Buying neighbours right to access driveway - where to start?

[Deleted User]

Hi -
We are in the process of buying a property that is a semi detached cottage. Our new neighbours have access through are property to drive to their property. The vendor has said that the neighbours are potentially interested in selling their rights to the driveway and building their own drive / access (they have the much larger plot and shouldn't be an issue to have a driveway running in parallel behind our driveway where they have a good chunk of land).
So my question is how do you go about something like this and how on earth do you price it? In theory it would be beneficial to both parties to have this. Would it be worth offering to accept all costs involved in building theirs + a smaller set amount of cash? Really confused on how to approach it.
Thanks

AdrianC

You know what you're paying for the place with compromised access. How much would it be worth without that blight? And don't forget there'll be a similar benefit on their place, too - it's a win-win.

But don't underestimate the cost of doing the work... Especially if a new drop-kerb's needed, and there's more than a trivial amount of tarmac.

Then cross your fingers they get PP to put in an extra entrance.

davidmcn

Is it important to you in relation to the purchase? It's going to complicate things no end if you want a deal done with the neighbours before you buy.

[Deleted User]

Thanks both. @davidmcn we will be continuing with the purchase regardless and wouldn't look at this until later on. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for us if it always stays like this. It's a country property and we don't have an issue with it as such. However, I think it would be better for all parties with separate drives. We would also gain around 3 additional car spaces. It's more how to look at approaching it after the purchase, it's not conditional on it.

AdrianC

Deleted_User said:

It's more how to look at approaching it after the purchase, it's not conditional on it.

Casually mention it over a bottle of wine round the kitchen table.

NameUnavailable

I would wait to see what the neighbours propose, it's their issue really as they are thinking of the benefits of having their own driveway, which if they were to do and you said no to buying their rights, would they even continue to use the shared drive anyway?

It would be better for you if you had a private drive so do co-operate but I wouldn't be making any offers until you know their opening 'bid'.