Changing unused 'council owned' gate?

Niv

If it bothered me, I might be inclined to just paint it with black metal paint if the neighbour wasn't bothered.

gazfocus

Niv said:

If it bothered me, I might be inclined to just paint it with black metal paint if the neighbour wasn't bothered.

The council have said to not modify the gate in any way. One thing I’ve thought about is getting some artificial plant like the attached and strapping it to the gate. 

I’ve actually been to the house today to show my mum around, and the estate agent took issue with the fact the next door neighbour has had some bags of stones delivered and placed in front of the gate, so has taken a photo and is going to find out what’s going on with that. 

Niv

gazfocus said:

Niv said:

If it bothered me, I might be inclined to just paint it with black metal paint if the neighbour wasn't bothered.

The council have said to not modify the gate in any way. One thing I’ve thought about is getting some artificial plant like the attached and strapping it to the gate. 

I’ve actually been to the house today to show my mum around, and the estate agent took issue with the fact the next door neighbour has had some bags of stones delivered and placed in front of the gate, so has taken a photo and is going to find out what’s going on with that. 

I would be surprised if the council would make a fuss about someone painting the gate. If they did, one could argue that painting it is protecting it as opposed to modifying it. But it come down to your risk profile.

I think some gross plastic plant would be much uglier than the gate as is tbh. 

subjecttocontract

I think you are missing the elephant in the room.....

The next door property has removed the small boundary wall between the alley way and their front garden. They are using the land to store items, they are using the land to drive across to park a car in their front garden. That would ring alarm bells with me but you seem to be more bothered about a gate.

gazfocus

subjecttocontract said:

I think you are missing the elephant in the room.....

The next door property has removed the small boundary wall between the alley way and their front garden. They are using the land to store items, they are using the land to drive across to park a car in their front garden. That would ring alarm bells with me but you seem to be more bothered about a gate.

It does ring alarm bells which is why I’ve said the estate agent has taken the responsibility to find out what’s happening with the neighbour. 

To be blunt, if the neighbour thinks they can assume ownership of that land, they’ve got another thing coming, but I feel I’m limited in what I can do until I own the house. 

Section62

Niv said:

gazfocus said:

I would be surprised if the council would make a fuss about someone painting the gate. If they did, one could argue that painting it is protecting it as opposed to modifying it. But it come down to your risk profile.

I can't say for sure, but it looks as though the gate is galvanised and this would be typical of the council approach of installing something with the least possible maintenance need.

If someone paints it the council will have to do maintenance work on the paint (when it inevitably starts peeling off) at some point in the future.

If they find out it has been painted I'd expect them to be quite miffed... especially if they previously told the painter it was their gate and not to be modified.  Whether or not it would result in a stern letter from the council I can't say... but in any event I think the OP will have more problems with the neighbour(s) rather than the council.

Niv said:

I think some gross plastic plant would be much uglier than the gate as is tbh. 

I agree.  Someone is going to complain about that.

subjecttocontract

Buying a house with a potential problem neighbour isn't a good starting point. What if the neighbour isn't going to jump next time you shout frog ? You may want him to stop using it as part of his drive and store area but actually achieving that goal may be no easier after you buy your property than it is now.

ashe

Red flags all over with this 

potential problem neighbour 

potential gate which you hate 

the reason why the gate was out there in the first place  


are you totally smitten with it? 

Mojisola

gazfocus said:

It does ring alarm bells which is why I’ve said the estate agent has taken the responsibility to find out what’s happening with the neighbour. 

To be blunt, if the neighbour thinks they can assume ownership of that land, they’ve got another thing coming, but I feel I’m limited in what I can do until I own the house. 

Moving in and instantly starting a feud with your neighbour is a crazy idea.

gazfocus

I agree that I can’t see the council being happy at all with the gate being painted. Some ‘removable/none permanent’ way of covering the gate is probably the safest. 

As I said, I’ve not spoken to the neighbour yet so I don’t think it’s fair to say they are going to be problem neighbours. I’ve sent pictures to the estate agents for them to follow up and if need be, I’ll go knock on the door of the neighbour and say hi.

Chances are whatever they are planning on doing will be done relatively soon as you generally don’t order 3 tonnes of stones to sit in the bags for weeks on end. It might be simply that the neighbour is trying to improve the look of the alley in the same way I would want to, but obviously won’t know there intentions until a conversation is had.