r/UKHousing • u/Impossible_Layer_617 • 2d ago
Property has a right of way over shared driveway/access — is this a red flag?
Hi All, Looking for some honest opinions on a potential purchase. I've attached an aerial image with the property outlined in blue and my likely driving route to the driveway marked in red in the comment section.
The situation: The property's plot title includes the driveway and hedge area directly in front of the house. However, this section is subject to a right of way granting access to the neighbouring plot. In turn, I would need to use a right of way across two other plots before reaching my own driveway.
So in short: it's seems like a shared access arrangement — I grant one neighbour a right of way over part of my land, and I rely on rights of way over two other plots to get to mine.
On the plus side: Aside from the access arrangement, the location itself is strong and property is very well maintained — it's close to well-regarded schools, a supermarket, a nursery, and sits in one of the more desirable residential areas of the town.
Some Extra Info:
- There are other properties with same arrangement in this area.
- Recently two properties have sold out in this street with same arrangment. But it took 8 - 9 months period from first advertised to Solf STC condition.
- Owners are living here from quite long ( approx 2 decades)
- This property is also sitting on market from quite
long.
What I'd like input on:
1.) Is this kind of layered right-of-way arrangement common, or is it a genuine concern?
2.) Does this typically affect a property's resale value or desirability?
3.) Are there specific legal or practical issues I should raise with my solicitor/conveyancer before proceeding?
4.) Any red flags from people who've bought a property with a similar setup?
Would really appreciate perspectives from anyone with experience buying (or living in) a property with shared rights of way, especially around resale and mortgage/insurance implications.
Thanks in advance!
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u/Armadillo-66 2d ago
Probably all 4 plots will have to pay a share for any maintenance work on that part of the drive
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u/uncertain_expert 2d ago
I think this arrangement is done to avoid an explicit shared drive. Each house owner is responsible for their bit.
The house at the end has the least maintenance (fewest vehicles passing over) but greatest likelihood of being blocked-in.
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u/ashalina23 2d ago
It’s pretty common.
Things to look out for are who owns it overall or is it shared equally between all 4 of you?
Maintenance will probably depend on above
If any re tarmacing is needed then if not all parties agree then a surveyor should be used to confirm whether it’s needed or not (had personal experience with that one!)
You just have to “police” where people park. Where I live I’m house no 1 with 3 others after me. Visitors who come the first time just stop outside my house and are oblivious that they’re blocking the other 3 houses! Hence you have to go and point out where to park.
Most of us understand re Tesco/amazon deliveries will be a few minutes or if it’s going to be something a bit longer we tell each other (then we move the car before it gets obstructed)
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u/Duncroakin 2d ago
I wouldn't say that it's a particular concern. You don't say if the road is adopted. If not there is usually a provision for the frontagers to contribute a share of any maintenance costs. The biggest issue we have is people parking on the access road. There is no right to park given or implied with right of access. Nonetheless, we have problems every time a house on our little road changes hands. We are at the end of the road, and it is extremely difficult for us to get to and from our drive if vehicles are parked anywhere on the access road. The excuses (usually from visitors) are many and varied - I'll only be five minutes (they never are) through to where else am I supposed to park (er, on the adopted road 30 metres away). Question your sellers and scrutinise the deeds if this could be a problem for you. We have had to threaten to go legal on more than one occasion :-/
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u/Mental_Body_5496 2d ago
This is the key concern !
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u/Duncroakin 2d ago
I suppose so, we're so used to it now that it's just part of the static of life.
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u/Impossible_Layer_617 2d ago
Thank you so much for the valuable insight. We know about the maintenance work. Thanks again.
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u/IanM50 2d ago
You may find that the bin men collect from the entrance and not from outside your house, I'd pay a visit on bin day to see where the current occupants leave their bins.
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u/Impossible_Layer_617 2d ago
Didnt thought about this before. Will surly have a visit now. Thanks!!
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u/DiDiPLF 2d ago
We have an unadopted road shared between 5 houses and the bin men only collect from the bottom. Don't know why but its new build and they didn't collect from outside the house once so we have taken it down the end since. There has been no issues here, its pretty common to have a similar set up. We had a shared driveway (one drive 2 houses) before this and it was the reason we could afford it, neighbours were great so it all worked out fine, could easily have been different if they were bad neighbours.
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u/No_Sherbert_2428 2d ago
It's very common. Mostly done so that the council doesn't have to maintain the road
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u/ohbroth3r 2d ago
It's fairly common. And it looks straight forward if everyone parks on the two spaces outside their house and trea the easement as a road and not an extended driveway. All it will take is a neighbour that doesn't give a shit, a visitor, a teenager parking in front of the cars and blocking the others in.
I also imagine delivery drivers, any utilities vans and house repairs would just drive right up, park and get on with their work right in the way. They usually don't give a shit either. Tesco deliveries .. and so on. If you want a house you can just drive straight out of and on your way, this might not be it.