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.

You'll be fine. Make sure you have a gate each side and put up some privacy film and a blind.

We had a house like this and it was used once a week on bin day.

It's at the side, mine is end of of the terrace

Maybe bins and large things?

our old house was like this we had awesome neighbours though with children similar ages to ours and they played so often between gardens we ended up just removing the fence and getting a shared garden climbing stuff etc

We have shared access across our back garden, mostly used by the post man! When we first moved in, the neighbours used it more frequently but think that’s because our place had been sat empty a while because they never do anymore. Glad you went for it OP, I hope you have man happy years in your new home.

I've lived in a house exactly like this though we had a path behind the houses so people in the middle didn't have to walk directly through gardens if that makes sense. It wasn't ideal but we just had a blind there.

I know you've taken the house already which is great.

We had this set up and didn't mind it. We were in a row of terraced houses of eight. So had similar set up at the back but with more houses. We had access over two houses but next door had access over ours.

I was a bit nervous but it was fine. Next door used it once a week for bins. We used it most days as that's how we used the bikes. It was for few seconds and everybody was very polite and considerate.

Hope you love the new house. Get blinds if you're worried. One neighbour did section a bit of their garden off from the path but they were in the minority. Most people just used their garden as normal.

I lived in a row of terraced where this was the case however as I was the last house no one actually could come into my garden - but I was able to walk through all of theirs! Only ever did so to take the bins out, as my only other option would have been to wheel them through my house (not happening!).

I always felt awkward and weird walking through and interrupted a few couples enjoying their evenings as I smashed through with a wheelie bin! It wasn't at the end of the garden either, it was right by everyone's back doors, through four gardens to reach the alleyway.

Don't think I would have liked it if others could have done the same to me, but equally, it's so uncomfortable they'll likely keep it to a minimum. I wouldn't have dreamed of simply using it as a regular access door - although several people in terraces end up needing to block their front door to make furniture fit, so I know that does happen in other cases with terraced homes.

Why would you be naked in your kitchen?!

I think I would risk it. As pp said, you can plant a hedge or create some other kind of barrier for privacy between your windows and the access point, if necessary, but if the path is only used occasionally you might not need to. And you can swap to another HA place if you don't like it.

Thanks for the update @OneGreyBiscuit I am another person who thinks you have done the right thing. Wishing you health and happiness in your new home.

I’d much rather access rights were past my kitchen window than living room where you’ll be spending much more time, hopefully it’ll all be fine and you’ll be able to re-draw diagram in the future with a cafe blind hiding your baps 😂 modesty intact!
Good luck with it all OP, hope you enjoy decorating!

You can get bottom up blinds you can raise for when you want to stand at your kitchen window topless...........

Glad you went for it, OP. You can put up a stick on window screen, and what I'd do is put up a fence between the two gates so they can't see into the garden as they're walking past. But I'd wait to see how often they did walk past first!

Good luck!

I wouldn’t buy a house like this but in your circumstances I think you are right to take it .

I'm pleased you've taken it OP, a friend of mine lives in a house with a similar set up and has no bother with the neighbours. Stick some privacy film up and you'll be grand :)

Congrats on the new house!

I would hold out for one of the others. Much better to be the one walking through than having to put up with anything awkward that might happen.

I have access via my neighbours garden, i only walk through twice a day to cycle to work. Don't think it's a huge deal. My parents think it's a pain in the neck but doesn't bother me. But then I can get directly out into my garden via my back door so only use there's to take my bike out not general garden access

I'm sure it will be fine and the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. (And I say that as one who prefers privacy.)

Maybe as others have suggested, the gate can be moved. Or, you could erect some sort of shrub/fence barrier partway down the garden, so that you could have privacy in the rear of it, for gardening or sunbathing or whatnot.

Them walking right by your window isn't ideal but it's no different to old houses whose front room is right next to the pavement.

Congratulations on your new home and I am sure you will have fun making it your own!!!

It feels odd because it’s the back garden, but there are plenty of houses with front windows that give straight onto the street where anyone can walk past.

This set up is a little odd, but you do quckly get used to it. My neighbours have access through mine, and use it as their main entrance. Every trip out, every visitor, delivery man, family, taking their dogs out... Them being nice & friendly helps, but honestly unless I'm doing my washing up or happen to be leaving at the same time, you stop noticing.

Congratulations on your new house!

Good luck and I think as it's social housing you made the right choice. Sounds like my nightmare experiences are rare so you should be fine.
When the access was through our garden, the neighbour and her kids used it all the time (meant to be for access/bins - what realistically can you do to enforce the is?) and so did her extended family. Meant I was constantly on toddler watch as I had a small child.
OTOH when I was meant to have access the arsehole neighbours had three terrifying dogs that lived outside and refused to bring them in. Again, what can you do?

It's social housing.

Glad to hear you have taken it @OneGreyBiscuit I hope you will be super happy there.

Good luck, and I'm sure you have the determination and intelligence to make it work well for you x