Can neighbour force us to change our garage?

WaywardDriver

You can get garage doors with pedestrian access. e.g. Garage Doors with Pedestrian Doors | Wicket Door Hormann, Cedar, & Silvelox Garage Doors with Pedestrian Doors | Aluminium, Timber & Steel (thegaragedoorcentre.co.uk). Maybe test neighbour's sincerity by fully/partly funding this?

Norman_Castle

Firstly I'd definitely question the assumption that its a party wall and secondly he should have asked before buying the land. Buying it on the assumption you would accommodate him was foolish.

muffle123

Norman_Castle said:

Firstly I'd definitely question the assumption that its a party wall and secondly he should have asked before buying the land. Buying it on the assumption you would accommodate him was foolish.

Thanks.How do you determine if it's a party wall? I thought if it was on border of their land and ours it was? Or is it not that simple?!

muffle123

_shel said:

muffle123 said:

Thanks for all the replies and help. In reply to some of the comments:
- he said no planning permission needed as it's a garage- I looked this up and seems to be correct?
-we know side access isn't essential to a garage but it is a small garage so would make it easier to get out if a car was in it. As it stands with it being converted and the front sealed up that is the only door. What we weren't sure of is whether if it went to party wall dispute that we could be told we don't need the side door. 
- i assumed it's a party wall as it borders/lines the boundary to his land. I thought all border walls were party walls but don't fully understand! 

 He cant attach anything to your wall without your permission. 

 Do you have legal cover on your home insurance? 

We do - hadn't thought about that thanks

muffle123

WaywardDriver said:

You can get garage doors with pedestrian access. e.g. Garage Doors with Pedestrian Doors | Wicket Door Hormann, Cedar, & Silvelox Garage Doors with Pedestrian Doors | Aluminium, Timber & Steel (thegaragedoorcentre.co.uk). Maybe test neighbour's sincerity by fully/partly funding this?

Interesting - will take a look. The front is currently blocked up as previous owners sealed it to use as workshop - we use it as a gym so would be open to unsealing it as long as it didn't let in any damp / cold etc.

Norman_Castle

muffle123 said:

Norman_Castle said:

Firstly I'd definitely question the assumption that its a party wall and secondly he should have asked before buying the land. Buying it on the assumption you would accommodate him was foolish.

Thanks.How do you determine if it's a party wall? I thought if it was on border of their land and ours it was? Or is it not that simple?!

Does your lease tell you? Your boundary might be on the outside of the wall or might extend beyond it. Do you have plans for your property or for the land he has bought?

Permitted development allows a certain percentage of a properties land to be built on. Presumably this gagage will cover most of the land. I'd check with the planning office if permission is needed.

daivid

OP - What rights do you have to access your door? If the garage butts up to the neighbours land are you trespassing each time? Or do you have a right of access created when the door was put in? Or by usage in the time between installation and now (if the time period is long enough)?