To buy a house with no rear/side garden access

[Housesearch25]

Insight welcome please Mumsnetters - a couple of the properties we’ve looked at have no side or rear access to the back garden. Would this be a deal breaker for you?

House 1 - semi detached, has a garage which runs most the length of the house up to a small utility so in theory stuff could go through there but not ideal if packed with stuff and only a small door at the back which may be an issue if tradespeople are bringing stuff through (garden would need some work).

House 2 - detached, has been extended to the side and no access. Garage does not run the length of the house. Only option would be going through the house itself.

Both houses have kitchens at the back so would ideally want to keep bins/recycling in the garden

I am edging to these both being a ‘no’ but DH says he could look beyond it.

If it was perfect otherwise AND there was sufficient garden space for a shed or two to minimise the garage getting jam-packed - I'd consider house 1. I could deal with bikes/bins/paddling pool/mower or whatever going through the garage and utility.

House 2 would be a definite no.

This is part of it, definitely, but also if the dominant house type in the area is terraced, say, and in a sought-after area, people will know that when househunting — it won’t be as offputting as, say, an individual house whose owners have extended over their side access, with a giant garden out the back.

I currently live in a house like that. Never again.
I'd prefer a house where you'd have access to the garden via a garage for added security. No need to block the door to the garden with too much stuff and so handy to have access to the garden without having to let window cleaners and workmen through the house.
Im our current house we always have to make sure we're home if we need to give someone access to our garden which is such a pita. Also hate having to carry garden waste through the house.

If you ever want to employ gardeners, this puts them off. Also, you’d have to be in when they come in order to let them into your back garden.

I think it really depends on the type of house - Victorian terrace or something of that ilk, fine - not abnormal. Modern housing estate absolutely not except in a scenario where it was the best thing to compromise on say really need a 4 bed but generally speaking only have the budget for a 3 bed and there’s a house with 4 beds, no garden access but for 3 bed money then it might be a compromise I would be willing to make. I think people who extend and remove previous garden access often under estimate just how much of an issue it is so it will affect value and desirability.