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.

I doubt you jointly own it. If the gate gives onto your property, I would have thought it more likely you own it and the access route / alleyway. Have you checked your deeds?

Thank him for painting the COMMUNAL gate. No need for a big fuss.

You need to get out more ... a gate !!!!

Could you paint 'your half' white?

Although getting straight lines can be tricky so perhaps a 'zebra effect' where the lines are more random and wobberly [sic] may be easier.

Assuming, of course, that you are not in a country where thee are lions meandering about. You don't want great teeth marks and slobber all over your gate, believe you me.

OP - I think there is a misunderstanding here that the gate is 'jointly owned'. It sounds as though it's technically your property and your neighbours only have right of access. They have no business painting it even if it were falling apart. You definitely need to assert this or they will treat your property as their own. Your annoyance is not about the colour or that they painted it, rather it's about them touching and amending what's yours - without your permission or consent.

You need a hobby.

It was maybe just a thoughtful thing to do, People like to paint,and spruce up outside woodwork in the Spring, and maybe the gate painter only had some black paint available. I must admit, that I don't much like black paint, but at least it is preserving the wood.

I have some tubes of different coloured sparkled gel paint in my shed, you can paint it over wood or bricks etc. and it looks quite nice when the sun comes out, it's not garish at all, just quite nice. I have a silver one, which which would be quite good when painted over black.!

If three of you own it (unlikely. Check your deeds) what happens if you each choose a different colour?

Dear Neighbour
Thanks so much for painting the shared gate. It looks great. Just for future reference, as it's a shared gate/as it belongs to us, we tend to run any changes or repairs by each other before going ahead. Hope that's ok with you.
Looking forward to seeing you out in the garden over summer (nicety nicety bla bla)
Yours Rikki

oh get a grip and stop being such a misery

Next time you see them (ie don't go knocking to say this) say "hi neighbour, I noticed you painted the gate. Just wanted to check you know it's jointly owned by you, me and X? It's not a big deal but in future would you please talk to us before doing any maintenance as we need to all jointly agree on work. Thanks!"

I definitely think you should say something but don't make a big deal out of it either as some people will think you are overreacting (as evidenced by comments on this thread).

I once owned a house with a right of way to take bins out. - so my house had a smaller garden because previous owners had made a passageway to get bins out round two corners of our garden. Without seeing a diagram - I am not sure - but in all honesty - just painting black doesn't sound dreadful. Speak to neighbours in a nice way and then you might be able to say you will paint in your choice if you would prefer it.

Wow. What a fuss about fuck all...

I'd be happy someone else has done it

I'd just thank him and leave it at that.

YANBU. If it’s jointly owned or should be a joint decision.

I don't think it's worth falling out with neighbours over.

I’d take this up with them. We let a similar thing slide and now it’s pure hell. .

If the neighbour decides to fall out with OP over something that neighbour shouldn’t have done in the first place then that is on him, not on OP!

Just let it go and you'll have forgotten about in a week. Confront them and the bad feeling could start for a very long time...
Really not worth it

Life is too short!

I might say “oh it looks nice, but can you mention to me another time” but nothing more.

Listen to your Wife. (Why do I have this mental image of you chairing a Zoom Neighbourhood Watch meeting).

@Nanny0gg

If three of you own it (unlikely. Check your deeds) what happens if you each choose a different colour?

They get a third each to paint. It’s only fair. Would you third it vertically or horizontally?

Do you have a diagram?