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

Get free advice from CAB also did your solicitor point out the easement as again you could look at your house insurance and see whether you have some redress about this too ! good ones should be making sure their clients understand the potential issues . You also may have an opportunity to to sue the previous owner as it sounds like there is history with the neighbour that they did not disclose which they are legally bound to do - hope you get a good outcome if you have young children I would focus on the need for their safety and security as well as your own as your neighbours rights should not trump your right to peacefully enjoy your garden … the law is sometimes ‘an ass’ but if it’s not challenged , bad law stays in place … I doubt you want to spend money that needs to feed and clothe your kids so look at where you can get free advice and challenge this ridiculous situation . Good luck

Blocking up an exit which needs to be used in an emergency-such as a fire is within their remit, I think you will find.

First port of call is definitely checking the deeds - ask your conveyancing solicitor to confirm, I did this and they did it for free, you could ask them to send you the deeds too so you have a copy. Then act based on that. If she is only allowed access to put bins out I would lock the gate and offer her access if she messages you in advance, or get a code lock on the gate and tell her the code the day before bin day and then change it quite regularly. If she has a wider right of access I would do a code lock on the gate and give her the code, and juste ensure you change it regularly so she can't be telling all the delivery people.

A key locked gate I think she’d just leave unlocked and you couldn’t force her to lock it meaning OP would still be inconvenienced by needing to monitor it.

A code based lock is ideal as it locks automatically every time the gate closes (we have one on the side gate to our house) - the OP can change the code periodically and just make sure the neighbour has it. This also negates the issue of the neighbour getting multiple keys cut and giving them to others. If the code changes regularly, you have genuine security.

She's allowed to lock it as long she provides a key/ lock code to her neighbour.

Especially as she has young children and a dog, having a secure garden is important.

She isn't prohibiting or blocking access, just securing it appropriately.

You can't do that.

No it's not. Access is not limited unless the deeds say it is

And this shows some of the things you might be able to do eg install a locked gate if everyoe who has access is given a key. - right of way rules for terraced houses - but it seems to me your neighbour wont take that passively.

I tyoed this into google - caselaw on easements in a row of terraced houses - and got a summary that shows you really cant do some of the things suggested here/

Actually can’t you get back in touch with the solicitor who did the conveyancing and ask them to explain what acces she is allowed and what your rights are?

This is clearly driving you mad, and I can understand why. But please dont do anything until you know exactly what the easement/right of way covers (whch might mean taking a bit of legal advice re the caselaw) and what might be done about it. Disputes between neighours can really get out of hand and it sounds as if they aren't above a bit of property damage, as well as refusing to negotiate or change their habits. And refusing ti use their front door does seem a bit bizarre. On the very scanty information here, it seems as if they wont pay or contribute to the upkeep and maintenance they lose the right of way, whch might be your strongest hand.

Access is limited for bringing things into and removing them from the garden, such as bins, garden waste etc. It would not include her using it as her main entrance and she should definitely not be letting anyone else use it (unless a gardener/builer etc has a genuine reason to need access to the back of the house).

Get a solicitor to write to her to confirm what the access is for, give notice that you will be locking the gate from X date for security reasons and that you will of course allow her access for what it’s intended for, as long as she either texts or e-mails you beforehand so you can unlock the gate for her.

Lovely. I just read some other posts advising be very careful legally as you have to give unfettered access 😵‍💫 so dunno if the lock is actually a good idea!! I think I’d get a free hal hour with a solicitor ( if they still do that) take the deeds and get an opinion.

Stick a lock on the rear access gate. Then the ball’s in their court to prove what their entitlement is. Whatever the legal right is, the cost of enforcing it for them is far more prohibitive than the ten quid cost of a padlock to enforce your right to privacy.

I would put a thumbprint activated lock and get her thumbprint onto it. She can use it as she sees fit, she just has to go and put her thumb on it to open it. Charge her half of it (it says you can).

I suspect she will discover her front door.

I hate those sites that get people to pay more for free or cheap government services. Often they don't add any actual value for the extra money.

First, write her a nice note, saying that the current traffic is unacceptable (use a nicer word) and she has to stop all these extraneous people.
Second, put a sign on wherever it is - and have a professional sign made, so it looks more formal - saying: Private property: Residents only.
That way you make it clear that you're fine with her, as a resident, but not all the other random people.

Gosh who knew this was even possible. So putting a lock on the gate isn’t a good idea it seems!

Could OP put a lock on the gate and give her neighbour a key? That way she could use it but her visitors and delivery people couldn't.

Yes, provide her with a key and she'll have to open her front door to hand it to delivery drivers 😆

So do you have to leave the gate open all the time even when you’re at work? At night? When the older kids will be home alone ? Could you lock it , give her one non copiable key and tell her she has to lock it when she comes and goes for your house security. If she doesn’t lock it you go out and lock it.It will mean she has to be in and out letting people in. Which will be a pain and she might start opening he front door instead?

This is a good idea. Don’t stop her access but make it as fucking difficult as possible. A padlock with a kay so she has to walk down and physically unlock it every single time. She sounds like a horrible rude entitled old bag. Sorry you’re having to put up with this 🙁

The text that @Deepblueokay posted mentions a shaded area in Green, do you have that map? If not you might be able to get it from the land registry for a few pounds. It’s probably worth getting the deeds anyway to see the exact wording.

Yeah YANBU. Plenty of these easements exist and are not taken advantage of in this way!

Without sounds horrid, how much longer do you think she has? Could you wait it out?

Do you know why she hates the front door? Very odd. Even if she still entered via the back, could everyone else not use the front? Could a lock on the gate that she has a single key to be helpful? Or even a keypad?