start using the garden especially seeing as I’ve been told it’s for my own use.

[peridito]

Good diagram !

TBH I think you should assume the garden is sole use .People moving in above and renting are likely to accept an existing situation .

I'm a tiny bit worried about advising you to contact council in case they turn round and say no it's not shared or it's a fire escape for upstairs .Though planters with trellis could be moved in an emergency ?

The people next door in same situation as you - do they rent ? Have they just assumed sole use of garden ? Have they bought from council and have the garden and access as on their deeds and in their ownership ? Can you have a chat with them and if it does seem unlikely upstairs can use the garden then contact council - explain about different residencies upstairs and ask if they can make that area more secure for you ? Maybe get a local councillor to take it up on your behalf ?

[BigRedLondonBus]

Well the bins are officially out there! Very annoying, I’m not sure why they told me it was a sole use garden it doesn’t feel like it anymore, ndn is owned and had permission to put up the door. I am thinking to just ignore the diy group as the council have stated I can do what I want, they have just confused me abit as I see there point about it. I don’t think it needs any access as a fire exit as it’s been locked for 4 years prior to this and everyone has there own front door out the front of the building. The council have said that there won’t be anything on my tenancy agreement about the garden (I was advised to get a copy or at least something in writing) I have checked on rightmove as the flat about is private and it doesn’t state anything about having access to a garden.