Shared driveway - potential issue?

lzzwzz

Would a shared driveway put you off purchasing a house?
I've just had a second viewing on a semi detached house that has a driveway with no fence/wall/other boundary marker with the house not adjoined. It looks like the two owners have just had the whole driveway re-done for both properties at once, same brickwork & two drain covers.
Whilst viewing, the house next door's car seemed to be taking up quite a lot of space the front of the house, plus they had a hedge and small amount of garden that couldn't be parked on. The seller said they are nice neighbours, and was quite vague/unfazed by there not being a boundary between the two. 

I'm a FTB, just trying to work out if this is a potential issue or if it's something to compromise on.

Doozergirl

Just because they've shared the job of resurfacing, doesn't mean it's actually shared on the deeds.  What does the Title Plan show on the Land Registry? 

davidmcn

Is it actually shared, or is it two driveways' wide with no physical boundary?

[Deleted User]

We have just moved in to a property with this situation. Ours is the first property from the road so the neighbours have access 'through' our driveway. We haven't found it problematic but the neighbours are lovely and we are both being considerate of each other so it would be more difficult depending on neighbours I guess? Also - we may have more of a problem when we are going to do work on the property and possibly blocking access. 
We are going to try and talk to our neighbours about possibly purchasing the access from them / contributing towards them making their own driveway. The previous owners said they were receptive to this and it would be mutually beneficial and they have plenty of space to do this. This would then change our driveway from being able to park approx 3 cars to around 6 so it would be a big difference when having people over etc.
Really I think it's each person's unique feelings on this and also very much down to the personalities / cooperation of people involved.

lzzwzz

Doozergirl said:

Just because they've shared the job of resurfacing, doesn't mean it's actually shared on the deeds.  What does the Title Plan show on the Land Registry? 

I don't know yet, I've just viewed the property and the seller didn't know.

lzzwzz

davidmcn said:

Is it actually shared, or is it two driveways' wide with no physical boundary?

It is two driveways wide with no physical boundary.

davidmcn

lzzwzz said:

Doozergirl said:

Just because they've shared the job of resurfacing, doesn't mean it's actually shared on the deeds.  What does the Title Plan show on the Land Registry? 

I don't know yet, I've just viewed the property and the seller didn't know.

Well, what do they do in practice? Do they just treat it as if there is an invisible fence up the middle and keep to their own sides?

MoneySeeker1

Well as it's the width of two driveways - then I'd say that one possible way to deal with this would be just to paint one single "white line" exactly bang up the middle. To the left is theirs and to the right is yours. If either party would like to "borrow" the use of the half that belongs to the neighbour they make a genuinely pleasant request to do so in advance or forget the whole idea and just stick to their own driveway side only.

lzzwzz

davidmcn said:

lzzwzz said:

Doozergirl said:

Just because they've shared the job of resurfacing, doesn't mean it's actually shared on the deeds.  What does the Title Plan show on the Land Registry? 

I don't know yet, I've just viewed the property and the seller didn't know.

Well, what do they do in practice? Do they just treat it as if there is an invisible fence up the middle and keep to their own sides?

Yeah it looks that way. My concern is that it appeared the neighbour used more space due to his hedge and garden, and that my two cars might not fit on my part of that drive.

oystercatcher

We have had this set up for 20 years we each have our own driveway with no division, the driveways are quite narrow so doors opening might clash but we tend to stagger where the cars are parked as there is plenty of room for 3 cars each and plenty of roadside parking too. On the odd occasion one of us has had builders in we have arranged to share the space and it's been really handy. Have always had nice neighbours there though. I did years ago manage to scratch next doors car with my poor driving skills, went round and apologised and offered to pay and he was really nice about it and said it would polish out ! 
I think it all adds up to what else is available in your price band , we all have to compromise on something. I would avoid a single car width shared driveway unless no other viable option but double width is fine for me.

hazyjo

lzzwzz said:

Would a shared driveway put you off purchasing a house?

Wouldn't touch a shared driveway with a bargepole (sorry!). Try searching the forum for Shared Driveway (or drive) for some examples.