Can't anyone help MeV (house access thing )

[scrumbledegg]

Right so immediately off the bay it's a bin access thing.

We have (had) access over the rest of the terraces back gardens to bring bins through etc. New neighbours have moved in recently and they've padlocked the access gate to the side alley and I don't know what to do.

I've checked my deeds and I do have 'right of use of land on the blue check mark line without needing to pay rent' according to them' does that mean the padlock needs to be removed?

The one thing that's lead to this is that my niece who's been staying with me and I think maybe hanging around in my neighbours gardens at 3am this weekend with her bf which is unacceptable, he's also been urinating in the side alley which is communal but also beyond repulsive and she's moving out because I found out plus a few other things but she's gone now.

Also she's been leaving the gates between gardens open whilst she goes to get a takeaway or goes to meet him/ or just when she leaves the house, and I know one dog of my neighbours got out and got hit by a car because her gate was open and he used the dog door and went into the garden, saw the gate was open and went exploring onto the main road.. he's fine now btw.

I know it's been bad for my neighbours but can they block my access to the gate? How do I do my bins?

Forgot the diagram, this is from my deeds but I looked online and it says there are no 'easements' through my neighbours gardens. I've bought the info on the land registry site.

I have no idea about the legal side of things, but whatever you do, next time you speak to your neighbours you really need to carrying a cake, a massive bunch of flowers and a "So sorry I'm a shit neighbour" card.

It might mainly be due to your neice but the amount of trouble your household is causing is just unacceptable. I'm stunned that you're more bothered about your bins than the relationship with the neighbours.

From what they have written they shouldn't block your access but I can sure as hell understand why they have. Appalling behaviour from your niece and her boyfriend.

I don't understand your diagram. Possibly because I'm from a different place and access through terraces is not familiar. Could you please update with a little more detail?

But I understood enough to know that your niece and her bf are a real piece of work and she should be paying all vet bills for the poor dog.

While you have a right of way, the easment can be terminated in some cases, but damages etc route would require injunction afaik then termination and getting rid of the easment completely is not easy process. You should be able to use it, they can't just padlock it, BUT I would do this in their case too ready to battle it in court.
Get your niece out and then go speak with them an explain the problem has gone and they need to reopen it.
If it were me, I would pursue for vet bill and other damages tbh so you were lucky there.

Sorry I misread, she is gone so go and speak to them.

First step... apologise yo your neighbours.

If its just for bins, suggest its unlocked the night before for people to put bins out, and again for people to put bins away that evening.

Fucking hell. I don’t blame your neighbours for locking the gate. I would be livid with you and your niece if I were them.

You need to apologise profusely, explain she no longer lives there and ask for them to remove the padlock so you can get your bins out.

I will go round to the neighbours because I am so embarrassed and I paid for the dogs vet bill. I was just trying to do a nice thing for her but it's backfired so badly.

Maybe I'll suggest it's opened for the bins and then closed again after the bins have been emptied and put back into the storage place thanks all.

If you go round with a massive apology, an explanation of why this will never happen again, Monty for their losses and a box of chocolates, they’ll hopefully reopen it.

If it's on your deeds that you have right of way (ROW) then that acsess can't be locked/blocked by anyone.
I'd have a chat with your neighbour and show them the deeds and ask them to remove the padlock.

Hopefully your niece wasn't staying there long enough for any damage she caused with the neighbours to be reversed by you.
Tell them she won't ever be staying again, and mean/stick by it.

I would have locked it too. I would only reopen if there was a guarantee none of this would happen again.

The one thing that's lead to this is that my niece who's been staying with me and I think maybe hanging around in my neighbours gardens at 3am this weekend with her bf which is unacceptable, he's also been urinating in the side alley which is communal but also beyond repulsive and she's moving out because I found out plus a few other things but she's gone now.

Also she's been leaving the gates between gardens open whilst she goes to get a takeaway or goes to meet him/ or just when she leaves the house, and I know one dog of my neighbours got out and got hit by a car because her gate was open and he used the dog door and went into the garden, saw the gate was open and went exploring onto the main road.. he's fine now btw.

I know it's been bad for my neighbours but can they block my access to the gate? How do I do my bins?

Well you obviously knew what the niece and her boyfriend were doing because you've described it in great detail here, how are you surprised that the poor neighbours have padlocked their gate? And you say "she's moving out" and then "she's gone now" which is it? Because while she's still under your roof you can't really start to make amends for what has happened in case anything else happens that makes you look like a liar for saying it won't happen again, which could lead to the gate being permanently locked.

If I were you, I'd ask them to open it to get your bins out one last time then leave them at the front of your property, even if that's unsightly, and revisit access to the back at some point in the future. If they won't unlock it at this point or engage with you (totally understandable, I can't imagine how upsetting it is to have some random yobbos in your garden at 3am) then you will have to wheel your bins through the house to get them to the front of your property.

Massive bunch of flowers, tell neighbours is leaving on X date because of her unacceptable behaviour and thereafter would they remove the padlock as per the deeds.