Being asked this as soon as I move in?! How much do you reckon?

[Teelvethir]

I recently bought a house on a cul de sac with two other houses. The main drive to the cul de sac is unregistered and historically the three properties all chip in to maintain it. I knew this when we bought it. However, I’ve been there two months and they now want to tarmac the entire drive into the cul de sac and widen it. I don’t know the exact measurements but it’s probably about 18 SUV cars long in total from the main road to the end house. I’m guessing.

I am really concerned as to what the cost will be. I know I am going to have to say I will do it if I can afford it and when the quotes come in but in the meantime I am stressing a lot…does anyone know what ball park this will be in in total? 100k? 50? 10?

I literally have no idea and having just moved things are tight.

Re-tarmacing is reasonable if it needs it, but I don't think you should have to pay for widening it - that's an improvement, not maintenance.

I had this - paid for resurfacing - but fortunately there were a lot more houses on the road so it only came to £20 per house. I don't know what the total was.

@Antarcticant thanks! May I ask how many houses on your road? May help me get closer to some sort of ball park!!

Also the road is a bit bumpy at present so needs filling in here and there. Not sure if relevant.

We had this too, each house (about 15) paid about £200 each to resurface a single track lane about 500m long.

About 40, and it was about 12 years ago.

@Glitterspy thanks was this recent or a while ago? 🙂

@Antarcticant thank you!

it isn’t sounding as bad as I thought then! I was thinking it might be around 10k each!

Well you dont have to agree to a) tarmaccing and b) widening. You could, for example just agree to tarmac.

Have they told you why it needs widening? What are the issues, and havenyou experienced them? And what/whose land is to be taken for the wider drive?

Have they had quotes yet?

You need to be upfront and say you are on a budget having just moved in. I suspect the last owner baulked at it and now you are in the right place to be chivvied in to it. A bit of cheeky fuckery going on I believe

I suspect the last owner baulked at it

Yes, that was my thought too.

Are there any covenants in the deeds about it? What did your solicitors say when it was flagged?