Alleyway ROW

Giddypip

Hi, I am buying a semi-detached property in Wales. Between the house I am buying and the house next door (not attached) is an alley that leads to both back yards. There is a gate at the start of the alley, then each yard has it's own gate.

The title to the house I am buying make no mention of this alley, nothing about ownership, nothing about any right of way. I would need to use this alley to get the bins from the yard to the collection point.

I have downloaded the title plans and title register for both properties. The alley is not included in any document. It is not included in the 'red' boundary lines for either property and there is no mention of any right of way or maintenance responsibilities.

My solicitor says that the alley is unadopted and is privately maintained. Can anyone tell me in real terms what this means?

TIA

jimbog

If you go to the Land Registry website you might be able to zoom in on the map and find if there is any title on it

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mapsearch

Giddypip

jimbog said:

If you go to the Land Registry website you might be able to zoom in on the map and find if there is any title on it

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mapsearch

Thank you, I will have a look

Giddypip

Giddypip said:

jimbog said:

If you go to the Land Registry website you might be able to zoom in on the map and find if there is any title on it

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mapsearch

Thank you, I will have a look

No good, that link is for business users

user1977

Giddypip said:

My solicitor says that the alley is unadopted and is privately maintained. Can anyone tell me in real terms what this means?

It means it isn't a public highway (if it was, then you, and everybody else, would have the right to use it - and the council would be responsible for maintenance).

And if it's not in the neighbour's title then that at least suggests if anybody tried to stop you from using it, it wouldn't be the neighbour. No other clues about anybody else who might own it? Does it serve any other properties? Were the houses built at the same time?

p00hsticks

Giddypip said:

Giddypip said:

jimbog said:

If you go to the Land Registry website you might be able to zoom in on the map and find if there is any title on it

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mapsearch

Thank you, I will have a look

No good, that link is for business users

go here, and when you press 'start now; you are taken to a page with a number of options to search, including 'search by map' 
Search for land and property information - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

jimbog

Giddypip said:

Giddypip said:

jimbog said:

If you go to the Land Registry website you might be able to zoom in on the map and find if there is any title on it

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mapsearch

Thank you, I will have a look

No good, that link is for business users

Sorry, try this:
https://search-property-information.service.gov.uk/search/map-search/

Giddypip

user1977 said:

Giddypip said:

My solicitor says that the alley is unadopted and is privately maintained. Can anyone tell me in real terms what this means?

It means it isn't a public highway (if it was, then you, and everybody else, would have the right to use it - and the council would be responsible for maintenance).

And if it's not in the neighbour's title then that at least suggests if anybody tried to stop you from using it, it wouldn't be the neighbour. No other clues about anybody else who might own it? Does it serve any other properties? Were the houses built at the same time?

No clues as to the owner. It only serves those 2 properties so hopefully it won't become a problem. I think the houses were built at similar times, definitely the same style. The one I'm buying was built in 1898.

Section62

Giddypip said:

user1977 said:

Giddypip said:

My solicitor says that the alley is unadopted and is privately maintained. Can anyone tell me in real terms what this means?

It means it isn't a public highway (if it was, then you, and everybody else, would have the right to use it - and the council would be responsible for maintenance).

And if it's not in the neighbour's title then that at least suggests if anybody tried to stop you from using it, it wouldn't be the neighbour. No other clues about anybody else who might own it? Does it serve any other properties? Were the houses built at the same time?

No clues as to the owner. It only serves those 2 properties so hopefully it won't become a problem. I think the houses were built at similar times, definitely the same style. The one I'm buying was built in 1898.

Is it a coal mining area?  Could the properties have been built by the local colliery?