To ask if this would put you off buying a house?

[Yellowsubmarine35]

We’ve found a brilliant house in our ideal area and within budget.

However - the entirety of one side is next to a footpath/quite big open space including the garden wall and side access gate (the only way to access the garden other than going through the house). Even the electricity ‘hatch’ (I think that’s what it is!) is on that side so anyone can access it.

Wr are toying with whether we’d find this too exposed or not. Also worried about graffiti etc.

Would this put you off?

I'd like a big open space next to my house. Wouldn't put me off unless it's a bad spot for people hanging around drinking or something like that.

If a passageway or footpath it would.
If a field where kids might use the wall for football or graffiti, it would.

If there is no graffiti or signs of it on the wall and it's been there a good few years then that's a good sign.

I have one garden wall along a footpath. It's a high wall, can't see anyone, but I live in a city so do hear people passing.

There's a few graffiti tags on my wall too. I quite like the artistic ones, but there's a few smaller stupid ones too. I've let my trailing Ivy grow over the side, so not too much of a problem.

I think it depends just how many people pass through the footpath each day, is the " open area" a gathering place like a park or something? If there were likely to be gangs right outside, I'd think twice, but otherwise I'd always prefer a footpath to actual neighbours on the other side.

It would put me off, but only because I once looked out of my window late in an evening to see a man pissing against the side wall of the house across the road. The side of the house has a footpath directly next to it. There was also some graffiti on the wall for quite a while until the owners repainted.

Yes having lived next to one for a few years. The main issue was litter - its surprising how many people take the opportunity to drop litter once they think they can't be seen. Also had dog mess, and caught someone urinating there one time. It can lead to people occasionally congregating next to your house as well. Also an escape route on a couple of occasions for people running from the police!

Thanks all, food for thought.

Depends on the area, I guess, but generally speaking I probably wouldn't like it.

Is it somewhere that could be built on?

Depends where it is. On the edge of a village? Fine.
In the middle of a town? No way.

A wee bit, but if it's a nice area overall it shouldn't be too bad - can you put up a high fence?