How much would you want to give me access to your garden?

[Magik1]

We want to do some works to our garden but don’t have a side gate. Instead of traipsing through our house I’m tempted to ask our neighbour who we get on very well with if the gardeners could use their side gate and cross their garden to get to ours which would involve walking over a small lawn, about 2 metres wide. We could probably ask them to lay planks so their lawn won’t get too damaged.

I’m thinking of offering them £100 for the day for the inconvenience. Would that be enough for you or am I being a CF?

If it's strictly for a day only, I'd let you do it happily for free. I do think offering to pay is the considerate thing to do though.

Agreed with Nice. I would, however, be very explicit about making good any damage to plants, lawn etc, and that you will be making your workmen aware that they are on someone else's property from the POV of noise, gates open etc.

For literally 1 day I'd probably just let you but would like for you to have offered money (imo that shows your not just being an entitled CF and aren't just going to expect me to let you any time you feel like it).

Also make sure you leave no damage/make good any damage to plants and lawn.

Depends upon the length of time needed - for up to a week a case of wine plus putting right any accidental damage and mowing the lawn for them at the end would be more than enough. For longer term projects especially if diggers need access then a written agreement and a fee is more needed. This very scenario happened to us, no many but my neighbour brought a couple of bottles of very nice wine plus a homemade cake round to say thank you and let us put our garden waste in their skip.

For literally 1 day I'd probably just let you but would like for you to have offered money

I would NOT want to be offered money and would do it as a favour - but if it's just for one day I would have them walk through my house instead.

I’d let my neighbour have access as a favour, no charge - as long as they paid for any damage.

If it's just for a day (or few days) I'd be perfectly happy to let you for free.

Mind you, my garden is pretty basic. If I had a load or prize dahlias I might feel differently.

box of chocolates and planks/tarp to protect neighbours garden.

We get on well with our neighbors and wouldn't think of accepting money for that. It's just mutual support really - they do similar for you when you need it. Unless the lawn is like listed or something! :)

It depends which neighbour was asking. The lovely neighbour on one side, I’d happily let use my garden. The other one would only be in my garden if I was burying the arsehole in it. 😁

Depends who was asking but for one day, and if you honestly didn’t fuck yo any plants or the lawn - a bottle of wine would suffice.

We have good relations with our neighbour and I wouldn't want money from her and would happily let her have access. I would however need something in writing about making good any damage caused.

What kind of works? Are you talking wheelbarrow loads of soil & plants? Heavy stones? Machines / tools? I love our neighbours but knowing how trashed our garden was when we did our own building works, I'd be really reluctant. Lawn / grass & plants take forever to grow back.

My neighbours do use our gate to access the back of their properties, but they don’t cross the lawn to use it - it’s all path. I wouldn’t ask for, or accept, anything from them for using my path and gate.
(I don’t know the layout of your garden; would the £100 you are proposing to give your NDN be enough to give you a side gate to your property?)

Thank you all, you all sound like pretty wonderful neighbours.

Yes it’d be just a day.
No we dont have any way to get down the side of our house @Knitted. And I know exactly how you feel @Positively . Have the same issues with another weird neighbour

I might think about it bit more, dont want to bother them really if we can help it even if they are nice and helpful. And no they don’t seem to have a ‘showstopper’ garden, its mostly path, an old shed, some lawn and bushes/planks/wood at the back. It’s a small garden like ours.
Thanks again for your views all. Will have a think of how to protect our floors indoors...

I get on well with my neighbours and wouldn't take money for that. I always say to them they don't need to ask but do what they need to.
If it's my garden OP, could you chop the hedges back whilst you're there

I wouldn't accept any money - would either say yes or no but I would be impressed that a neighbour offered money and didn't just expect it. I doubt many people would take the money and probably most would accept or decline on depending how convienent it is for them - would it be likely to damage garden, will they have workmen going through who maybe able to see in. I think it might be nice afterwards to offer a small present like a box of fruit and veg or a bottle of wine. Always a risk with these things someone is too nice to say no.

I’d also be happy with a bottle of vino but would appreciate the offer of ££. The most important thing is to ensure that any damage is made good.

Hopefully the gardeners have some sort of insurance. Can you get a copy of their policy to show the neighbour.
Take 'before' photos.