Neighbours and access question!!

[inmyshoos]

Have seen a cottage that we like but needs completely gutted.
The back of the house has the neighbours driveway running along it. The cottage has back and front gardens but back is offset to the side.
There is damp along the back of house and looking at it I can see there are shrubs/bushes planted at the back just about against house and also guttering needs attention. This back section of guttering is the only section which hasnt been replaced. It was an old manny and his wife who lived (and died) there and a local person told me he hadn't been 'allowed' access to the back to do the work.
Does that sound right? Surely there has to be access permitted to allow such things. Would seem terribly unreasonable of the neighbour and I wonder if there is more to it.
I will have my solicitor ask to see title deeds but in the meantime thoight I would consult the wisdom of mn!!

Off putting but the house is blardy gorgeous and garden amazing!!!

My understandingi s that neighbours have to allow you access for repairs (but not to develop/extend a property). Rather than talk to your solicitor, it's worth speaking politely tot he neighbours explaining that you would need access to their land for some of the repairs and is this likely to be a problem. You'd get a much more realistic idea of how easy this will be from their reaction.

Yes you are right lala and I will do this. I just wondered if there was any sort of blanket rule type thing about this type of situation.
I would hate to have an unreasonable neighbour

I would expect a flying freehold to be in place. However this would put me off to be honest.

Lack of access could have been down to a falling-out between the neighbours and the late owners but, if I got a whiff of the fact that the neighbours were likely to be generally difficult, I'd run. Enforcing access if they weren't willing, would be very difficult and stressful.