AIBU to object to neighbour using my garden as their main access?

Not asking for sympathy thanks

Lots of big words thrown around, including the dreaded N word. The surveyor maybe should have reported to the lender that there are signs of a third party having access over the garden. I say maybe as it’s likely to be value significant.

the surveyors will not have been provided with the title. The solicitor probably should have pointed out the implications of the easement and queried its usage with the vendor.

the easiest solution here is simply to make the use of her garden less convenient to the neighbour.

Should the neighbour decide to go legal they will get plenty of warning before it escalates..

Fully expecting to be told this is my own fault for not looking into it properly but need a vent all the same!

A year ago I moved into an end of terrace house. There is the usual easement arrangement with the adjoining neighbour that they can get access to their back garden via my back garden. I know that is pretty standard and I was obviously aware of it when I purchased. Since moving in however it's become clear that they use it as their primary entrance. They never use their front door. They have a sign on the front door telling post man/ couriers etc to go round the back. Again, wouldn't necessarily be a big issue except that there seems to CONSTANTLY be someone walking through! It's an older lady living there with her grandson. He is late teens/ early 20s maybe and in and out like a yo-yo, no exaggeration. Ditto her boyfriend, her dog walker, her cleaner, her food shop, couriers (she gets at least two packages a day!) .... The latter particularly pisses me off because they often don't close my gate behind them. I have an OAP dog and 4 children, the youngest of whom is 4. It'd take literal seconds to slip out of the garden without anyone noticing 😠 And frankly, now that its summer time it just feels quite intrusive. Strangers walking in and out while my children are playing. I stupidly feel awkward sitting outside to read a book even though it's my fucking garden!

Is it even a legal thing to say that they are over using their access?!

Should also add that I would probably mind all this less except that at the end of last year the handle of my gate broke. It was the week before Christmas and I didn't have time or money to fix it and it wasn't particularly a priority for me, but I told the neighbour I would sort it after Christmas, quite reasonably I thought. (I have a side door so actually rarely use the gate). Neighbour told me I had to fix it because it is "YOUR gate" and "a public right of way" (it isn't 🤣).Then proceeded to tell all the other neighbours that I was "refusing" to fix it because I didn't use it and that she "couldn't even get her food delivered" and would "rather die than use the front door"... After a week of hassle and harassment I ended up getting a friend's husband to fix it for free and neighbour has since apologised but... I don't know, it just left a sour taste.

Is there anything I can do? Do I just have to wait for her to move/die?? 🙈

I don’t understand why people are having a go at you. The first port of call is your own surveyors because they already have the deeds and they should have looked into this easement and should know from checking the file what it allows legally.
they may be rubbish surveyors though because they should have highlighted this to OP and made sure she understood what it entails (most surveyors are shit though so that itself is not surprising).

anyhow they should already know and the OP doesn’t need to interpret the deeds (not being a lawyer she won’t be able to do it properly anyway). If they missed it is negligence

this inquiry usually doesn’t cost extra

I've always lived in terraces and never known anything like this before. Not everyone can afford a 5 bed detached.
"Just move" isn't really an option. Aside from the expense and stress and hassle and uprooting my children again, I actually love the house and the area.

I know you can't legally block it,that's what l said. Others were saying lock the gate and only let neighbour thru with rubbish. You can't block it BUT if you do you run the risk of letting the neighbour pick another alternative route thru your garden.
My back door and free access across my neighbours land was blocked. I climbed out my window, across her picnic table, across her lawn, across her tennis court as she was playing ...as my 'alternative route' l kept this up for a week with my lawyers approval!

If op hasn’t got £14 then she hasn’t got it - tho I would be happy to contribute

Check your deeds. The two people I know, who live in mid terrace houses, only have right of access through their neighbours' gardens to put their dustbins out.

I know you can't legally block it,that's what l said. Others were saying lock the gate and only let neighbour thru with rubbish. You can't block it BUT if you do you run the risk of letting the neighbour pick another alternative route thru your garden.
My back door and free access across my neighbours land was blocked. I climbed out my window, across her picnic table, across her lawn, across her tennis court as she was playing ...as my 'alternative route' l kept this up for a week with my lawyers approval!

Frankly I’d have some fun with them. A piece of paper can say what it wants but when a way is blocked it makes not a lot of difference.

i would start with a low level conversation that I’m a bit worried after reading of garden thefts especially with my house being on the end. I’m arranging for a beefy lock to be fitted to the gate. I’ll obviously unlock it so you can come and go but you might want to find your front door key in case I am out..

then I’d do just that and keep it locked until she asks to come and go.. see how many times she missed parcels etc and gives up!

Fully expecting to be told this is my own fault for not looking into it properly but need a vent all the same!

A year ago I moved into an end of terrace house. There is the usual easement arrangement with the adjoining neighbour that they can get access to their back garden via my back garden. I know that is pretty standard and I was obviously aware of it when I purchased. Since moving in however it's become clear that they use it as their primary entrance. They never use their front door. They have a sign on the front door telling post man/ couriers etc to go round the back. Again, wouldn't necessarily be a big issue except that there seems to CONSTANTLY be someone walking through! It's an older lady living there with her grandson. He is late teens/ early 20s maybe and in and out like a yo-yo, no exaggeration. Ditto her boyfriend, her dog walker, her cleaner, her food shop, couriers (she gets at least two packages a day!) .... The latter particularly pisses me off because they often don't close my gate behind them. I have an OAP dog and 4 children, the youngest of whom is 4. It'd take literal seconds to slip out of the garden without anyone noticing 😠 And frankly, now that its summer time it just feels quite intrusive. Strangers walking in and out while my children are playing. I stupidly feel awkward sitting outside to read a book even though it's my fucking garden!

Is it even a legal thing to say that they are over using their access?!

Should also add that I would probably mind all this less except that at the end of last year the handle of my gate broke. It was the week before Christmas and I didn't have time or money to fix it and it wasn't particularly a priority for me, but I told the neighbour I would sort it after Christmas, quite reasonably I thought. (I have a side door so actually rarely use the gate). Neighbour told me I had to fix it because it is "YOUR gate" and "a public right of way" (it isn't 🤣).Then proceeded to tell all the other neighbours that I was "refusing" to fix it because I didn't use it and that she "couldn't even get her food delivered" and would "rather die than use the front door"... After a week of hassle and harassment I ended up getting a friend's husband to fix it for free and neighbour has since apologised but... I don't know, it just left a sour taste.

Is there anything I can do? Do I just have to wait for her to move/die?? 🙈

I wish it was ok, I can't see a problem with it but people who have the right to use on foot with or without workmen at all times and for all purposes are not likely to accept this. The op could try this but it might depend on how deep everypnes pockets are in my experience!