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Original poster

just found out the neighbours have a turning circle on front lawn

95 replies

user1467297746 · 20/08/2016 22:45

finally found a dream home! detached- check! large garden check! overlooking fields check!

offer accepted check!

we must have been in a daze becos we didnt realise that the tarmac in front of the front door connects to the neighbours drive.. well on the day I thought odd- but nobody said anything.

anyways- turns out they sold the turning circle to the neighbours!

Its right outside the front door! How odd is that! I guess we might see a the odd car or van reversing in there!

They're not supposed to park there.

wwyd? The house needs some work - the price sort of reflects that- but but I'm sort of speechless! walk out of your front door into neighbours reversing?! literally 5 feet from front door! :(

OP posts:
PikachuSayBoo · 20/08/2016 22:49

So you basically don't own the drive? Or have you another drive?

They're not meant to park there? Is that in the deeds? Could they plant trees there if they wished??

I would worry.

RebelandaStunner · 20/08/2016 22:50

No thank you. Sounds weird. I would withdraw offer and keep looking.

JT05 · 20/08/2016 22:53

We rejected a house with a turning circle in front of it, not because of cars, but on second viewing there were footballs. It was used by the local children as a goal area!

Bagina · 20/08/2016 22:54

Avoid any shared access properties. When/if they sell, you could end up with a van parked in front of your window all day, for example. You could end up with any old twat who doesn't honour the original agreement.

Original poster
user1467297746 · 20/08/2016 22:58

yes theres another drive to the side of the house.. but the house next door is sort of close- and their drive does that turning triangle/semi circle right in front of the front door

I just assumed it would be 'our' drive in which case its handy - basically a path width away - and you would probably see the car from the front bay window if you were hanging out there.

Shame - maybe its a case of reduce offer? and if they dont go for it we can shrug it off.

Perhaps some conifer or other ever green might help.. she mentioned a covenent.

If they actually parked there I would go ape!

OP posts:
Original poster
user1467297746 · 20/08/2016 22:59

is there anything you can do if they dont honour the agreement?

OP posts:
wowfudge · 20/08/2016 23:14

We own the drive and turning circle which our neighbours have a right of way over. Maintenance costs are shared - it's all documented. What I would avoid is the kind of shared drive to garages at the rear you sometimes get between semis which is only wide enough for one vehicle. If anyone is an arse about parking on that drive then it is problematic.

PikachuSayBoo · 21/08/2016 06:53

Everything ive read on mn suggests covenants are hard to enforce.

Local estate has one about no caravans or vans on drives. Twenty years on everyone ignores. Police and council don't care at all. Building comoany don't care. Some residents moan but can't do anything.

PikachuSayBoo · 21/08/2016 06:55

I think for me it would depend how likely from the layout that they might choose to park in it down the line. If they have more parking nearer their house then. They're unlikely to park there.

ChunkyHare · 21/08/2016 07:01

I wouldn't proceed with the sale.

If they park there what can you actually do? There is a thread on here from a few weeks ago where the neighbour is parking on a right of way. Literally nothing you can physically do except go down the legal route which is very costly. And prolonged. You only need to look on Garden Law forum to see how long these things go on for.

I wouldn't ever buy a house with a shared drive or where two drives are next to each other with no divide. I have witnessed cars using the neighbour's drive to get a car off without first removing the one at the back on their own drive. So basically using the neighbour's drive as an extension of their own.

Hufflepuffin · 21/08/2016 07:53

Ooh, can we have a diagram?

Sooverthis · 21/08/2016 07:56

Walk away. Have these owners sold the rights? Would you buy a house with no front garden, one that faced directly on the street? If so proceed otherwise walk.

Sooverthis · 21/08/2016 08:06

More I think about this the more I think just no. It's not really a detached house if your neighbours own your front 'garden' if you open the front door dc run out and bam neighbour is reversing no, just no keep looking your actual dream house is waiting for you do not compromise.

whyistherumgone · 21/08/2016 08:14

I wouldn't go for it. Maybe the neighbours there now are nice and reasonable and you wouldn't have any problems but what if they sell and move on further down the line and the new neighbours don't honour the agreement?

wowfudge · 21/08/2016 08:35

This doesn't sound like the situation where there are covenants against parking caravans, etc on an estate. In our situation both parties have certain rights and obligations and we can both enforce the respective covenants.

I'd be asking for more details - was there a swap of land, for example.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 21/08/2016 08:36

It wouldn't be an issue for me. If it's your dream house, buy it. I can't see how your life will be affected by the occasional car using a turning circle outside the house.
It wouldn't bother me.

Onlytimewilltell · 21/08/2016 08:50

I should imagine they'll be using it more than that if they were keen to buy it!! They will definitely see it as theirs and do whatever they like. You are worrying about it already and not even moved in yet!
Plenty more houses out there xx

PovertyPain · 21/08/2016 09:04

Are you the seller Lost? Grin

There is no way in hell I'd buy that house. The neighbours are not going to buy a turning circle unless they get a LOT of use out of it! They could run a home business, which would mean the circle is always in use. Maybe they have a lot of visitors, large vehicle, caravans. Have you went to the house at different times?

CatchIt · 21/08/2016 09:11

Absolutely no way.

If your neighbours sell, you could be right up the pooper. I appreciate it's disappointing, but I personally don't think it's worth the risk. Some people can behave like dicks (as shown only too well on MN!) and you don't want to be posting on here in a few years because your new neighbours have parked 1/2 an inch from your front door.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 21/08/2016 09:34

Are you the seller Lost? Ahh, rumbled! Grin
I suppose the neighbours having a fleet of trucks, or a whacking great caravan would be an issue.

I am guessing that this is the reason this 'dream' house hasn't sold for a higher price so it's a case of weighing up the pros and cons.

Talking to your lovely neighbours might be the next step?

PovertyPain · 21/08/2016 11:15
Grin
TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 21/08/2016 11:18

ime people park in turning circles all the farking time!

cos they know the neighbours will know the car, no one is going to want to turn at this time of night, I'll just be five minutes, emergency nure for the neighbour along the road

unless you want to be a PT WFH self appointed traffic warden I'd drop the property like a hot potato!

Original poster
user1467297746 · 21/08/2016 20:07

went back and staked it out today!

they had 3 cars next door, I think they drive into the turning circle and then reverse into their spots in front of their place.

On the day of the viewing and the offer the estate agent had parked in the turning circle!

just found out the neighbours have a turning circle on front lawn
just found out the neighbours have a turning circle on front lawn
OP posts:
PovertyPain · 21/08/2016 20:13

No no no. I wouldn't go near that,OP! What are you going to do if their visitors park there! I can't believe the original owners were so foolish to sell that to them. It makes no sense! You're going to be disturbed by lights shinning through your front window as they drive in, not to mention being woken up by cars turning at night. There are other houses, OP.

littlemissneela · 21/08/2016 20:14

I personally would not like that. Can you check the house deeds to see who does indeed own that bit?