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??

MyDcAreMarvel It’s not in the least ridiculous IF he has right of access across the back. We don’t know why he needed it at that moment.

Some terrace houses have right if way to the back door through other back gardens. This is very common and I visit someone in a house like this. You need to ask the landlord.

My sister has a house in a village, and it's like this. She's the end house and everyone else has a RoW through her garden. Tried to persuade her not to buy because of that, but she liked the location so bought it. In fairness, none of her neighbours have ever gone through her garden, but there are gates all the way along.

Why would you walk all around the fecking block to get to your back door (including tramping across next door’s garden, just because you can) instead of just walking in the front?

@HeadintheiClouds exactly 🙌 finally my point. I wouldn't do it just because I could. It's a longer route round the back too. Also as well as walking into someone else's garden. It just doesn't make sense I feel like I'm
Going to have issues that come with this

Yes but you have just moved in so you don’t know whether (1) he has right of access and (2) if he does, why he used it in this instance. It might be something he does every day (annoying) or something he needs to do every couple of months for gardening, or if he has lost his keys or something. You don’t have enough information yet

Tradition 😅 Apparently using the back door stems from when the front 'parlour' was saved for best!

In my case, my sofa is too big lounge is too small so will either block the front door, or the lounge door so...

I'd have thought that if there is a right of access it's only for moving stuff in and out of his back garden, not for gaily tramping through just because he doesn't want to use his front door.

Why did you buy a sofa that blocks one of your doors?

Your landlord should have warned you about this, OP.

Going to have issues that come with this

Why would you have problems? Its easily fixed with a conversation about your young child and possibly a self closing option on the gate just encase he forgets to shut it.

He possibly uses the backdoor in the same way my neighbour does because he has a very physical job and comes home filthy. He goes in the back door so he doesn't traipse dirt through the living room and dining room instead he can chuck all his clothes into the washing machine and leave his boots by the back door.

@HerSymphonyAndSong yes I know this which is why I will get facts before I do anything about it

@Juells he had nothing with him
So I'm rightly or wrongly assuming it's a general
Daily thing but will see what happens

I expect if their was a gate from your neighbour side & its common in your are LL assumed you would realize that it was an access gate???

@HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone people aren't always the best these days when being asked politely to do something are they. Where as myself I'd avoid it at every opportunity and at least respect people if I did have to do something like this

Almost certainly he has right of access. We are end of terrace and our neighbours access is through our garden. We do have issues with the gate not being locked sometimes and have to remind them.
Our other neighbours had a huge falling out over this- similar issue in that the new tenant renting had not been made aware of the right of access issue and went ballistic when neighbour used their right of access.
Unblock the gate, speak to the landlord, and once you’re clear, if it is indeed right of accesspolitely speak to the neighbour about needing to shut the gate due to your child etc. Escalate to landlord if an ongoing issue.

I will have to post pics when I can, as none of this looks like you'd assume straight away it's an access gate to everyone's garden. Even the side alley is only just about big enough for a person

I think shared access to your garden should have been part of the particulars so you knew what you were getting into.

@greatvengeanceandfuriousanger certainly would've been useful information. Especially after the shock I had when I saw someone

@mumwon it doesn't scream access to everyone's garden type of gate. Also I've lived in a few houses and personally have never,
And have never known anyone in my area, with this issue

The street I grew up in had a better system.
Had alleys down the side of the 2 end houses of every 4, then round the back. Only time they were ever used was when the bin men used to have to actually go and pick the bins up out of everyone's garden.

Once wheelie bins came out the middle 2 never bothered as bins stayed in the front.

I just can't understand why they would do this in modern new builds though. Would make far more sense to take the bottom 2ft off the end of all gardens and put a path round the back.

Our first house had this.
I avoided ever after.

@JoxerGoesToStuttgart It's only a 2 seater, it's just a very 'cosy' room!

The house was set up with the back door as the main entrance - the front door has bolts on the inside, and the light switches for the living room are out in the hallway, expecting you to go past them on the way in from the back 🤷

@Whatsnewpussyhat yeah I get that. That diagram is nothing like the situation here or I'd sort of understand. Will try a diagram myself now

It might just be that the house has been empty and he saw a chance to take off time. People saying normal and on deeds are being a bit previous.