Add lawn to property boundary or goes to management company.

toriade

Hello ,

Looking for a bit of assistance in making the right decision here, kind of confused but want to get it right. I'm FTB purchasing property (plot 2) within the red marker in the attached diagram. Within the blue marker is the lawn adjacent to the main road. Based on previous discussion with the developer, this bit can be included in our conveyance so its in our ownership or the management company can take over the responsibility if we don't. It's a private gated estate with the proposed gate highlighted in green.

Though it appears to be a long stretch, are there any advantages/disadvantages if I take this on as part of my boundary? I know this is more work for me in the long run in terms of maintaining the landscape but that isn't an issue. Does this add any value to the property though it sits outside our brick wall fence?

If its not included in my boundary, the management company will take this over and not sure what impact that will have in the future?

I have recently just received the TP1 and  the lawn isn't included within my boundary so I need to make a decision push back or let it go to the management company.  The Mrs thinks we should let it go to the management company as she knows I might be lazy in maintaining the landscape ...lol

AdrianC

Presumably it's laid to grass, and you've got grass in your garden?

So when you get the mower out, run down that bit, too. Add about ten minutes to the job...

TBH, I'd go for it. It takes a potential cause for future conflict out of it all.

Norman_Castle

Is there a hedge on part of it? What obligations and restrictions are there? Can it have a high fence to increase your garden?

I'd probably go for it. If there is very little communal landscaping the service charges could be high for this small area which is possibly the reason they don't want it.

daveyjp

Check the planning permission.  As the strip is roadside there could be obligations you are unaware of and may be inheriting.

davidmcn

Norman_Castle said:

Is there a hedge on part of it? What obligations and restrictions are there? Can it have a high fence to increase your garden?

Given the proximity to the junction I expect it's intended to be a visibility splay (hence why the boundary fence is set back) so I doubt anything high would be permitted on it. 

SMR710

Include it in your plot.

OldMusicGuy

What type of management company? If it's a residents' management company, I wouldn't feel too bad about it not being part of my plot. If it's a third party management company, no way would I let it go to them if I had the choice. 

silvercar

I would want it.
If for no other reason that should you or future owners ever want to extend your property in that direction and come against rules about building within 1 metre of your property boundary, that land could make a significant difference.

Jeepers_Creepers

Your 'red' boundary to that strip is a brick wall, around 6' high? Nicely private, then.

What is the 'blue' boundary made of, the one that faces the road and pavement? I'm guessing it could be something like a low timber rail fence, one that marks the boundary but could literally be stepped over if anyone wished? 

As said above, if that bluey is a low boundary fence, chances are it'll have to stay that way. So that would beg the question - what will you use that land for? You probably cannot make it 'private' by having that blue fence raised, so it'll serve no practical function for you. All you will be liable for, is maintaining it - it mustn't grow to the extent it blocks the visibility splay (if that's what it is), and it mustn't look untidy or your fellow gated-community folk will post carp through your letterbox for devaluing their estate. 

So I suggest you need to find out that info. If you can raise that blue boundary height and include that strip inside your garden - via a nice gothic, ivy-clad gateway through your wall - that's a different matter. 

eddddy

One potential advantage of including the 'blue area' is that it might be easier for you to create an access at some point in the future.

For example, if you decided you wanted a gate from the back garden to the main road (to make deliveries of summerhouses, garden hot tubs etc easier!)

Or if you decided to build a rear extension on the house, it might be cost-effective to temporarily demolish part of the garden wall to get machinery in. 

toriade

Many thanks to everyone. I think the consensus is to go for it. I'll chase the the solicitor and developer regarding this tomorrow. Thought I don't intend to extend to that side just the thought that I don't need to seek someone else's approval if I need to do anything to the wall. Some other plots on the site have done similar.

To answer a couple of the questions.

- There is an existing landscape design for it as with the entire estate. It appears will be carpetted with a few plants planned

- The management company will be  resident managed company.

- The blue boundary will possibly be a low timber rail fence