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Original poster

Viewing a house with a garden not attached to the main house

58 replies

bluebellsanddaisies23 · 11/08/2023 11:43

Hi everyone, I'm selling my house and have been looking around for a new property. I have found one that is so pretty and so lovely - the only downside is that it has a courtyard garden attached to the property and then, backing onto that, is parking for the house's vehicles and then, just beyond that, is a separate enclosed garden.

I did look at a property not long ago where the garden was separated from the house by a private access lane and, having young DC (between ages 7-10) as well as a dog, we decided it wasn't for us.

However, this house ticks all the boxes, except for the main garden being detached from the house!

Would a house like this put you off? There is another house attached to the side of the house (so effectively it is a terrace) but the other house has no driveway / garden or parking.

Thanks!

OP posts:
Kentlane · 11/08/2023 13:16

Would you be happy sharing the rightmove link? Might be easier than a diagram.

DramaticBananas · 11/08/2023 13:23

Iheartmysmart · 11/08/2023 13:13

I lived in a cottage with a similar set up years ago. DS was about 10 at the time. We used the courtyard as our seating and bbq area and turned the majority of the main garden into a small allotment with chickens. But I’m no gardener so that set up was perfect for me!

That sounds nice.

Can you put up a home office, snug or fancy shed type structure in the big garden? If it has electricity too then you could use that as a base when you're out there and keep an eye on the kids and make a coffee out there. It would avoid annoying treks back to the house and mean you could stay out there for longer.

Original poster
bluebellsanddaisies23 · 11/08/2023 13:25

Sorry all - the courtyard isn't as big as I've drawn it - it isn't massive but you can fit garden furniture and a hot tub out there! My DC are football obsessed so could use the main garden (behind C's garage) as a little football pitch (it isn't fenced off from the front, so will need to add a gate).

OP posts:
Sarvanga38 · 11/08/2023 13:28

Where does the purple wavy lined drive come from and go to - is there another destination beyond House A?

Original poster
bluebellsanddaisies23 · 11/08/2023 13:43

@Sarvanga38 House A and C face onto the main road, and the drive branches off from that (dropped curb) and goes up behind House A and House B (it goes alongside C's property). At the back of House A is a turning area for all 3 houses to use - apologies for my awful drawing!

OP posts:
WallaceinAnderland · 11/08/2023 13:56

I wouldn't buy that house, sorry. The shared access sounds like a potential problem if you ever get difficult neighbours.

tattygrl · 11/08/2023 13:58

Strugglingtofindclothes · 11/08/2023 13:11

Not as bad as I thought! I'd turn the courtyard into a garden for play/relaxation then the actual garden into an allotment with that set up.

Yes, this! Have the actual separate garden as a space you all use as a family, not where the kids and dog can just run to independently; use your courtyard for that. You'll still have access to a lovely bit of private outdoor green space in the actual garden, and can make the courtyard nice to have free access for the kids.

Calmdown14 · 11/08/2023 14:05

For football obsessed kids it could be an advantage. No knocking your pots over or de heading your sunflowers and less annoyance to neighbours of balls bouncing off walls.

Everyone would choose a detached house with its own drive but realistically you take the best you can get for your money.

If it ticks every other box could work well.

Do you like gardening? If you want to create beautiful borders it's a shame not to see them but if you just want somewhere for kids (not toddlers) to play it seems fine.

Original poster
bluebellsanddaisies23 · 12/08/2023 07:13

@Calmdown14 - that's what I'm thinking, maybe the children can have the main garden as their own area and the courtyard could be for flowers etc.

We are moving from a detached with huge drive (private parking) so this will be a first for us - still debating it with DH because I think that at least the house has a pretty front garden and a reasonable sized courtyard - it's not like you step out of the back door have to go out into a shared drive to access the only garden... I see it as the courtyard could be the garden and the bigger, separate garden, is a "bonus" plot of land.

OP posts:
Caspianberg · 12/08/2023 07:26

I think it’s fine. Children can use larger garden for football, and you can use for larger garden parties, have fruit trees and raised beds. The children will all be teenagers soon enough and it will be fine walking across a driveway same as if they walks to park.
Courtyard area for day to day eating, sitting out, reading.

hattie43 · 12/08/2023 07:28

It wouldn't work for me because I have dogs and want to let them out for a wee not escort them in leads to a garden over the way. Too inconvenient .

