Dear Tony,
I am buying a detatched house from Allison homes. I am completing tomorrow. During the home demonstration I was told that I have to share the piece of land between my house and the house adjacent to me, with my neighbours as thay have a right of way to the area. Site manager says that I definetly own the land but will have to allow my neighbours through. Clearly this is not something mentioned in the previous chats or in writing. The contract draft and plans clearly show that I have exclusive access and rights to my land. But the plans they hold at the sales office has been amended with a blue shading to the area to indicate that it is a shared area. The site manager also says that I cannot have my garden gate on the side of the property as I have to allow legal access to gas and electric meters and shall risk prosecution if I block access with a fence.
I wonder if these amendments could be made without informing me?
Should I complete pending these issues or should I wait to get a clarification before I complete?
The border is whatever is in black and white on your legally binding contract. If your contract and deeds do not show shared access then it is not shared.
But having owned an Alison Homes home for a year now I do note they have some strange ideas and appear to not really know what they are talking about sometimes. I sometimes wonder if they make it up as they go along. I don't think they are being dishonest, they are just a bit dim.
Regarding the gate. A gate does not obstruct access to a meter does it? If you were to lock the gate then that is a different matter but if you think about it, what about those people who have meters inside their houses. Are they not allowed to lock their front doors?
So check with your solicitor as it is the contract that is signed on the day that is the binding one.
So check with your solicitor as it is the contract that is signed on the day that is the binding one.
I agree this is a matter for your solicitor. It is very common to have to provide access to neighbours across your land to access bin alleys, rear gardens, and parking spaces.
Sorry I can't be more help - let us know what your solicitor says