AIBU to stop neighbours from using the steps at the side of my house as shortcut?

[thelongroad]

I genuinely can't decide whether saying something would be unreasonable or not.
Our house (blue) is next to the corner house (red). There is a new build next to us, consisting of 2 semis. The one right next to us is still empty, but just before Xmas a family moved into the other one (pink).

All the houses along our road have the front entrance along the front road, but can also be accessed from the back road (we have no garden, only parking spots for the cars). Neither the front nor the back are fenced off. Front road is a dead end, so nobody going past. Back road has occasional cars and kids walking to local school but otherwise nothing (rural village).

We own the bit between us and corner house (their land is fenced off all round). It's sloping downwards towards the back, and we've paved it and put in steps (grey lines) so we can walk from front to back of house. I've also got plants growing there and we have our firewood stack on the side.

Very occasionally kids who are playing on either road use our steps as a shortcut to the other road. This is ok. We've also had workmen ask to use it when they've been working on one road and needed to get to the other. Also fine.

However, since the new neighbours moved in, they have been using it ALL THE TIME for getting from the front to the back. They have a garage at the front of the house but park their 2nd car at the back. Clearly they have no way of getting into their house at the back (we put in a back door specifically for this purpose) so they using our steps to cut through instead of walking all the way around the corner house.

Now, the thing is that the steps go past our living/dining room, and I actually see them zipping past every time. If they look in they can see us too.

It's (irrationally?) annoying the fuck out of me that they seem to think they can just come onto my property because it's more convenient for them.
I've even blocked the bit a the front with a row of plant pots to make it slightly more obvious that it's not a public way, but they're still using it.

I can't decide if I'm being deeply unneighbourly and unreasonable in wanting them to stop using our steps. I know I can ask them to stop and they will have to (from a legal point of view) but should I? Why does this bother me so much??

Apologies that this is so long. I offer a diagram as compensation of you made it through!

If pink are doing it now my guess would be that green will think it's OK as well so unless you want them both doing it I'd say something now and then make green know its private property from day one

You are not being irrational for feeling the way you do, and you are not being unreasonable for not wanting the neighbors constantly walking on your property. However, you don’t want to do anything to antagonize them. Perhaps you can start a conversation with them by mentioning your back door and offer them the name of the company who installed it. If they say it’s no big deal/they don’t want one/cannot afford it/are fine with using your property, tell them that there is a liability issue if they injure themselves of your property. If that doesn’t work, tell them point blank that you do not want them walking on your property because it startles you when someone suddenly appears in your window. If that still doesn’t work, you may need to consider putting up a fence or seeking legal advice. However, before it gets to that point, make certain to tell them you are not trying to create a bad atmosphere in the neighborhood, and you hope they understand your request.

It is not unreasonable and needs to be knocked in the head asap, before the green house sells, they assume it is a right of way and start using it too. Talking to them is the first step!

I would put a big pot at the top with a stake in it with a no entry sign in it. If they ignore it I would ambush them!

Hmm but really can’t you tell when you’re using a shortcut that it’s not really ok given the way it encroaches privacy?

I presume you’ve already checked your deeds and that they don’t have shared access?

If they don’t then It’s vital that you install a gate. A friend of mine has just had a lengthy legal battle with a neighbour who had been using her side access alleyway. The previous owner (of her house) had been abroad and rented it for a number of years in which the neighbour had installed their own side gate and presumed right of way.

Of course, in the interest of goodwill I’d have a chat with them…perhaps say something about dog walkers leaving mess, and that access will be blocked in the near future. It might be an idea to mention that you had a rear entrance installed, and that it’s something they might like to look into.

Always best not to let these things escalate. Best of luck!

Definitely have a friendly chat with them and point out it's not much further to walk around the end 'red' house. Nip in bud now.

Maybe come out when they pass, have a small talk and tell them that you are getting annoyed by the kids constantly using your path without realizing it's your private property. Ask the neighbors for an advise how to stop the kids use it 😃

If after a number of years say it constitutes a public right of way?

Get a lockable gate put up & lock it that’ll screw them up I’d put in front & back just so they really get the message.

Will probably need planning permission.

For a fence and gate on your own property? I very much doubt it (in England at least).

Before you put up signs saying private property or fit gates, just mention to them - I don’t know if you realised but this is in fact our property, not a right of way so can you please not use it? I’m sure they don’t realise and will be very apologetic. If they do make a fuss or continue to use it then you may have to put up signs, before the other neighbours move in too.

