Who has responsibility for maintenance for a shared path?

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

We are in a house with three houses to the right of us. There is a path which runs the length of the side of our house, across the back of all four houses, and then down the length of number four to the front of the property.
Who is responsible for maintenance etc?

[Freckle]

Check your deeds. There should be some mention in there about any shared areas.

[lalalonglegs]

If your houses are leasehold then the freeholder who will reclaim the money from you. If not, there should be something in the deeds. If there's not, it's going to be long, long negotiation.

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

I checked them, they are mentioned but not as to who has to maintain them.

Its just that the paths are very overgrown, next to our house is a massive drop to the old peoples home, and they have bramble bushes which grow up high and across the path.

Our house is on the market and I think the state of the pathway may be putting people off buying as it is so overgrown.

Nobody really uses it (I have only used it one in five years and that was when DH locked the front door & took the keys by accident so I had to go out the back way!) but I didn't know if we were responsible or if all four home owners were responsible for clearing the paths.

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

Its not a financial question, just a clearing out the crap on the paths!
DH and I dont have time to do it all by ourselves, but didn't know if we were being cheeky asking the neighbours for help iyswim!

[cece]

TBH if you are trying to sell and think the path is a put off I would just go out and hack all the bushes back myself - at least the ones near your house!

[cece]

It might prompt the others to do their section too if they see what an improvement it is...

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

We paid somebody to do ours a few weeks ago (there is an elderly gentleman who comes and mows lawns etc for a few quid here and there) and he did a good job, its just that this bramble is manic!!