Shared driveway - workaround or avoid?

KPyro

Hi guys, FTB here seeking some advice. My partner and I are going to view a house that looks to tick a lot of boxes and is under budget, but I think I may have discovered why in the form of the shared driveway.

The house I grew up in had shared parking on a private road which should have been enough for everyone but still caused absolute havoc so I'm a bit wary on this. On the plus, the shared drive leads to a garage at the back, but we had rather counted on using that garage as a big shed/diy space (does anyone actually park in garages anymore?). The space in front of the garage is somewhat taken up by a hideous lean to that I would one day hope to replace with a proper extension.
My thought is to use the sizeable front garden to create a proper parking space, but realistically how much work/money are we looking at, and possibly more importantly would it add value, or would this always be a difficult resell because of the shared access to the back?

I'd be really grateful for any input, this is all new and I'm in the excited FTB headspace so some grounding is always appreciated.

Slinky

Do you want to borrow my bargepole?  Wouldn't touch that one tbh, if next door decide they also want to park a car on their drive, neither of you will be able to get out other than via the sunroof.  It's cheap for a reason that you've already identified.

princeofpounds

Yep - a car being parked there is not a great sign for how this shared driveway is used. Ready-made dispute.
If I were you, I would directly speak to the neighbour about it, see what they say. Looks like they already think it's ok to park there.

It's not too expensive to convert a front garden to driveway. Four figures, but usually at the lower end. But your biggest issue will be planning permission and dropped kerb permission. Not sure you'll get the latter as they may take the view that you already own the driveway. Also, you need to figure out who owns the party wall and rail, in case you want to move that.

KPyro

princeofpounds said:

Yep - a car being parked there is not a great sign for how this shared driveway is used. Ready-made dispute.
If I were you, I would directly speak to the neighbour about it, see what they say. Looks like they already think it's ok to park there.

It's not too expensive to convert a front garden to driveway. Four figures, but usually at the lower end. But your biggest issue will be planning permission and dropped kerb permission. Not sure you'll get the latter as they may take the view that you already own the driveway. Also, you need to figure out who owns the party wall and rail, in case you want to move that.

Thanks for the input, sorry it seems like i wasnt clear-the house pictured is the house we're looking at, ie the car parked is (presumably) the current owners of the house, and I would assume the the wall and railing are part of the front garden space rather than a party wall, though I will check that during the viewing.
Do you not think there'd be enough room to turn into the garden space (if it were converted to driveway) using the existing drop kerb?

IF we were to create a private parking space do you think it would be enough to remove this problem for future buyers or would you still be put off by the shared side access to the garage at the back?


(Eta spelling)

Jumblebumble

Slinky said:

Do you want to borrow my bargepole?  Wouldn't touch that one tbh, if next door decide they also want to park a car on their drive, neither of you will be able to get out other than via the sunroof.  It's cheap for a reason that you've already identified.

Personally we made the decision that we would never under any circumstances buy a house with a shared drive
It is far too easy for a  clown next door to park there and if you try and enforce the rights of access you have a dispute on your hands that must be declared on trying to sell

davidmcn

OP, how long has the vendor been parking there? (or to put it another way, when was the last time the neighbour exercised their right to drive up the driveway?)

hazyjo

Search the forum for 'shared driveway' 'shared drive' etc and give it some serious thought.

Another one here who wouldn't touch shared driveways with a bargepole.

KPyro

davidmcn said:

OP, how long has the vendor been parking there? (or to put it another way, when was the last time the neighbour exercised their right to drive up the driveway?)

Don't know, is this worth finding out?

babyblade41

Did it once many moons ago but never , ever again 

KPyro

hazyjo said:

Search the forum for 'shared driveway' 'shared drive' etc and give it some serious thought.

Another one here who wouldn't touch shared driveways with a bargepole.

Yeah I had a look and totally agree if I was relying on the shared driveway then it'd be a total no-go, the eager FTB in me was just hoping if I could figure out a workaround it might change things, but  actually even if you used the front garden for a driveway an obnoxious neighbour could still park in the shared space and block you in if they chose to.
There's also nothing in the way of street parking (it's a main road) so visiting friends/family could face quite a walk.

babyblade41

KPyro said:

hazyjo said:

Search the forum for 'shared driveway' 'shared drive' etc and give it some serious thought.

Another one here who wouldn't touch shared driveways with a bargepole.

Yeah I had a look and totally agree if I was relying on the shared driveway then it'd be a total no-go, the eager FTB in me was just hoping if I could figure out a workaround it might change things, but  actually even if you used the front garden for a driveway an obnoxious neighbour could still park in the shared space and block you in if they chose to.
There's also nothing in the way of street parking (it's a main road) so visiting friends/family could face quite a walk.

I think you have answered your own question... I'd leave this one alone