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Original poster

Would you buy a semi with no side access to the back garden?

67 replies

stickygotstuck · 20/02/2021 11:58

Just that.

We just viewed a house that's pretty much perfect inside. All the room we need, nice garden, nice spot too.

However, it's a semi that has been extended right to the boundary line, in such a way that there is no access to the back garden via the side of the house.

No garage but two large sheds in the back garden for all the garden equipment etc.

We love it but we were after a detached house ideally, and this one is top of our budget. Would that be a compromise too far for you?

Background - We had a purchase fall through last October that had been dragging on since March because of lockdown, and very few suitable houses have come into the market since then in our area. Also, prices have gone up since our offer was accepted and we're close to being priced out altogether.

OP posts:
JosephineBaker · 20/02/2021 18:00

It's a right pain in the arse. I'd give it a miss, I'm afraid, OP.

Original poster
stickygotstuck · 20/02/2021 18:18

Thanks everybody.

I was looking for opinions on how other people found the issue of lack of access. To my mind, enough of you find it a pain and I think I would too.

For us, it would really feel like we would be downgrading. We're moving not just for space but to be in a nicer street, so we know we'd have to compromise. But it really would be an inconvenience too far.

I'm despairing we'll ever find anything though.

OP posts:
WednesdayalltheWay · 20/02/2021 18:49

No, it was one of our red lines. Being in this situation in a previous house meant getting work done at the back, bikes through the house or rear windows cleaned was all an almighty hassle. Never again!

fluffygreenmonsterhoody · 20/02/2021 18:53

We’ve lived in a link detached so no side access but we did have the garage. What’s the back garden backing onto? Could you put a gate at the back?

poptartqueen · 20/02/2021 18:57

Yes, I think it's better security to not have side access.

museumum · 20/02/2021 19:01

That would be a hard no for us as we all rode bikes. No way would I want them going through the house.

PresentingPercy · 20/02/2021 19:06

You will find that if anyone is desperate to get into a back garden, they will. Tall gate and security lock does the job at the front but you can never rule out anyone getting in from another garden. It happens.

Suzi888 · 20/02/2021 19:08

Depends.
You can lay floor protection down if you need big jobs done, it’s a pain and a faff but it can be done.
Is the garden low maintenance, ours backs onto woodland so is a nightmare, steep, we have decking, looks nice needs a lot of maintenance though.
As pp said if you have bikes/ messy things that need to go through the house then it’s not ideal - especially if you are house proud!

FredaFlintstone · 20/02/2021 19:11

No from me.

We had exactly that with a previous semi. We had access from the back garden into a lane so bikes etc were no problem. But we still had to take the bins through the house on bin day...definitely wouldn't again.

Disfordarkchocolate · 20/02/2021 19:12

It may depend on how much I enjoyed gardening and/or if the back garden needed major work. Is there any other access? You can access our back garden from the end of the garden, there is a small path just for the terrace.

xyzandabc · 20/02/2021 19:15

We looked at a house like that but ruled it out. We are a family of 5 and have at least 8 bikes between us (4 are dh's). There was no way I was having muddy bikes trigging through the house to put in the shed at the back.

Estate agent tried to persuade DH that bikes could go in one of those lockable box type things underneath the front window but for that many bikes we'd need at least 2 and what a ball ache if you needed the bike at the back! Not to mention easy to steal from for a passing theif.

RavingAnnie · 20/02/2021 19:17

I bought a house like that and wouldn't again. It's a real pain the arse. Just having window cleaners round is a pain, they can't come when you are out and make a big mess.

It makes major work in the garden near impossible as you can't get diggers in etc

All garden waste has to be chopped up and pit in bags or containers to bring through the house which is laborious

Similarly if you need a large amount of gravel or soil or similar this would need to be brought through the house in bags etc.

itbemay1 · 20/02/2021 19:20

We've got one and it's a pain! Were used to it now but it's something I long for

Bourbonbiccy · 20/02/2021 19:38

It would drive me crazy dragging garden waste through the house, so even if it's a bins width, but I wouldn't like no access at all.

Flamingosarentreal · 20/02/2021 19:55

we used to have side access and when we were burgled the police man said the side access meant it was easier for the burglars to access the back of the house without being seen to be acting suspiciously.

Africa2go · 20/02/2021 20:27

@Flamingosarentreal it's interesting you say that, we were also burgled when they kicked in our back door which was on the side of the house. Police also said doors on the side of properties are the most vulnerable - not visible from the front of the house and not overlooked by neighbouring houses at the back etc.

Original poster
stickygotstuck · 20/02/2021 20:31

Lots more PPs saying that it's a pain. DH feels the same way.

I am not particularly worried about the security aspect, since we've had side access in our current house for over 10 years.

But we so want to like this house! Sad

OP posts:
BrieAndChilli · 20/02/2021 20:35

We’ve just bought a semi with no side access BUT the garden backs onto another lane so have a gate and access from there.

Covidcorvid · 20/02/2021 20:51

I suppose the problem is it would be a compromise you can’t change in the future. If you buy a house with a shit kitchen, or no downstairs bathroom, etc theres the potential to change things down the line. You could never change this.

poptartqueen · 20/02/2021 21:01

@FredaFlintstone

No from me.

We had exactly that with a previous semi. We had access from the back garden into a lane so bikes etc were no problem. But we still had to take the bins through the house on bin day...definitely wouldn't again.

Surely you just kept your bins out the front ? No way would I take a bin through my house.
Volcanoexplorer · 20/02/2021 21:01

Im not sure if I’d be keen. How would you get garden rubbish out? Bring it through the house? How would the window cleaner get round the back? These might not be important to you, but it’s small stuff like this that would put me off.

Original poster
stickygotstuck · 21/02/2021 00:10

I suppose the problem is it would be a compromise you can’t change in the future

That's a very good point. I think that's the key. Especially as this is meant to be our last move.

Let's hope something crops up. Soon!

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

OP posts:
user85963842 · 21/02/2021 08:44

I think it would be a pain and in my experience a step down you're likely to obsess over, is it a case of affordability or availability? If the latter I think you will regret rushing into this house with what is quite an inconvenient drawback, if it's the former then it is a case of weighing up if the drawback is a reasonable compromise for what you are gaining with the rest of the house that you presumably couldn't afford if it was detached.

manyhorror · 21/02/2021 08:58

We have side access but also have a driveway that's large and partially concealed. So we have a shed on it that we store bikes and scooters in. Saves taking them through the side access. Could that be a storage option?

LIZS · 21/02/2021 09:05

No from me too, unless there is access behind for garden waste etc. Do they have any agreement with ndn to maintain that side wall of the house?