Neighbour's right of access

anniemac13

Apologies if this is the wrong place for this query.

My neighbour has a detached house that has been extended right up to the boundary with my property. The original house was built right up to his boundary on the south side of his property, so this extension has effectively prevented him access to his rear garden other than through his house.

If its relevant, its a 2 storey extension, garage/utility room with bedroom & bathroom over. I think it was built in the 1970's, not long after the original house was built (1971, the same time as mine). I don't know if the current owners built it or moved in afterwards, but I do know they have lived there for over 30 years.

I understand I have to allow him "reasonable" access to maintain his property.
Obviously this would be required for (say) cleaning out the gutters on my side.
Is it reasonable for him to ask me first, or at least tell me when he intends to do something?
What about if he needs to erect scaffolding that would prevent me using my driveway?

And does this "reasonable access" include having workmen use my garden to access his?
The boundary between our rear gardens is a 3-ft high fence, which I understand is his responsibility. The rest of his garden is surrounded by 2 metre fencing and a conifer hedge on the other neighbours side that must be over 3 metres high.

I have had the deeds checked and there is no mention of any rights of way.

ChumLee

What's the real problem here?

anniemac13

He's had work done a couple of times without saying anything to me. The last time, guys washing down his fascias damaged some solar lights & left detergent splashes on my car. They never asked me to move it.

I think he's taking the p*ss and I want to be sure what rights I have before anything kicks off.

Yes I'm a typical grumpy old woman, but I value my privacy.

I'm also very wary about him creating any permanent right of access to the rear of his property through mine, by virtue of "habitual use" or whatever its called.

Dannytyler

kicks off !! ??? have a chat with him first

anniemac13

chat about what? that I don't like him treating my driveway as an extension of his property?

It will kick off big time if I come home one day to find scaffolding on my drive without him telling me beforehand that his roof needs fixing

ChumLee

What now, whit the scaffolding question?

Dannytyler

chat about what? that I don't like him treating my driveway as an extension of his property?

.......um yeah?

PasturesNew

Bullies like this tend to 'pick' on women homeowners. They think they can do what they like on your drive etc.

He doesn't have any rights to do anything except to make a reasonable request for routine maintenance, not just do it.

In an emergency, say his roof blew off, I'm sure you'd not mind if you came home to find scaffolding on your driveway, so long as he rushed out immediately with a box of chocs and full explanation, while bowing, full of apologies - and was seen rushing around the base of the scaffolding clearing up etc

But it won't be like that will it. He'll have a "lump it" attitude.

I feel your pain.

One good phrase I heard, which can be useful as your response to bad issues is: "You can't make your problem my problem". He had all the choices when he chose that house, chose to extend, chose to extend in that way. He needs to be taught how to be gracious.

Andehh

How often do you think he will actually clean out his gutters, or clean his facias? And when has scaffolding ever been erected!? Heck, at those heights even a few metres between properties will cause some splashes.

Most people would appreciate neighbours maintaining their properties.

Andehh

PasturesNew wrote: »

Bullies like this tend to 'pick' on women homeowners. They think they can do what they like on your drive etc.

He doesn't have any rights to do anything except to make a reasonable request for routine maintenance, not just do it.

In an emergency, say his roof blew off, I'm sure you'd not mind if you came home to find scaffolding on your driveway, so long as he rushed out immediately with a box of chocs and full explanation, while bowing, full of apologies - and was seen rushing around the base of the scaffolding clearing up etc

But it won't be like that will it. He'll have a "lump it" attitude.

I feel your pain.

One good phrase I heard, which can be useful as your response to bad issues is: "You can't make your problem my problem". He had all the choices when he chose that house, chose to extend, chose to extend in that way. He needs to be taught how to be gracious.

Good grief. Bullying? Picking on? Her pain!? The poor bloke is only (POTENTIALLY) trying to clean his gutters and fascias. You'd be moaning twice as much in he didn't (doesn't?) and they over flowed onto your property.

PasturesNew

Andehh wrote: »

Good grief. The poor bloke is only (POTENTIALLY) trying to clean his gutters and fascias. You'd be moaning twice as much in he didn't (doesn't?) and they over flowed onto your property.

I would if I thought he was a p155-taker. As it is, my neighbour's conservatory roof/gutters are really tricky to reach and whenever I see him struggling I point to my side of the fence and say "You're welcome to do it from here if you want". He always declines, I always offer.

Nobody minds, especially for reasonable access for good/valid reasons.... but, for the female, the world is littered with p155-taking bully boys who don't give a tinker's cuss about your rights.