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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

House dilemma (with diagram)

213 replies

OneGreyBiscuit · 26/02/2025 08:42

Need some quick thoughts for this please as I'm on a timer. I went to look at a house through social housing yesterday, it's mine if I want it. There's a new bathroom and kitchen although everywhere else needs tlc. My main issue is that the next door neighbours have access to the back garden from their property, would this put anyone off? Diagram for looking at below. The arrows is where next door can walk through.

House dilemma (with diagram)
OP posts:
PensionMention · 26/02/2025 09:13

I think it depends on how likely you are to be offered another house and your living situation. There is no way I would personally choose to live in a house like this.

SillySeal · 26/02/2025 09:13

Do you need to keep it as a gate and allow access?

There's many new builds in a row of 4 and the back is enclosed and the only way in is through the house.

I'm not sure i would feel comfortable walking through someone's garden myself anyway.

Avelina · 26/02/2025 09:12

We've recently been helping a family member with clearing their house and they have a similar set up, but it's them that have to go through the neighbours garden to get to their property. I felt so awkward every time we went through, the neighbour was constantly in her kitchen window glaring at us and watching every single thing we were doing. I'm not sure I would like the thought of sharing my garden with other people

BooomShakeTheRoom · 26/02/2025 09:11

Right of way is extremely common in terraces to allow people to put bins out and bring large things into their garden (sheds etc).

It wouldn’t put me off.

Fuuuuuckit · 26/02/2025 09:10

My mum lived in a house where the neighbour had access like yours. He only went past maybe once a week max, for the best part of 40 years. And never in winter. The back garden DOES have access through the house, surely?

Plenty of houses in the UK have access like this. Really not a biggie though I appreciate the naked house wandering might be cautious (but seriously, how often are you standing at the window with your norks out?)

Original poster
OneGreyBiscuit · 26/02/2025 09:10

ViaRia01 · 26/02/2025 09:08

I thought it was odd when my friends house has this arrangement with next door but I’ve since learnt it’s not entirely uncommon.

To be honest, for me, I would make it judgement call based on what I thought the neighbours might be like (and keeping in mind that this could also change in the future). It wouldn’t be ideal but I also think you hear so many people finding it difficult to get access to affordable housing and so if this is the one big compromise (and if I wasn’t scared on the neighbours!!) then I’d probably go with it. Just accept that you’ll bump into the neighbour from time to time and don’t stand naked in the window!

As far as I’m aware, most reasonable people would use that access eg to bring out waste or if they needs house renovation (at least that’s temporary!) but not really use it day to day for popping in and out of their house.

The man living there walked past with his child while we was there, although the housing officer said it might be because they know it's empty at the moment.

OP posts:
Original poster
OneGreyBiscuit · 26/02/2025 09:08

LoveWatchingTheSea · 26/02/2025 09:03

Hmm that would put me right off tbh, I know in older terraces this was quite common but you’d think it could’ve been designed better in a newer house.
it’s not just the lack of privacy in the house but also if you were sunbathing in the garden or having bbq with friends/family and your neighbours walk through.
Even if the current tenants are ok you never know who’s going to live there in the future!

On the flip side I’ve been on the social housing list for years while paying private rent and I know how life changing it would be for me to get one so it’s a real dilemma…

The only thing I can think of is to put privacy screening on the kitchen window and put a line of fast growing bushes a few feet away from the house to create a ‘private’ part to the rest of your garden

The bushes is a really good idea. I only have until about 12 to decide, it's my first offer.

OP posts:
ViaRia01 · 26/02/2025 09:08

I thought it was odd when my friends house has this arrangement with next door but I’ve since learnt it’s not entirely uncommon.

To be honest, for me, I would make it judgement call based on what I thought the neighbours might be like (and keeping in mind that this could also change in the future). It wouldn’t be ideal but I also think you hear so many people finding it difficult to get access to affordable housing and so if this is the one big compromise (and if I wasn’t scared on the neighbours!!) then I’d probably go with it. Just accept that you’ll bump into the neighbour from time to time and don’t stand naked in the window!

As far as I’m aware, most reasonable people would use that access eg to bring out waste or if they needs house renovation (at least that’s temporary!) but not really use it day to day for popping in and out of their house.

Original poster
OneGreyBiscuit · 26/02/2025 09:05

Cantbelieveit888 · 26/02/2025 09:01

Why do they have access into your garden?

It's in a row of 4 houses and the only way the two in the middle can get access to their gardens from the back. They were built a long time ago when things were a bit different I guess.

OP posts:
LoveWatchingTheSea · 26/02/2025 09:03

Hmm that would put me right off tbh, I know in older terraces this was quite common but you’d think it could’ve been designed better in a newer house.
it’s not just the lack of privacy in the house but also if you were sunbathing in the garden or having bbq with friends/family and your neighbours walk through.
Even if the current tenants are ok you never know who’s going to live there in the future!

On the flip side I’ve been on the social housing list for years while paying private rent and I know how life changing it would be for me to get one so it’s a real dilemma…

The only thing I can think of is to put privacy screening on the kitchen window and put a line of fast growing bushes a few feet away from the house to create a ‘private’ part to the rest of your garden

Original poster
OneGreyBiscuit · 26/02/2025 09:03

Cantbelieveit888 · 26/02/2025 08:59

Put a blind?

The blind is something I've thought of, it's just people walking through the garden. Even the housing officer said she didn't like the thought of being in the garden and people going through it.

OP posts:
Cantbelieveit888 · 26/02/2025 09:01

Why do they have access into your garden?

Cantbelieveit888 · 26/02/2025 08:59

Put a blind?