Original poster
bluebellsanddaisies23 · 12/08/2023 07:29

Thank you @Caspianberg - the more I think about it like that, the more appealing it is. It's in a town as well so having an extra garden would be lovely...

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 12/08/2023 07:31

The shared drive would REALLY put me off. You're so reliant on having decent, nice neighbours. Having had horrendous ones, the thought of sharing a drive with them makes me go cold!

hattie43 · 12/08/2023 07:33

I also think any decision is based on whether this is OP's forever home or will be sold on at some point . It will clearly put a lot of buyers off .

Doingmybest12 · 12/08/2023 07:40

I think it largely depends on the feel of this in terms of business, noise ,traffic etc. Ie will you feel able at a younger age to let the children roam up and use the garden without you . With the court yard I think it is workable if you love the house and it means you can afford a nicer house than you might otherwise. We only have a few months of lovely garden weather and there is still somewhere to play out in the yard. I think I'd do it for the right living accommodation.

Caspianberg · 12/08/2023 07:40

@bluebellsanddaisies23 - tbh our own garden is very spread out ( well steep terraces).
We have lower area that’s enough for table and chairs, bbq and toddler sandpit/ paddling pool. It’s also fine. It doesn’t really matter that the veggies grow in an awkward area or that we have to climb lots of steps and wander to shed or hang laundry. Also our parking ( private garage) is completely away, about 2 mins walk. We have a toddler and the garden and parking are fine. You wouldn’t find a typical flat garden with large parking forecourt anywhere in this area, so to live in the area, it’s adjustment you make.

Original poster
bluebellsanddaisies23 · 12/08/2023 10:01

Thanks @Caspianberg - it will be a change from what we are used to but I don't think it really puts me off, especially as there is a little park near my house (30 second walk) which my DC love, and it would be the same here. I will need to check how many cars have access to this shared drive though, because, as another PP pointed out, I don't want to have issues with neighbours blocking it / driving too fast.

OP posts:
LadyBird1973 · 12/08/2023 10:05

I think it would be okay - as suggested you could either convert the garden to parking or use it as a football pitch for the boys and later an allotment or something.
Having the courtyard makes a big difference.
No house is perfect. I live in a cul de sac with 3 other houses and we share a drive which then branches into our own parking spaces. It's not ideal but it was probably the difference between being able to afford the house and not. Sometimes you do have to compromise a bit to get most of what you want!

UncleRadley · 12/08/2023 10:07

Is it in a small town in Kent? Looks like the setup on a house family rented when they first moved down here. If so, it's a lovely house and the courtyard garden worked well 😂

Original poster
bluebellsanddaisies23 · 12/08/2023 10:10

@UncleRadley haha! no, not Kent, but weirdly a family member lived in a very similar structured property when they moved to Kent a few years ago!

@LadyBird1973 The courtyard is a decent size - I was looking at photos again of it earlier - it's probably as large as some of these new build gardens and is relatively private!

OP posts:
Filament · 12/08/2023 10:11

The main thing that would put me off is the turning circle at your parking area. Random cars would be coming into that walk between your house and garden.

likeafireworkshow · 12/08/2023 10:14

Op, I posted a similar thread a few months back, here

To think it doesn’t matter if the garden isn’t right next to my house? http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/4795532-to-think-it-doesnt-matter-if-the-garden-isnt-right-next-to-my-house

We now live in this house, and it's not been an issue at all!

In the sun we tend to sit on the terrace attached to the house and the kids play down on the garden. We have cameras on the garden and an Alexa show with a live stream if we're in the house.

Original poster
bluebellsanddaisies23 · 12/08/2023 10:17

@likeafireworkshow thank you so much for your advice - I will check out your thread 🙂I think it's nice to have a nice seating area and then a separate are for the children to play.

OP posts:
schloss · 12/08/2023 10:21

The change from you current house would be too much I think, and you may regret it.

Pretty house with own drive and garden - yes. Pretty house with shared access - no.

Do not be swayed by how nice a house looks, shared access always end up with issues - you only have to read some of the threads on MN. Dog ownership, plus children a garden fully enclosed, directly from the house.

schloss · 12/08/2023 10:55

Apologies - Dog ownership plus children need a fully enclosed garden directly from the house.