I live in a tiny mid terrace with v narrow hallway and no side access to my garden. My long thin garden backs on to the grounds of a block of flats belonging to a housing association.
At the end of the garden is a large shed with a rear door that opens on to a back gate in the fence which opens into the grounds of the flats.
When I moved in 3.5 years ago, the sellers told me I could ring a contact at the housing association to ask for permission every time I wanted access through the back gate in the flats' grounds. I've done this a few times to take garden waste to the dump (but only when it's been excessive).
In 4 weeks' time, I have permission from the HA for my builders to use the access through the flats' grounds to pull down the shed and build me a small wood and metal garden room. The build includes a back door (at a cost of £800 incl VAT) so I can maintain the requested access arrangement.
I have to confirm the doors and windows today with the company and have suddenly thought why am I spending £800 on a customised rear door for access I use about 3x a year? I'm in a slightly different position financially to when I put the deposit down in April and could really do with making it a bit cheaper. Also, just went down there and the fence is a real wreck - surely the HA could decide to pull it down and put it up again any time they like and I doubt they'd want to build in a new gate for me!! Then I'd have spent £800 for absolutely nothing? Every time I ring to ask permission no one really knows what the hell I'm on about anyway!