Owned driveway

redhead17

Hi we are looking at buying a property where the first half of the drive way is owned by the house at the start if the drive way (which they don't use to access anything but own the land it on) but the second half of the driveway is owned by the property we are looking into putting an offer on. also the property has wooden electric poles on the land. Do you think it is a cancer risk?? Or am I overthinking it. 
Thanks for advice 

Cakeguts

It will be a shared drive. Find some threads on shared drives and then see what you think.

ThePants999

No, electricity poles are not a cancer risk, or any risk at all, other than them being knocked over or something similarly physical.

Slithery

The electricity poles wouldn't bother me in the slightest. The shared drive, however, would make me run a mile...

davidmcn

To be fair, most of the previous adverse stories about shared drives are because of conflict with more than one household using it. This one doesn't seem to be used by the other property. OP, is that out of their choice or because it physically doesn't serve the neighbour's house? And what's the deal with maintenance?

zagubov

What size of drive are we talking about.
If the shared drive is two cars wide, I'd not be concerned, but if it could be potentially blocked by a parked car, it could be a source of constant frustration and conflict. 

Davesnave

It sounds as if it could be a country property if there are two electricity poles, as it would be unusual to have more than one in town. Also, country property is often accessed over another's land, even when the use of the driveway is exclusive to the property. There's simply not enough information to make any judgement.

If the poles are wooden, the typical max voltage they'll carry is normally 11kV, which is not usually regarded as a cancer risk, even by those for whom EMFs are a big thing. They'll be soaked in creosote however, which is a cancer inducing chemical, so whatever you do, don't lick them.

Okydoky25

My property allows for access over my driveway to my 2 neighbouring properties. I also have my own personal drive. It’s never caused a problem. We are all mindful not to block anyone in or to cause and obstruction unless we have had planned works taking place and we have then let the neighbours know and they have parked elsewhere whilst these works take place. The deeds state we are all equally responsible for the upkeep. We have paid for a few more tonne of stone ourselves but that’s the extent of the cost over the last 5 years. Worth knocking on the neighbours door and ask their opinion. 

davidmcn

Everyone seems to be overlooking that the OP said this is a driveway which the neighbours "don't use to access anything". Taking that at face value, it appears to be solely used by the OP's prospective purchase, not a "shared" driveway.

hazyjo

davidmcn said:

Everyone seems to be overlooking that the OP said this is a driveway which the neighbours "don't use to access anything". Taking that at face value, it appears to be solely used by the OP's prospective purchase, not a "shared" driveway.

Depends if that means the current owners don't use it to access anything, or whether they would have a right to. What if they moved - could the new owners block access (legally, or just by being a PITA)? What rights are there for using that driveway to access what I presume if a house further back than the first one?

Still sounds shared in parts to me.