Neighbour dilemma!

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Hello mums. I'm new here and this is my first post. I just wanted people's opinions. I rent a back to back property with an enclosed garden, which I intend to eventually buy. My landlord has an agreement with the owner on the back of me to have a set of keys to my top and bottom gate (ginnel entrance) and help herself to the washing line. She has never introduced herself, or even shouts over our gate to warn us of her coming. She just turns up, puts the washing out and leaves. She has walked in on my partner doing a work out this morning, which had resulted in her now feeling on edge and no privacy. What would you guys do? Do I speak to the landlord? Or the neighbour? If so how do I approach this?

Thanks in advance

Discuss with your landlord if you have a good relationship with them. Just explain what's happened and that you'd like to end the agreement with your neighbour but that out of courtesy you're talking to them first. If you've been good tenants theres no reason for your landlord to disagree.

You need to remind your landlord that you are entitled to quiet enjoyment of your property.

The landlord might stick a fence down the middle of the garden and give you both half each if they don't want clothes to be dried inside, so be prepared for that scenario.

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@OlaEliza why would the landlord give away half the garden? The other house is not owned by the landlord.

Hello everyone. Been in touch with my landlord and didnt get much info apart from the washing woman is allowed access. So I bought the deeds for the house and it states the house backed onto mine has been allowed access since 1958!! Landlord is checking small print with solicitor this week as if it's set it stone and something I cant change I'm staying well away from buying!

Who owns the washing line? It seems a very odd arrangement; you're right to have second thoughts about buying.

If it is mentioned in the deeds then she does have rights. His problem is that he should have mentioned this when he was renting out to you so I would take it up with him, ask why you were never told that you would have a complete randomer in your garden hanging washing and what is he going to do about it. As you are a tenant the only option there would be to lower the rent.

Actually that's a good point about the washing line. My mam doesn't like the look of hers and takes it down when she isn't using it. It just clips on and off so no big deal but might be worth thinking about.

It is an established right of access to the garden and so there is no undoing this. It is in the deeds.

I would be looking for another place to rent when your tenancy agreement is up for renewal. It depends on the exact wording of the deeds re access or use but still it means she is entitled to come into your garden whenever she likes.

If you want to have a read up on the legalities then the Garden Law forum on Rights of Way is an interesting read.