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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask to rent a part of my neighbour's garden (diagram included)

28 replies

Fantapops · 21/07/2023 15:52

DW & I bought our house last year, and next door is selling now. Sold by the same people. Both houses have their own private gardens, and we share the front garden, which is south-facing (this is relevant).

Next-door own a tiny strip of the front garden, which has their electricity box in it. Their front door is actually in their private garden, and so far the vendors only use it to check the meter. It's basically just a small path. They have their own small gate, and we have a larger one for access to our garden. The front garden is completely fenced off and leads to our front door only.

DW & I are keen gardeners. We have vegetable patches in the shared garden, on our land only. Our side garden is much bigger but doesn't get much light - we plan to have chickens there next year, but it's not good enough for growing. We have had a good growing season so far but as we're in north Scotland we have been limited with what we can grow without more warmth (and space). I'd like to get some peppers and tomatoes going for example. After many measurements I have figured out that if I want a polytunnel, I need to use next door's strip of garden, and I could do it in a way that doesn't block their electricity box.

So, WIBU to approach new neighbours this winter (when I'm prepping) and ask if we can rent their strip of garden? I was thinking of offering a set amount per month, plus free vegetables during growing season (and eggs once we have chickens) - and if we sell any, then a % of the profit.

Both DW & I are autistic and I'm not sure if this is cheeky, too little to offer, or too much. Any thoughts? Honest feedback please as I won't do it if deemed odd!

Hopefully the diagram is ok :-)

To ask to rent a part of my neighbour's garden (diagram included)
OP posts:
MargosMangos · 21/07/2023 15:56

Well they're not using it so I can't see why they would say no
Don't offer to be over generous with the veg or eggs it won't be easy to go back on if you have a bad crop
Best of luck @Fantapops

Original poster
Fantapops · 21/07/2023 15:59

MargosMangos · 21/07/2023 15:56

Well they're not using it so I can't see why they would say no
Don't offer to be over generous with the veg or eggs it won't be easy to go back on if you have a bad crop
Best of luck @Fantapops

Yes this is true, there's no space on their side to put any chairs out for example. It's a small strip but makes all the difference to us!

OP posts:
Ohmylordnotagain · 21/07/2023 16:01

I think it very much depends on sort of house set up of street etc. I have seen houses that look ok with a polytunnel in front garden my house woukd look awful and I would absolutely say no to neighbours doing that.

SeaToSki · 21/07/2023 16:01

You can always ask.

i dont suppose you have the money to be able to buy next door? Then you can redraw the property lines and flip it to sell without that bit of the front garden (as it will then belong to your property.

Original poster
Fantapops · 21/07/2023 16:02

Ohmylordnotagain · 21/07/2023 16:01

I think it very much depends on sort of house set up of street etc. I have seen houses that look ok with a polytunnel in front garden my house woukd look awful and I would absolutely say no to neighbours doing that.

Oh we're not even in a village. It's my house, neighbour's house, and one detached on the same bit of land (and we know them well, give them veg already etc). The front garden is actually only visible to those houses as we have a big driveway and everyone else is at least a 5-minute walk away.

OP posts:
NobodysNose · 21/07/2023 16:02

You can ask but they may say No.

I am not sure I'd be that comfortable getting into this kind of arrangement with new neighbours, just in case you turned out to be right gits. I'd rather have lived next to you for a year or more first, that way I know you're OK.

Even being asked soon after moving in would make me wonder if you were going to react badly if I were to say no.

Original poster
Fantapops · 21/07/2023 16:03

SeaToSki · 21/07/2023 16:01

You can always ask.

i dont suppose you have the money to be able to buy next door? Then you can redraw the property lines and flip it to sell without that bit of the front garden (as it will then belong to your property.

Ah I wish we did! But sadly not. They went up for sale at the same time and we tried to see if we could but the numbers didn't add up.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fantapops · 21/07/2023 16:04

NobodysNose · 21/07/2023 16:02

You can ask but they may say No.

I am not sure I'd be that comfortable getting into this kind of arrangement with new neighbours, just in case you turned out to be right gits. I'd rather have lived next to you for a year or more first, that way I know you're OK.

Even being asked soon after moving in would make me wonder if you were going to react badly if I were to say no.

Yep I thought this may be the case. I'm sure new neighbours would want to know our character first before we made such an offer. I was thinking about holding off until the 2025 growing season.

OP posts:
ditalini · 21/07/2023 16:05

Too much I think. Keep it simple - offer rent for the use of the space. You can give them vegetables as a neighbourly gesture but I don't think that needs to be specified.

Alternatively they might be willing to take some vegetables in the growing season in lieu of rent if it's not something they actually will use.

The only objection I can think of is if the polytunnel is visible from their house and they don't think they'll like the look of it.

Original poster
Fantapops · 21/07/2023 16:07

ditalini · 21/07/2023 16:05

Too much I think. Keep it simple - offer rent for the use of the space. You can give them vegetables as a neighbourly gesture but I don't think that needs to be specified.

Alternatively they might be willing to take some vegetables in the growing season in lieu of rent if it's not something they actually will use.

The only objection I can think of is if the polytunnel is visible from their house and they don't think they'll like the look of it.

