House dilemma (with diagram)

[OneGreyBiscuit]

Need some quick thoughts for this please as I'm on a timer. I went to look at a house through social housing yesterday, it's mine if I want it. There's a new bathroom and kitchen although everywhere else needs tlc. My main issue is that the next door neighbours have access to the back garden from their property, would this put anyone off? Diagram for looking at below. The arrows is where next door can walk through.

Is it any different to having the front of your house either directly on to the street or with a very small front garden?

If it was a bedroom or living room I’d be a bit wary, but as it’s your kitchen I would be less worried. There’s always going to be compromises - as it is you’re getting a proper house, with a garden, that’s in decent shape. And it’s one household that has access, probably not all night party people since they’ve got a young kid. You could get offered a flat with neighbours on all sides with all and sundry passing your door.

My first house was like this and, honestly, it was never a problem. Mostly people just used the path to take their bins out.

If the access path is between your house and your garden as mine was, could you not have a bit of fence or hedge and gate to enclosed your actual garden but still leave the access path clear. At least that should deter people straying in to your actual garden.

The ideal thing for them to do would be to restrict access to the back for the middle houses. Presumably they have access at the front? How often would they be using the back entrance?

Full marks for the diagram.

I think it depends on what your other housing options are going to be, and perhaps whether you are a "garden person". Having someone troop over your patio while you are sitting on it is more of an imposition than them walking past your window. But people have to put up with much worse things in social housing sometimes, and nearly all houses have compromises, in all sectors including home owners unless you have millions to spend. If there is a lot right about this house this might be the right compromise for you.

You can get film for windows so you can look out fine but there is a mirror finish from the outside. It tends only to work in daylight. A half height net would also give a lot of privacy.

Would there be any way to move the gate to the end of the garden and fence off a walkway so they go around your garden rather than through it?

If you can afford it can you move the gate to the bottom of the garden and then put hedges or a fence in front of it

that way your more private and secure and they still have access

i wouldnt want someone having direct access to my garden

In the area where I am you would be an absolute fool to not take social house offered to you over shared access.

It's really no different to being in a block of flats with people walking past on the outdoor terraces.

We have this too (it’s pretty common round here with old houses, ours is 1850s and would’ve been mill workers cottages) except it’s me that has the right of access as I’m the end house. Used it a fair bit when I had small kids as it was easier to take the pram or bikes out that way, but the gate has been locked now for years and I’d only do it now for eg furniture deliveries or if a builder needed to get to the back.

I’d go for it if you like the house and area. You can get privacy film for your windows that you can see out of but they can’t see in.

Personally I’d pass on this. We’ve had 2 really awful neighbours over the years and it just makes your life miserable. I couldn’t imagine trying to share access those neighbours.

I think try to think about the people being less like yourself, and more like the most petty, nasty person you’ve ever met. And if you’re ok with that, then go ahead. If not, run.

I would also look at getting a deep/wide planter with a tall trellis /bush that grew up half way the kitchen window so that they couldnt see in or walk too close to the house. Or just a window film that cover the bottom half of the window.

its fairly common, and for social housing you will certainly have to compromise on things.

I am amazed at the responses here. Can you really afford to look a gift horse in the mouth like this? You have been offered a house with a garden, a new bathroom and kitchen, and a bunch of people here are suggesting you forego it? What about if your next offer is a top floor high rise, would that be better?

Take it, OP.
We have this arrangement, it's extremely common up North, and my neighbour only uses the easement for allowing access to the back for workmen, but tbh even if she walked through twice a day every day it would be worth it to have my own house with garden for a reasonable rent and safe tenancy. Given the fact that you can provide access in a way that doesn't compromise your privacy if you want by screening off part of the garden especially.

Fwiw we have put a locked gate on our easement for security, so every Tom, Dick and Harry can't get in our garden, and given neighbour a key. This is ok as it preserves her access - and ideal as it does discourage casual wandering through.

Is there any way of finding out if there have been complaints about neighbours over the last year, why the previous tennant moved out ???

Would there be any way to move the gate to the end of the garden and fence off a walkway so they go around your garden rather than through it?

This. Maybe once you've lived thereafter while you could suggest a change?

Neighbours are always a risk. But secure social housing is worth the risk imo.

Second one way privacy film

What did you decide, OP?

I don't have an answer but this is what went through my mind.
What would other option(s) be?
Would living there be long term with no exit plan?
Would you be allowed to move the path and the gate away from the house?
Is it massively better than where you are living now?

I am well aware that social housing rental is a different setup and issue from buying your own home so I am not going to say what I would do.

I'd do this before accepting. It will be down to whever is the landlord and if they say no after you have accepted the place they you are stuffed.

I live in a tiny terrace of four with right of access across in front of the back doors. It's a VERY old house... when I bought, my solicitor kept on saying 'you know there's a right of way through your garden..' And my neighbours go through literally only to put out their bins once a fortnight. We all avert our eyes, nobody has ever looked in my window - the only problem comes if I've left the back door open (I've got a very barky dog). But the neighbours all know her and just say hello to her if she rushes out, and everyone is VERY careful about closing gates (we've all got dogs). So it works for us and it wouldn't put me off at all.

No useful thoughts from me, but that diagram … 🤣🤣🤣

(laughing in a good way!)

You could put privacy film , where you still see out but they can't see in . For me it would be the location , where I am living at the moment and the likelyhood of getting somewhere more suitable if I waited . Only a crystal ball can tell you the right thing to do and sadly they don't exist .

If you turn this one down there's no guarantee that you'll be offered anything better. I'd accept it and work with the privacy problem. Both my DDs were so happy to get an offer, that they jumped straight in and no regrets.

I would grab this house with both hands and look to transfer to another property in due course if it was a problem. I'd go down the privacy film or a blind route without a doubt, probably be more comfortable for all concerned.

And I'd resist the temptation to stand by the window in the nip.

We rented a house with this sort of access for entire block in an area it was common.

It wasn't great TBH as going to back doors not front was also common etiquette - so got sale/religious people using paths to go to back doors - and mid block they left all the gates open which with young kids was a pain. I expected it to be for bin access though most kept those in front garden but it was constant due to back door being favoured.

Where we are now it's very rare - but there is a row of cottages - what they've done though is small gardens/patio near house back doors - gates then communal path then fences and rest of garden. House I grew up in mid terrace - next door they'd fenced off back part of next door garden - right at back - to make alley way - entire block did that.

I wouldn't like it but will depend on how it used by others TBH how much of a pain it is.