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.

Take it. You can put a fence up where the garden starts to screen off and make it more private. I doubt they'll walk through once you are in there.

I wouldn’t do it. As others have said some people use their back door more than others and you’ve already seen the current tenants using it for general access (assuming there wasn’t an obvious reason he was walking through) so it must be an easier door for them to use.

And agree with others that you’ve got no control over who moves in next and how considerate they are. My otherwise lovely elderly neighbour who causes me no problems at all is extremely chatty and has no ability to tell when I’m done with a conversation. Absolutely no way I’d want her strolling through my garden, it’d be a half hour chat each time. So it isn’t a case of ‘they’d be a nightmare neighbour anyway’.

The only way I’d do it is it was possible to move the gate to the end of the garden and put fencing up to create private access. That’s what I’ve seen previously in terraced housing.

Take it. You don't know how long you'll be on the waiting list otherwise.

so whoever lived next door would go past your kitchen to put the bins out?
including green waste which might be a large amount.
my kitchen is on the main road so people walk by all the time.

if you like the house and the area i would say go for it

I'd want to know if it is clear to tenants that this access is only for bins etc, not daily popping in and out and if so, are they hot on policing that.

If so it may well be fine (obviously does hamper your naked cooking/kitchen boogie-ing) but if they do fuck all whilst your neighbour trundles through 97 times a day, stopping for a picnic or a rave each time... no.

Does also depend on how desperate you are for HA housing!

Running out of time, but quickly -

Imagine you've taken it.

Do you feel positive and optimistic, eager to move in?

Or do you have a horrible sinking feeling, feel trapped, in the wrong place?

This. Our right of way states access only, so we are only supposed to use it for putting out the bins or coming in the back door if the dogs are filthy. If anyone started to use it to loiter about, words would be had. And most people don't, they've got their own gardens to sit in.

I'd say take the house, OP. Most other things can be worked around, and as a PP says, if you DO have problems then an HA can sort them out. Our houses are owned and if one person starts to be difficult then it could be a nightmare but luckily we all get on (and I use the right of access to go next door for a coffee).

Clock is ticking, bit of both if I'm honest but I just don't want to be thinking in 6 months time after another blow out with o/h I wish I'd taken it.

Just trust your gut. Whatever you’re feeling in the pit of your stomach, trust it.

My gut instinct is no😬

I know someone who lived like that - they left a path but put a divider up to separate the bottom of the garden

But they were always having terrace bbqs and parties. Lovely communal spirit

I used to live in a street like this, I was on the end with the access gate for my neighbour and to be honest, she never used it. Got new neighbours at one point and the took out the fence/gate between and put up just a fence. You'd probably find they were just as weirded out by it as you and only use it for emergencies

I'm a bit late as the deadline has just passed, but I would have asked what the right to access was. Is it just for bins or is it for any when the neighbour would like and that would determine my decision. I think if I was on my own with no children or dogs then I would take it with a mind to moving on of it didn't work out, but at least I was on the ladder as it were.
If you did take it, you could put in one way film so you can see out but they can't see in, well during the day time. I believe at night you can still see in.

Is it really though, or is it just the PP who've been trying to put you off with horror stories? I'm not really sure that everyone who's been urging you not to take the house has really grasped that it's social housing and you're not buying the place. As you've been waiting since 2023 for a house, how long is it likely to be before you're offered another one? And if/when you are, what if that one has far more drawbacks than this one?

No house is perfect, whether social housing or not. There's always going to be something you don't like or is a bit of a compromise. Bad neighbours can unfortunately be a problem anywhere. As the rest of the house sounds lovely, if I were you, I'd grab it with both hands.

Our last house, which we owned, was like this. We were lucky that the two sets of neighbours who had access were both lovely and we really didn’t mind them crossing the back of the house occasionally. A friend up the street had more issues as her neighbour inexplicably used only his back door not the front so was crossing all the time.

However in your shoes I would definitely go for it as I suspect you could be waiting a while for something else and/or it may have bigger issues or require more of a compromise.

No dogs no young kids - I'd probably risk it and take it.

How much of an issue it is - really depends on area and actual neigbours.

You've also got to factor in avaliablity in HA in your area - where my siblings are they are mid massive HA building program so there's more choice.

I know that's why I added another comment seconds later

It was the only thing I absolutely can't have when looking at a house. We had a shared access garden growing up, there was just constant going through the garden with bikes, bins, dogs, usually loud when they were going through. You can't even lock your own back gate because next door need access.

So, what did you decide in the end OP?

Can you change it so you put a pathway and gate up the far end of the garden and then fence they bit off so you have a private area where they don't enter? If not then I'd decline due to children and pets personally as you can be sure they'd close things correctly for safety

I've decided to go for it, at the end of the day if I really can't bear it, I'll either house swap or go back an live with my mum, kids go back to dads an ill put possessions in my brother's old room or sell them, I can't let this opportunity pass by without trying at least. I'm too old for a mortgage, can't afford private rent. If I fall on my arse, so be it, won't be the first time!

I think you made the right decision. I know its not ideal but it's a roof over your head and future security

I don’t know how if it would be allowed in social housing but when we owned a house with access like this we put a lock on the gate with a code, and shared the code with the neighbours.

I wouldn't touch it. Sorry op. It be harder to resell and could be a pain. Ive had a friend who parents house had similar set up and it was awful.

Congratulations - sounds like a great decision and opportunity for your children. best of luck. Put a lock on gate with a key to give to neighbour and landlord - not code that they can share with relatives / delivery drivers. Good luck.