None of their windows actually look onto our garden weirdly. That side of their house is completely windowless - all look onto the driveway or onto their private garden.

I like the idea of keeping it simple. We already gift weekly courgettes to our other neigbours so we'd offer either way.

OP posts:
Maddy70 · 21/07/2023 16:09

Yes offer to rent it. Don't mention the veg. But do give them some x

I'll be honest though I would probably say no chickens really smell (forner owner ). And they make a terrible mess

Wertie · 21/07/2023 16:09

I can’t see harm in asking.
If you find these conversations hard or worry write a short note, explain you have put a note to avoid them feeling pressured- but you’d love to talk

Original poster
Fantapops · 21/07/2023 16:10

Maddy70 · 21/07/2023 16:09

Yes offer to rent it. Don't mention the veg. But do give them some x

I'll be honest though I would probably say no chickens really smell (forner owner ). And they make a terrible mess

Chickens would be kept at the back of our much larger private garden, at the furthest point away from all three houses on the land, so not sure the smell will be an issue per say

OP posts:
Original poster
Fantapops · 21/07/2023 16:11

Wertie · 21/07/2023 16:09

I can’t see harm in asking.
If you find these conversations hard or worry write a short note, explain you have put a note to avoid them feeling pressured- but you’d love to talk

Oh I like this idea! It means they won't feel like they have to say yes. They can just ignore it if they aren't happy with the idea.

OP posts:
FoxRedGreySquirrel · 21/07/2023 16:12

I would leave it until they’ve been there for at least 6 months? Maybe?

They’ll then hopefully be reassured that you’re lovely neighbours and the strip of land is purely just for access.

You can then maybe gauge whether you should be offering to pay for rent etc. How would that work? What if you had established a poly tunnel with fruit and veg growing in there and then your NDN decide to sell, change their mind etc.

What we’re you thinking of offering for rent?

TokyoSushi · 21/07/2023 16:13

So they wouldn't be able to see it at all? I think that's the key. I wouldn't want a neighbour putting a poly tunnel anywhere that I could see and definitely not in the front garden, but it's a bit tricky to picture your set up which sounds like it might be a bit 'non-standard.'

I don't think there's any harm in asking.

Yellowlegobrick · 21/07/2023 16:14

I wouldn't want a polytunnel at the front of my home, even if my windows didn't look out on it. A well tended veg plot is ok but a polytunnel, no.

JulieHoney · 21/07/2023 16:14

Chickens are not smelly if you muck them out regularly.

I think a note sounds a good approach.

Original poster
Fantapops · 21/07/2023 16:14

FoxRedGreySquirrel · 21/07/2023 16:12

I would leave it until they’ve been there for at least 6 months? Maybe?

They’ll then hopefully be reassured that you’re lovely neighbours and the strip of land is purely just for access.

You can then maybe gauge whether you should be offering to pay for rent etc. How would that work? What if you had established a poly tunnel with fruit and veg growing in there and then your NDN decide to sell, change their mind etc.

What we’re you thinking of offering for rent?

Yeah we could easily wait until March to ask.

You raise a good point re potential changing of tenancy.

Tbh I have no idea how much would be acceptable to offer.

OP posts:
Ponderingwindow · 21/07/2023 16:15

Also autistic here and I understand the overthinking.

I would offer a set cash rent.

when you have a bounty of vegetables or eggs you can offer those as a bonus good neighbor gift, but since they are so variable, don’t make them part of the rent offer. It will make it too complicated. Straight money is better.

Original poster
Fantapops · 21/07/2023 16:15

Yellowlegobrick · 21/07/2023 16:14

I wouldn't want a polytunnel at the front of my home, even if my windows didn't look out on it. A well tended veg plot is ok but a polytunnel, no.

It's at the front of our house but at the side of theirs. So it's our front garden, their side garden. Don't know if that makes any sense, the setup is very weird!

Think a steading building. It's the courtyard in the middle.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fantapops · 21/07/2023 16:16

TokyoSushi · 21/07/2023 16:13

So they wouldn't be able to see it at all? I think that's the key. I wouldn't want a neighbour putting a poly tunnel anywhere that I could see and definitely not in the front garden, but it's a bit tricky to picture your set up which sounds like it might be a bit 'non-standard.'

I don't think there's any harm in asking.

No they wouldn't, it's the side of their house rather than the front - but our front.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fantapops · 21/07/2023 16:17

Ponderingwindow · 21/07/2023 16:15

Also autistic here and I understand the overthinking.

I would offer a set cash rent.

when you have a bounty of vegetables or eggs you can offer those as a bonus good neighbor gift, but since they are so variable, don’t make them part of the rent offer. It will make it too complicated. Straight money is better.

Good shout, thank you. Neighbours already receive veg (courgettes weekly at the mo) so we'd just do that anyway really out of kindness.

OP posts:
Tlolljs · 21/07/2023 16:19

Well if you asked me I’d say yes. Especially if it’s out of sight and not being used. Plus veg and eggs.
Im in.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 21/07/2023 16:22

No harm in asking nicely. Personally I would say no because I wouldn't want a polytunnel (or even an allotment) on my front lawn, but I wouldn't be offended by someone asking.

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