What can I do about my neighbour?

[HuffleWoof]

Mid terrace. We both town she's my next door but 1 neighbour to the left.

Her child is 18 and apparently loses her keys so much she's not got one now so she uses the back door which locks automatically. She then goes into my neighbours garden via his gate, opens the gate to my garden and then walks over the patio and opens the gate into my right hand neighbours garden, through 2 more gardens down a ginnel and out onto the main road.

I don't care about her using our garden for access as they do have access to bring bins round. My issue is that more often than not she'll leave all the gates wide open and my dogs can escape onto the main road. And it's busy. She couldn't give a shit.

Tonight my dogs got out because all the gates were wide open one went they went different ways. They came back immediately because I've worked on recall but it's not the point!

Can I install a gate that immediately shuts without her touching it? It's pissing me off so much.

Well said !

OP - you need to be careful with some of this advice from a legal standpoint.

If your deeds say access for the bins only then, if I were you, I would give them seven days warning that you'll be putting a lock on the gate and state the reason why - do this in writing. Tell them the gate will only be unlocked on bin day. Do not give them their own key - 1. They'll lose it and you can't just say "tough shit" and 2. They'll use it on days other than bin day and the same issue will occur. Then put the lock on and put up a camera (the camera really is important).

Make sure they have access for the bins every bin day - that's as far as your obligation goes.

I own a house where we have right of way through our neighbour's garden to bring out the bins and then out via an alleyway. The gate to the alleyway is locked, though, and both houses have a key. My understanding is that this is fairly typical. If you wanted to avoid the confrontation that might come from saying "I have installed a lock on the gate because your teenager is inconsiderate" you could say in a note that you suspect an intruder has had access to the alleyway/gardens and that you have been advised by your insurance to install a lock and include a copy of the key in the envelope. They can't really argue with that. You'll still need to install something that is self locking though, of course.

Have you attempted to discuss with the 18yo (who is an adult) or just with the parent/ home owner?

I would ask for a quick chat next time you see her coming through your back garden and explain how her behaviour is resulting in your dog escaping.

If you do provide a key (I personally wouldn't) then make it clear in the letter that should they lose they key and require another, they will be responsible for the cost of having a new key cut.