However, you don’t want to do anything to antagonize them.

Says who?

Anyway, stating a conversation, or sending a letter about something in a plain neutral way, with the usual level of politeness due to everyone the first time, is not antagonizing. Some of the suggestions about "how" to tell them or what to do instead of telling them on this thread are ridiculous IMO.

The "in" of saying about the kids and that your insurer recommends (because they always would, if you asked) that any misunderstandings about right of way are nipped in the bud are good ideas though.

They might think it’s a right of way. I’d put a stop to anyone using it but I am quite territorial about my property.!

YANBU - I suggest strong gates which can't be climbed over and have locks on. Otherwise, if you ask them not to walk through and they continue it would feel like an escalation and could become even more awkward.

🙄

This. Perhaps they don't realise this is not a public right of way. Unless you tell them they are actually walking through your garden, they may not realise.

Lookng at it again I'd fence past your cars and cap at at the end , put a high gate in - in the fence facing your cars
Mark your territory basically

You're not being unreasonable. This is a security risk. When I was a kid my family moved from a terraced house to a semi a mile down the road in a posher area of the city, but we were opposite a rugby ground and people going to the matches used to cut through our garden all the time. We had a boltable gate but the rugby fans used to try to bribe my brother, from when he was about 4, to let them through for 10p (early 1980s so a bit more spending power then). We also had a side door opening into a large eat in kitchen and we had a real problem with opportunist thefts - much more so than in the more working class area we'd lived in before or than the one I'm in now - both terraced houses, and I'm in an area which doesn't have a great reputation. If I got burgled from the back I'd be uh, we've got dodgy neighbours either next door or on the close side of the next street as their houses back on to ours.

I think access should have been planned as part of the new build - and if anyone has new homes being built right next to them you can look at planning permissions on your local council's website - obviously it's too late now for the OP.

As well as speaking to new neighbours and restricting access, might be worth finding out more about who the houses have been built by. Have your neighbours bought their home or is this a rental/shared ownership development? Is the other house advertised as up for sale etc and what are new occupants being told by the agent?

You either need to stop everybody from cutting through (maybe fitting a gate), or nobody.
Singling out one set of neighbours from using it only, is your legal right, but that's gonna create aggro between your family and their family.
I've seen smaller issues than this lead to long lasting and very nasty neighbourly feuds. Just be careful that whatever you do appears to be fair.

This would have my blood boiling, especially if you think it’s obvious that it’s private property.

I’d try a ‘no entry / no trespassers’ sign in a plant pot, or clearly with chalk on the ground.

If that doesn’t work they will need to be stopped by a gate. It could be one that’s just a latch that you open over the top.

If you own it, block it off or put a Private Property sign up.You shouldn’t have to put up with folk walking over your property right in front of your window. See what happens if you go onto their front lawn and walk past their lounge window repeatedly ,sure they’d be out in no time. They’ve got a cheek ,unless the constant footfall has made them believe it’s public land or a right of way. Have you checked that this isn’t actually part of a public right of way?

You’re definitely not being unreasonable, it’d drive me insane and, like many mentioned, should they trip and hurt themselves, you could be liable for compensation. I understand you can’t put a gate up but I would definitely talk to them. It needs to stop. I hope you have a positive outcome from the chat.

As for the photo I’m adding, after I read your post I went onto FB to have a good old scroll through and came across this post😅 Made me think of you so I thought I’d come back and share with you all! 😅🤣

I would put up tall bamboo plants in one large planter box so they would have difficulty a-moving it and b- understanding that this is a private place and not there for their convenience. It's beyond cheeky of them to keep doing this knowing that you can see them.

I understand why most of you feel that just putting up fencing/gates would solve this problem - it would, but there's no 'just' about it. Fencing is expensive and will chang the aesthetics.
I'd be tempted to just catch them in the act one day and politely but firmly say stop doing it. I can't see that this would turn into an argument, there isn't one, it's your land and you've asked them to stop. Be prepared though for a pleasant/chatting Oh we were just getting Jack's tools or whatever....don't get distracted by that. Just repeat, yes but it's my garden. I'd like you to stop.
If necessary follow up with something in writing that can bectrackec eg text, email letter etc....but hopefully it won't come to that!