Shared garden- how to buy the full share...

canaster

ahoysissy wrote: »

Hi all.
I am a first-time buyer and really like a flat. The garden and free-hold is shared with the only other flat above. Apparently the people above, who are tenants, never use the garden. It hasn't been maintained and is over-grown.
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I moved in to a ground floor flat in a similar situation, The previous tenant had neglected the garden, it was filthy and none of the tenants in the two above flats would venture near the place.

I cleaned it up and painted the walls and erected a small greenhouse. Suddenly the garden area became very attractive again. The other tenants now exercised their democratic right to use the garden and I soon found myself being woken up with noisy ball games (my bedroom backed on to the garden) and the other tenants advised me of their plans to set out tables and chairs and hold barbecues in the summer.

All very splendid if you like living in a kibbutz and enjoy communal living. But not for me!

Another problem you will find, even if you have sole right to the garden is that you will be constantly aware that you are being overlooked (and overheard) by the tenants above. In summer when the upper flat windows are open you will hear everything that is going on, in their flat, and you will be very conscious that they can see and hear everything that you are doing in the garden.

Be very careful and be aware that things can and will change.