Would this put you off a house? (Back garden/privacy)

[merchantofvenezia]

We’re moving to a new town and have found a house we really like.

At the end of the back garden, there is a very steep bank (probably about 6m up, 1 across). It’s an artificial bank, and there used to be a railway line running across it, but now it’s a cycle path. There are houses on either side.

We went up on the path, and anybody walking along it has a very clear view of the garden (a few trees in the way, but probably about 50% visibility). Having checked the deeds, the property does not include the bank - the garden ends at the bottom - meaning that we couldn’t, for example, put an opaque fence up at the side of the path.

The path wasn’t particularly busy on the day we were there, but I understand it’s very popular in the summer.

I’m trying to work out if this particularly bothers me - do you think it’s a big disadvantage that lots of people have a clear view of your garden?

I know the bank isn't yours but it would hardly be your fault if budleas started growing there!

I'd hate it...and I disagree that people won't look. Cyclists won't but any walkers will probably have a good nose as they go past imo (I do on our local cycle path because I find other people's houses and gardens fascinating).

+1

I would totally have a nosey.

It would be a big plus for me too

We can’t access the cycle path through the garden as the bank is too steep, but a 5 minute walk from the house there is a set of stairs that gets you up onto it. At the top of the hill there is a flat entrance, for getting bikes on.

The town is quite hilly, and the cycle path is completely flat (as it used to be a railway), so in some places the path is far lower than the houses on either side, in some places it’s level with the houses, and in others it’s far higher than the houses.

It would put me off

I think I'd be concerned about possibly future uses for the route. Could it be converted back to a railway line at some point, or guided bus or tramway?

I wouldn't as I'd be worried about security. I live in a nice area and am 5 minutes ride from a very popular cycle path. It's the main source of trouble around here. In the daytimes it's lovely and very busy with families and commuters. At night though anti-social behaviour on it is rife.

Gangs congregate, there's graffiti, litter, even attacks on dog walkers. Dh has had to replace 4 inner tubes in 3 weeks because of broken glass on blind bends. I've just seen on my local Facebook page that a group of teenagers is currently riding mopeds up and down it. Last week someone strung wire across the path between trees on each side and injured an early morning commuter.

So no, as much as I enjoy using cycle paths, I wouldn't buy a house backing onto one.

Plant laurel....they grow at a ferocious rate and you’ll be sorted in no time.

I wouldnt want to be near a cycle path, one near where I lived in Bristol lots of anti social behavior on and near, muggings etc

I wouldn't buy it but I wouldn't buy one with a house behind either as I like privacy in my garden.

I do like to nosey into other people's houses and gardens though.

It's a definite no from me.......

I wouldn't buy it. But privacy is important to us. I would think walkers will be poking into all the gardens and houses. I certainly do on an similar cycle / walking path near us.

It would be a total no for me but it depends how important privacy is as well as what other comprises you’re happy to make in terms of size/location in your area. I walk along a path to the station that goes round the back of houses and I do have a good nose. I think it is human nature. I’d also be worried about what people on the path would drop into your garden, security etc.

You could probably grow the dreaded leylandi for some privacy if the house was otherwise right but you’d have to wait a while to get the height and coverage.

With that locale I would think about fly-tipping, litter on the path blowing into your garden and a local spot for teenagers to hang out and drink etc. Obviously none of these things may be a problem, but they're all things I have lived next to at some stage, through lack of foresight.