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Original poster

bother - there is a problem with the house I want......would it bother you?

16 replies

chocolateshoes · 07/07/2008 13:20

The neighbours has access to our garden so she can get to her outhouse. The porblem is that the garden isn't visible from the house at all and I am worried about Ds playing down theere if neighbour has access. Am I over-reacting? Do you think I could negociate to buy the outhouse & stop access? Anyone in the know about how to do this and how much to offer? Wsa so excited about this place and am now feeling v low....

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PussinJimmyChoos · 07/07/2008 13:23

It probably would be ok...but then if she moved and new people moved in etc, you would only worry. I'd negotiate to buy the outhouse or is there anyway you could just block off the end of the garden to create an isolated passage to the outhouse?

All this aside though, I'd personally want a garden that was visible from the house - its nice to be able to sit in the living room and watch them play or cook in the kitchen and see them (which ever room the garden overlooks)

GooseyLoosey · 07/07/2008 13:29

If I could get round it I would, but our neighbour has access over our drive and you need to cross the drive to get to the garden (which you cannot see in its entirety from the house).

To be honest, how much it would concern me would depend on what the norm for the area was. In villages people often have rights of access all over the place, whereas in towns it would be unusual. As a result, I would not see it as putting off a village buyer too much but it would concern me more in a town.

Original poster
chocolateshoes · 07/07/2008 13:33

thanks. It is in a village and you are roight GL it is quite common especially up here in the north I think. Agree that the current neighbopur is probably fine - an elderly single woman - but eventually she'll sell & then what. Its hard to explain. The outhouse sits next to our outhouse on a sort of bank that overlooks the garden. She has to walk a little way through the garden to get to it as if she was standing at the top of garden. Not doing a very good job at explaining!

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MegReally · 07/07/2008 13:35

in our previous house, three lots of neighbours had access through our garden. It wasn't a problem at all, it was perfectly normal

Original poster
chocolateshoes · 07/07/2008 13:39

i guess its not the access so much but the fact that the garden is down a long path & I wouldn't be able to see DS playing out. The fact that someone then has access to that garden & I wouldn't be able to see if they were there is worrying me a bit. I'm sort of hoping you'll all disagree with me because I do love the house and am probably being paranoid & over protective of PFB!!!

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MegReally · 07/07/2008 13:41

the thing is, if your neighbour was an evil child-napper, she wouldn't need legal access to her outhouse to realise her dastardly schemes. I think you are overreacting tbh

Original poster
chocolateshoes · 07/07/2008 13:43

good point Meg!! Maybe I am over-reacting. I do hope iykwim!! Thanks!

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Original poster
chocolateshoes · 07/07/2008 18:50

bump

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Hecate · 07/07/2008 19:00

I would HATE that! Not because I'd be scared for the kids, but because I am a VERY territorial person. I have to have my private bit of the world. I hate my space being invaded, iyswim. Someone having the right to go through my garden would drive me so mad I'd be fantasising about putting bear traps down!

OverMyDeadBody · 07/07/2008 19:07

If it's the safety of your DS you're worrying about, he's going to grow up isn't he?

How old's your ds now? It might seem scary now to leave him where you can't see him, but in a few years it won't matter, or 4 or 5 or 6 years or whatever, so potentially it is only a temporary problem.

OverMyDeadBody · 07/07/2008 19:07

I would hate it for the same reason as Hecate though, I like my privacy.

Original poster
chocolateshoes · 07/07/2008 19:21

he is just three. Am glad you are all so reasonable and I think you are right - that in a few years it won't matter.

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myredcardigan · 07/07/2008 20:12

I wouldn't buy a house with shared access rights. And not being able to see my kids from the house would make it a double no no for me.

I've heard too many stories of it being ok with one neighbour then a new one arrives who takes the piss or spends 5hours a day in the shed doing whatever.

Also, with the market taking a downturn, houses with a compromise often take the earliest/hardest hit.

If it's niggling at you now before you're living there then I'd say it would drive you crazy when you're actually in.

expatinscotland · 07/07/2008 20:14

It would have to be a no from me, for the reasons myredcardigan brings up, which are very salient indeed.

GooseyLoosey · 07/07/2008 22:07

Should say chocolate that we are on terrible terms with the neighbours who have access over our land but their presence does not really feel like an invasion of privacy and they have never been anything other than polite to my dcs.

Original poster
chocolateshoes · 08/07/2008 18:52

hmmmmmm.....more food for thought. Thanks. All opinions, experiences & advice appreciated.
Btw does anyone have any idea how much we could offer to buy the outhouse? And presumably to stop the access? Or would it be impossible to change?

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