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Would a house with rear access to property put you off?

golly99
golly99 Posts: 454
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edited 15 March 2017 at 11:59AM in House buying, renting & selling
Currently our house is up for sale and saw a property which ticked a lot of boxes but one thing which did put me off from a security point of view was that there was a path with a grassy area behind the back fence linking the nearby streets up. There's obviously a fence/gate there and options to put up some trellis/planting etc, but wondering if it would put anybody off? I've checked the police street map thing which wouldn't suggest any issues and it is a very good area.
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  • always_sunny
    always_sunny Posts: 8,314 Forumite
    If the door bothers you so much surely you can keep it closed?
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  • borkid
    borkid Posts: 2,475
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    No, my house backs onto a community field. No problems at all although the fence is 6ft tall and there is a hedge part way along. If you are really worried add some trellis or grow a prickly climbing plant up it.
  • No it wouldn't bother me, in fact depending on layout etc my husband might end up using it as main access as he's a public transport kind of guy!
  • kathrynha
    kathrynha Posts: 2,469
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    We have front and back access to our property. It doesn't bother me at all as our CCTV covers all sides, as does the nosey old lady 3 doors up :)


    My parents house only has front access, but with a gate to the back, and they had a burglar use the privacy of the back garden to break in. That isn't as big a risk for us.


    You can always put a lock on the back gate if you are worried
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  • Marvel1
    Marvel1 Posts: 7,157
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    Surely as your the buyer it's whether you like it or not to buy.
  • LEJC
    LEJC Posts: 9,618 Forumite
    In some ways rear access is a bonus...especially when you want to prevent taking bulky or messy things through the house.

    I've lived in both access and no access houses and have always valued the extra entry at the back.
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  • LittleMax
    LittleMax Posts: 1,404
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    I am happy with rear access - but it wasn't until I sold my last house, that I realise just how many people are worried by it.
  • Hedgehog99
    Hedgehog99 Posts: 1,425 Forumite
    I like having rear access to the garden without going through the house. As you have done, I would research the field, what it's used for now and what it could be used for in future.

    Check google earth to see whether there are any dead end stubs of roads leading to it, i.e. could it be used for housing in the future and would that affect the value of your property?

    I've heard of problems when councils install children's play equipment and people who'd enjoyed a quiet field suddenly complain of screaming kids.

    You could fit a lock and/or bolts to your gate for improved security, and a nice bit of too-fragile-to-climb trellis.
  • glasgowdan
    glasgowdan Posts: 2,967
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    One issue is wee squads of teenagers drinking white lightning on a saturday night using the path as their hangout. I'd want to spend a couple of hours sitting in the car at least 2-3 times to check if there's many of that sort about first. Warm night are busiest with these kinds of twits.
  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 9,912
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    We have a footpath behind our house and were burgled by somebody climbing over the fence many years ago. We now have trellis on top of the fence, an alarm and CCTV.
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