New neighbour using my private garden...

[Wattyyyy]

...

"I have no idea if it's an urban legend, but I have heard a few times over the years some people say that "if you can build it in a day, it doesn't need planning permission"

@LurkingHusband - I believe there used to be a form of squatters rights, on common land where you had to build a dwelling with a roof and working chimney/fireplace in a day, and then you stood at the four corners of the building and threw your axe as far as you could, and those four points marked the four corners of your land. You could then live there and work the land.

I was told this by my dad, who was a keen amateur local historian - it was the explanation for the little enclaves in the hill near us - all abandoned and gone to rack and ruin, but you could see there had been a dwelling and enclosed land there.

If I was the CFN and the building wasn't listed than I would probably have done something similar because it's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission and access to the courtyard could significantly increase the value of my home so might be worth the cheeky risk.

In this scenario I would get together with all my other neighbours and find evidence of the original building and of any doors leading into courtyard and use that in a planning application to have all the flats fitted with doors leading to the garden in a suitable style.

Wow ... I can't believe they did that!

I think you need to prepare yourself for the fact that they will come round. If they think (no matter how wrongly) that is a shared garden and they have a right to access they are going to want to know why you have stopped the builders. If I'd been told that my flat should have access to the garden by the sellers, I might not have said anything to you before putting a door in because I'd assume I could. Hypothetically, I mean. In reality I'd probably have discussed it because I would want to let you know in case you were planning to hang washing out. (All of this is assuming I think I'm allowed to put my door in, obviously.) Get a friend round, stay calm and pleasant.

I'd immediately put a fence up enclosing my garden

Wow! They are certainly CHNs!
My Dad used to own a listed building. At some point in it's history it was painted a very unpleasant shade of pink. Then it was listed as it was of historical significance. Dad wanted to return it to the original colour but as it had been listed revolting pink it had to remain revolting pink. He was told he could apply for planning permission but he felt it wasn't worth it.
Stay safe OP and call 101 if you feel threatened at any time.

I would be sorely tempted to be out in MY garden with a Pimms, under an umbrella if I needed to be!

Oh god I'd so be out there with the steak pie eating it staring at where the wall used to be 😂😂

I'm sorry I'm placemarking, I'm too emotionally invested not to find out what happens next!!!

Right so this diagram probably isn't going to help, I'm trying to do one from the garden point of view too 😂 While wondering if every noise is them coming home!!

The middle squares are the gardens.

So basically the way it has been designed is that there are not enough gardens for the amount of flats. And each second flat overlooks nextdoors garden. Which may be a bit unfair but this is obviously reflected in the price of each flat. And everyone else seems to have understood this concept!

"Iruka Thu 27-Jul-17 17:30:38
Zip tie the door handles, nice and tight so they can't even open them enough to cut the ties 😂"

Ok, THIS is genius.

Do detached houses have any similar problems?

I live in a terrace in a naice area. We have back garages and access on the back lane, it is lovingly held to by all. No exceptions. Works well.

.

I'm on my way with bricks and cement to fill up that gawdarn hole in their wall ?!

how very dare they

quite odd, ..is there no way into gardens at all except through the flat? .

OP.

Which is your flat in the diagram. PLEASE.

Which is your flat? And which is your garden? And where have they put the doors?

oh OP, I was going to say you've enough to deal with without worrying about a diagram! you can have a gold star for that.

I really find it impossible that someone could buy a flat and not know they don't own the garden. Did they really think they had a garden they couldn't access?!

Excellent diagram, OP. I couldn't work it out at all, but now it's very clear.

I know, it's a bit of an odd set up but the buildings are really old and presumably as it's all listed it's not going to be changed any time soon.

No, no other way into the gardens except through the flats.

They've still not arrived back.

I'm guessing OP's flat is the one on the top right of the diagram?

Is the original window anything like this op? If it was then apart from being CFNs they are also batshit for swapping it for fugly pvc French windows.

That diagram does the job OP - and agree that the zip tie idea is genius. Effective without damage. I would speak to them tonight though, otherwise feelings will be building on both sides - get it sorted ASAP!

newdaddie are you off your rocker? You're saying you'd basically steal land from your neighbour just because you wanted it? That's appalling!

Sorry I just can't believe this is true, and I don't mean that offensive OP or along you a troll or anything, I'm just astounded!

Even if they were cowboy builders it's a loser building, and the owners of the flat also canot think living in a listed building where you can't even change a light fitting mean they can knock a great big hole in the structure of a listed building

Also working in this area, if a listed building was damanged my council wouldn't be waiting until the tomorrow to attend as it's a bloody listed building they would be sending someone round ASAP

So six flats and 4 gardens, therefor 2 of the flats are overlooking gardens but have no access?

Then they knew for sure what they were doing, and you need to report this and raise concerns pronto.

They are not likely to be reasonable. They will stamp their feet and say "it is not fair" and steal your garden.