Neighbour has changed the colour of jointly owned access gate

[RikkiT]

I live in a terraced house and my 2 adjoining neighbours have access via my garden to the street for things like taking their bins out. There is a single gate onto the street that connects to a alleyway in my garden for myself and my 2 neighbours to use.

Today my neighbour has painted the jointly owned gate without consulting myself or our other neighbour. The gate was white and has been painted black.

Regardless if it "needed painting" or "looks better" in principle my neighbour should have consulted me and my other neighbour first right?

It more the principle that they have done it without checking in first. If it had been kept the same colour I may have overlooked it as it it. something we are all jointly responsible for.

Would It be unreasonable of me to confront my neighbour and ask why they didn't consult me and my neighbour first?

My wife seems to think it will cause more hassle than it's worth.

Does it look ok?
If it does, I’d leave it.

Did it need painting though?

It would be nice if they had asked but it isn't as if black is a wildly outrageous colour.

You could go and talk to them about it but as offences go, its pretty minor.

Mind you I would also be outraged and I'd sneak out at night and paint it white again or even lime green with pink spots on if I had the paint...

Do you actually care about the colour of the gate though, or are you annoyed on principle? If the latter, let it go. Technically they probably should agree with everyone and you all pay your share and/or take turns painting it but unless it's massive and a horrendous colour I can't imagine getting too worked up about this

What colour is their front door? Does painting it black make it look as if it belongs to their property?

Is it to a shared alleyway or your garden. If the former and it looks ok I would simply leave it. If it's a gate on your deeds and especially if you don't like it you need to raise it politely

Depends how much you care. Technically I think you're right but I couldn't be arsed to care tbh.

Why cause a fuss about something you couldn't be bothered to do?

It's a gate.

It must have needed painting.

And even if it could have waited, they didn't damage it and chose an inoffensive colour.

You seem to be pissing in your boundaries... wanting to assert your authority... over something that is really inconsequential.

what paint did they use? the correct one?

did they prep it properly?

Why dont you paint your half white?

@WiddlinDiddlin

Did it need painting though?

It would be nice if they had asked but it isn't as if black is a wildly outrageous colour.

You could go and talk to them about it but as offences go, its pretty minor.

Mind you I would also be outraged and I'd sneak out at night and paint it white again or even lime green with pink spots on if I had the paint...

It probably did need a touch-up. I'm more annoyed at the principle as anything done on the gate should be a joint decision.

Life is way to short to be bothered in principle!!

@CastleCrasher

Do you actually care about the colour of the gate though, or are you annoyed on principle? If the latter, let it go. Technically they probably should agree with everyone and you all pay your share and/or take turns painting it but unless it's massive and a horrendous colour I can't imagine getting too worked up about this

I'm definitely more annoyed in principle as it should be a joint decision. I'm worried if I don't say anything now I'm opening myself up for future issues to occur.

You seem to be pissing in your boundaries... wanting to assert your authority... over something that is really inconsequential.

This... it doesn’t sound like you’ve actually got an issue with the paint colour or the standard of work, just that you didn’t get told.

@Llyn

What colour is their front door? Does painting it black make it look as if it belongs to their property?

Yes they have painted it the same colour as their front door. Technically although it is for joint access the gate leads onto my property.

It would have been better to ask you but maybe they had some left over paint that was suitable from another job and thought no-one would mind.

Since it’s only the principle that has annoyed you, I’d let it go (unless they send you a bill for the pain and labour). Is there anything else that is jointly owned? What do your deeds say about maintaining the jointly owned things?

Make your point if you want, but if I was them I'd then bill you for a third of the cost.

They probably thought they were doing everyone a favour

You should say thank you

If it's onto your property and they can only go through it for access it's YOUR gate surely?

I'd have to say something. Not confrontational per say, so maybe I'd approach it like "hey neighbour, I've noticed you've painted our gate. It looks great, thank you, but in future, I'd very much appreciate if all neighbours could be consulted regarding the work / colour etc.."

@minniemomo

Is it to a shared alleyway or your garden. If the former and it looks ok I would simply leave it. If it's a gate on your deeds and especially if you don't like it you need to raise it politely

it's a gate to an alleyway that leads to my garden. My neighbors then both have gates further down into my garden that gives them access to my property for them to use the alleyway and said gate that has been painted to take their bins out.

He had his brush out painting his door and he's tidied the gate up same brush same paint.
Think I'd be thinking him rather than kicking off.

Probperly had some paint left so used it up presume he hasn't charged you for his time effort and paint .

Wow I wish I had problems like this

Life's too short.

Breathe.

Have a glass of wine.

Let it go.

I think its ridiculous to raise ot of your peoblem is only 'in principal'. Unless you actually care to change it you're pissing on neighbourly relations for the sake of being right.