Can my neighbour come through my back garden to get to his?? Ok

[dg8484]

I've moved into a rented property before (never rented before, recently divorced so moved out of mortgaged home)
I was in my kitchen today cleaning and getting ready for Fridays removal van. When out the corner of my eye, I saw a man directly walking past the kitchen window. It is a row of town houses, I am the first one, so instead of using his front door, this man is opening the side garden gate to the house I'm in, and going through to his garden. I will be phoning the rental company in the morning, but surely this isn't right!? I am going to tell the rental company I want to put a lock on the gate. Also, I have a heavy garden table which I've put directly next to the gate. If I see him climb over it then I won't be happy. It's not a communal garden, it's individual gardens. Any advice??

Just ask him to remember to close the gate when he comes through as you have a small child.

Put a closer on the gate for peace of mind.

@HollowTalk my garden is the only access to his back garden. Will try a diagram now :)

Even if he does have right of access.
I'd be furious that a letting agent or landlord didn't make you aware of this.

I've put my table there for now

Does that mean you are now blocking his access?

I don't really want to start an issue with neighbours as I've never had that in the past

I actually found it causes the opposite of problems its a great way to get to know your neighbours as you sometimes find yourself in their garden when they are using it so you find yourself stopping for a chat.

Lots of gardens like this don’t have gates between them - the fencing for the gardens start on the other side of a delineated communal path.

He might not have right of way though, could just be a piss-taker. Even if he does have ROW he should be polite and considerate whilst on your property and at least bother to close the gate.

My old house was like that. I only actually used it to take the bins out but I did use it. The ally served 6 houses, 3 on each side and there was a locked gate on that which was a pain because they were all rentals and people were always losing the key and new tenants didn’t have one.

If your garden is the only access to his back garden that tells you all you need to know?? The agent should have made it clear, though, I’d be annoyed to find that out after I’d moved in.

@BendydickCuminsnatch these are individual gardens though? I just don't understand why he isn't using his front door and going through others gardens

If he does have right of way I would expect the landlord to tell you about it.

@BogglesGoggles can only see mine and his back garden gate. Gates are located right at the top of gardens :(

@LittleLongDog will do thankyou, if he has no right of access il be locking the gate :)

I house sat for a friend for the last two weeks and she had this set up. Neighbours freaked me out by walking through garden when I was home alone, heard me screech a little in shock so next day knocked and explained they have right of access on the deeds to their back garden through the house I was staying in.

@HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone it's lore of a privacy/ safety issue as I've never had this situation before. Just doesn't seem comfortable. Especially since his Garden has an extended 6ft fence over mine for privacy

@flowery

will Do the proper checks before I start locking things up :) but I know! I feel so uncomfortable. I know to some it seems minor but I don't fancy sunbathing minding my own business with the kids in the pool and having someone walking through :/

@AgentProvocateur the side alley isn't even big enough to fit a wheelie bin down luckily, so all bins are kept at the front

@BendydickCuminsnatch no yet as it's literally my first few hours in the house. But will be buying a sign if I find out there's right of access for him :)

We needed the access for things we couldn’t get through the house - garden machinery and waste etc, the occasional bicycle - and we could have used it for whatever we wanted I suppose but we obviously weren’t dicks about it and as we were able to get the weekly bins through the house we did that. He definitely should be closing gates after him, but there could be any reason for him using the right of access instead of going through his house. Maybe he forgot his key and he keeps one by the back door for emergencies

It's quite normal in some terraced houses. I used to live in a house like that although where my house was placed I had to walk through other peoples but nobody came through mine.

@HerSymphonyAndSong it's a new build, but a bit of a awkward design. Still can't see how he would have access though but will find out officially

Mine is the same set up. On my street hardly anyone uses their front door at all so my neighbours' only access to their house is through my garden so they (and their friends, and family!) are in and out of my garden all day.

Bit of a shame the landlord never mentioned this to you, though depending on your area, it might be common enough he assumed you'd know?

I lived in a house like this, but the only access to the house I was living in was through the neighbours garden. We obviously made sure we shut the gate etc.

@HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone not blocking, but feels more secure until I know but it's the only
Place for my table. They are very small gardens. No signs around to say access is needed

@Contraceptionismyfriend exactly! I'm not happy