Terraced house shared access?

[whichwaywhere]

Anyone have any experience of this? Gates in each fence so neighbours can bring their bins etc through to the side alley.

I personally would like it, mostly from the privacy issues, but bear in mind you couldn’t extend if you wanted to.
However, I live in a old village cottage with the dreaded shared drive!

Meant wouldn’t like it!
Gave totally the wrong impression!

Then it's a big fat no way from me, my friend has this set up and there is a lack of privacy.
I wouldn't want people trundling through my garden

One neighbour we have to left is fine, the other neighbour to his left who also brings her bins through our garden is an absolute cunt.

I wouldn't do it again.

We had a tiny end terraced cottage in a row of 5 so only next door had access. It wasn't just for bins though it was all the time and they never used their front door. We barely saw the wife but he was a creep and used to peer in whenever he went in and out. It all came to a head when their daughter split up from her husband and moved in with her three kids. We ended up having the curtains closed most of the time. Then we moved.

This is exactly our experience. We live in the middle house and we have right of access over our neighbours to the right of us. We used it a couple of times but dropped off because neither me nor DH felt comfortable and we now leave our bins in the front hidden by a wicker screen.

We've only used it since if we are carrying something heavy in or when our kitchen fitter was bringing stuff in and he didn't want to bring it through the house. If we are going to use the access we always let the neighbours know first.

My previous house had a similar shared access set up - four houses (a, b, c, d then access to side road) with rights of access through the gardens, so house a (us) could walk through b, c, and d’s gardens and we all had a key to the gate from d’s garden to the side road. However, the access was at the end of the (small) garden rather than right by the house, which made it easier. There were no issues, but I might have felt differently if I was in one of the middle houses.

My deal breaker is shared anything, shared access, shared bin side return, shared driveways. I wont share anything. You can never guarantee that you dont move next door to some nutcase who is unhinged and unreasonable.

I had this; I was in the terrace next to the alley so everyone wheeled their bins through my garden. It didn’t bother me, tbh.

Hi, I’m buying a terrace house with shared access through the gardens, the only other access is through the house.

both next door neighbour’s gates are right next to the house.

I want to put a single story extension on the back, small enough that I don’t need planning permission. But I don’t know where I stand legally with keeping the access.

one neighbour has an established garden so I’d leave a walkway to the side for access.

but the other neighbour hasn’t done anything with his garden, there’s actually 3 fence panels missing and his garden is a bit overgrown.

I don’t want to leave a gap on both sides as the extension would be too small.

If he agreed would I legally be able to build up to our joining fence, then put a gate at the end of my extension. I’ll draw a diagram to better explain. Do I legally need to leave access or can I close the gate off completely?

I’ve also added a picture of the garden showing where the gates are currently.

thanks

We live in a modern mid terrace with a front drive shared with a neighbour on one side used for parking/bins. It is fine and we have never had any issues. Neighbours have generally been very friendly in the time we've lived here.

You probably need to consult a solicitor to find out if this is possible. Will your neighbour be happy with having a longer route to get through your garden? Is he the only neighbour who has access through your garden or does the person on the other side of him also have right of access? How often is it used - once a week for the bins, or more often?

Details of the access rights is probably in the house deeds, so the deeds for all houses affected would need to be updated if it changes. In my old house, a couple of people had built extensions, but the access path was at the end of the gardens so was not affected.

You probably already know this, but if you are building within a certain distance of your property boundaries, you will need a party wall agreement as well. This is separate to building control/ permitted development rights/ planning permission.

Hi, I needed advice, I have shared back
Garden access with my neighbour. Been living at my property for 18 years, and the neighbour lived at theirs for 7 years. Not had issue with previous neighbours. I'm getting extension but these neighbours have said to me 'I cant use the Garden for building materials as they had new paving done'. I only use my back garden to take bins out. What are my rights?

It depends on your neighbours. My SIL moved house because of her shared access garden, because her neighbour turned out to be an alcoholic male who harassed her. She couldn’t relax ever in her garden. Of course for other people it will work out fine but I wouldn’t take the risk.

You’re more likely to get good advice on the legal forum

have a look at your deeds/land registry, it should state on there.
I legally have a straight path access through my right hand neighbour’s gardens. It does not state that it’s only for certain things. So legally you should be granted access.
i don’t need to ask them for permission to use a straight path from one gate to the other through their garden (but that shouldn’t mean that you should do). Mine states that you can walk straight though, you cannot deviate of the straight path and you cannot stop stationary and you cannot approach or try to get their attention whilst in their garden and you can only use the access for necessary purposes, so you can’t just walk through because you feel like it or use it as a walkway. It’s only to be used for bins or big things things like garden furniture etc.
but I believe you should always have good understanding and communication with each other when using their garden regardless of the legalities. You should always be neighbourly.
I never use my neighbours access and when I had my garden done I took all materials through the house. I didn’t feel comfortable with the idea of using their garden that much.
Although you could suggest putting maybe some wood boards down and maybe some tarp or material to protect the neighbours garden and any damages or mess you will clean up and pay for.
that’s what I did in my house I laid all wood boards down and made a ramp at the doors to push a wheel barrow through.
maybe find a contractor that will do it all by hand and barrow. consider your neighbours, would you want a digger coming back and forth through your newly done garden? I’d only suggest using theirs when only necessary. But I do think them stopping you bringing materials through is being a bit uncooperative.
but if that’s the only option then I’d say yes you legally can have access but only on the straight path through. But I’d check your deeds first as each county might be different.