Neighbours walking past our front door to leave the house

[Bluesea14]

our new neighbours keep walking past our front door and squeezing past our cars when they go out. We have checked our deeds and title and this is part of our property, not a public footpath. We would never dream of walking past their house when we go out so we can't understand why they think it's acceptable to do it. They recently had furniture delivered and this was also carried down the path past our front door instead of going in between their cars.
I have attached a image which is similar to the layout of our house and the blue line is where they keep walking. Any advice on how to deal with this please? We haven't properly met them yet so we don't want to come across confrontational but we also want to make it clear that we don't want people regularly walking on our property and setting our ring doorbell off.

The only thing I can suggest, if the path is indeed on your title plan and part of your property, is to put planters down it and under the window so there is simply no route for them to walk on.

But first I'd just ask them politely, would they mind walking across their own property to reach their house and not across your front window?

This is similar to my house and the path out the front is shared access. My old next door neighbour who was the house between 3 used to get very annoyed about it and complained about my son walking past their house. They didn’t mind walking past mine though to get out. There was no other way and the plans clearly show shared access. I think you’re being unreasonable.

Lol that was my thread. I caught a lot of flak for that. I thought it would be the same here, but I was pleasantly surprised!

I don't understand why some people are saying you are unreasonable OP your neighbours have their own separate footpath to enter their property. And I would hate people walking past my lounge window when I'm sitting there! Hope you get it sorted.

From the diagram do the neighbours the other side use your path too

Those saying put large pot/planters, OP would have to make they are only the size of her half between the doors.

If I bought a house like IL barely set back from public pathway then people walking past window is to be expected. However so far we have always been set back from the road so don't have people walking past living room window peering in all the time.

I know when I did a friends paper round as a teen some people were very against you walking past their windows to get to next house and expected everyone to go down drive and round.

So I expect having paid for a house set back from the road OP not keen to have stangers wandering past windows and living areas regularly.

For some people it's a non issue - and frankly I would have expected it with that style of house TBH and people these days - but it's clearly an issue for OP. So talk to the neigbours and put barriers in place if allowed by deeds to stop rather than stew and get upset would be my advice.

That flak was very unfair but you handled it well. I hope the entitled twat is staying off your drive?

I do not understand how you can have new neighbours and have not met, spoken or taken them a wee gift for moving in. Go build a relationship with them, have them round for a cuppa, then the words you need to say 'could you use your path not ours in future' are easier to say. They probably have not realised.

Why dont you make the doorbell the issue. Say it's annoying that it keeps going off and would they mind using the other path. If they continue, then get the big plant pots out or just day please dont do it..You dont have to be rude.

Can you put something like a long planter with a trellis between your two front doors? That whole driveway being so open is a recipe for neighbourly aggro!

Why are people walking past your bedroom?!

I’d use the setting off as a doorbell as an excuse.

At best they’re not aware it’s your path, at worse they’re just being a bit lazy.

I think you need to decide whether its worth rocking the boat over this. What if you speak up and they continue? What if they take offense and become inconsiderate?

Our current neighbours often walk over our front garden. I do find it odd and rude. They come out of their front door and walk over the bit and grass on the boundary, onto our path and then over our front grass instead of walking an extra 4 or 5 steps to go down their own path to the street. But apart from their disgusting cat they are pretty good neighbours. I worry if I complain they might start playing loud music etc.

what do you base that statement on?

I agree. If you want to be neighbourly, show them three designs and ask which one the prefer.

That's a horrible thing to have to do.

@Bluesea14 Speak to them first - they might be nice! If that doesn't work, go for a large planter.

Do not write a letter!

It’s not ‘near’ her house. It’s on her property and runs right in front of her window. Why is it ridiculous to want neighbours to use their own path? You know, the one running across the front of their own house? Maybe they should be allowed to plonk a little bench down to sit out in the sun under the OP’s window as well.

Are they really good neighbours if you get a vibe from them that they’ll get awkward and retaliate over being asked not to trespass?

but her setup may be different and NOT be shared access.

TBH that looks like a communal pathway for all four houses to use, in the middle of the two semis.
The path to the side of your neighbour's house looks a lot narrower, more like a border really, and certainly not wide enough to get a wheelchair or pushchair down.

Some people have different spacial awareness. It may just be that they naturally use that route and haven't considered that it might be annoying.

The key is to politely speak to them first and let them know of the inconvenience and ask that they use their own path. If they stop then that's great. If they don't, then you have annoying neighbours but hopefully that won't happen.

I had my front garden used as a cut through for neighbours going right past my kitchen window. I came up with a genius solution; a fence.

I don’t understand all the people saying the OP is unreasonable. The neighbours have their own path, they’re just taking a shortcut across the OPs front, which is rude and a nuisance. I’d have to point out to them that there is no ROW across under the window so please stop using it as one.