Shared Access and Your Rights
Shared access ways are common in the UK, particularly with older terraced houses, Victorian properties, and some semi-detached homes. These might be narrow passageways between buildings, shared paths across rear gardens, or lanes serving multiple properties. Some include vehicular rights, which can be a frequent source of dispute.
Your specific rights will usually be set out in your property's title deeds. These describe what the access can be used for, who can use it, and any conditions attached. Some rights are broad, allowing general passage at any time. Others may be restricted to certain purposes or times of day.
If you are unsure what your deeds say, you can obtain copies from HM Land Registry through their website. Request both the title register and the title plan. There is a small fee. Look for references to easements or rights of way. The wording can be old fashioned or legalistic, so consider getting advice from a property solicitor if anything is unclear.
Check your legal rights in any neighbour dispute. Takes 1 minute.
Try our Neighbour Rights Checker free, here on this site →Common Problems with Blocked Access
Most neighbours manage shared access sensibly. Problems arise when someone places items that restrict or block passage.
Typical obstructions include:
- Bicycles or children's toys left in the pathway
- Wheelie bins positioned so they block the route
- Garden furniture, plant pots, or tools stored in the access way
- Building materials or rubble left during home improvements
- Fencing, gates, or structures built across the access
- Vehicles parked in a shared lane or driveway
Sometimes the obstruction is temporary or accidental. In other cases, the blockage may be deliberate, perhaps arising from a dispute or misunderstanding about who owns the land. A blocked access way can prevent you wheeling a pushchair or mobility aid through, make moving bins difficult, or stop you bringing larger items into your garden.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
Talking to Your Neighbour First
In most cases, start with a direct conversation. Many access problems result from oversight rather than ill intent, and a polite word can resolve things quickly.
Choose a calm moment rather than approaching when frustrated. Explain the problem in straightforward terms: you have noticed items in the shared passageway and ask if they could be moved so you can get through. Keep the tone friendly and assume good faith.
If your neighbour is rarely home, an informal note works just as well. Keep it brief and polite. State the issue, explain how the obstruction affects your access, and ask if they could clear it. Avoid accusatory language or threats. People are often unaware of the inconvenience they cause and happy to sort it out once informed.
Formal Letters and Further Steps
If direct communication fails, a formal written complaint creates a record and shows you are treating the matter seriously. It can also serve as evidence if you later need a solicitor or court action.
A formal letter should be polite but firm. Include:
- Your name, address, and the date
- A clear description of the obstruction and its location
- How it affects your use of the access way
- A reference to your legal right of access from your deeds
- A request that the obstruction be removed within a reasonable timeframe, such as 14 days
- A statement that you may consider further action if unresolved
Send the letter using Royal Mail's Signed For or Special Delivery service. Keep a copy for your records.
When letters and conversations have not worked, mediation is one option. A trained mediator helps you and your neighbour find an acceptable solution. Mediation is usually quicker and cheaper than court and can preserve a working relationship. Find services through the Civil Mediation Council or local community mediation providers.
You can also consult a solicitor experienced in property law. They can review your deeds, advise on your position, and explain what court action involves. Legal action is expensive and time consuming, so treat it as a last resort. However, where someone has built a permanent structure across your access or refuses to cooperate despite clear evidence of your rights, it may be necessary.
If you are a leaseholder and the shared access is on land managed by a freeholder or management company, raise the issue with them. They may have authority to require the obstruction's removal. Your home insurance may also include legal expenses cover: check your policy or contact your insurer.
Throughout this process, keep records. Photograph the obstruction, save letters and messages, and note dates and details of conversations. This information is valuable if you need to take the matter further.
thanking you in anticipation
patricia donaghy
one window in my kitchen which is touching so I cannot open it or clean it! She has various plant pots against my wall and making my house damp so my dry goods are spoilt and now smelling damp. I so wanted to get this place sorted to sell as my ex husband has an interest but now she has added value to her property and devalued mine! I’m so very depressed atm! Now having a meeting with the police with my neighbour for resolution! ??. My other neighbour had got involved and sadly has a asbo for trying to protect my rights. The only good side is my neighbour isn’t ranting or slamming her door. Forgot how peaceful things could be but being a single Mum and have had more than my fair share of things to deal with.wanted to be able to move on now I’m working full time! I did hear her rant one eve she was going to make it difficult to move but wasn’t sure at the time if it was just drink talking. I’m feeling very depressed
Literally the police can't do anything, why because it keeps money coming into the same system that kept you in slavery for 400 year's.
The same laws that aloud slavery and the murdered millions of people from Africa to Australia from India to America.
Why isn't there a law to stop people from destroying your peace, your tranquility of living in your home you fell in love with and worked to hard to find the money to pay for it.
We need a permanent law that protects home owner from being victim's of neighbours that lives in the first house in a rank of terrace houses.
Me and my family were surprised to see our neighbor, 2 men, and a woman, bringing in their motorbike through our front gate and through the back garden and into theirs. When we asked them why they are doing this they told us that this is a shared pathway and it always has been so whenever they need to take out their motorbike they can just go through our property whenever they wish without asking us.
I'm living in a council house and they haven't told us before we move about this access share, what can I do about this breach of my privacy, please ?
Thanks
There is Passageway next to my property. My title deed clearly says that I have the full access of the Passageway but the other end property owner has placed a gate and heavy concrete blocks to block my access to the Passageway and claiming the piece of land as his sole property.
I have sent him couple of letters but in each reply he said he won't allow my access to the Passageway.
Can you please advise what should I do to regain my access of the Passageway?
To cap it off we had a verbal agreement that they kept the grass verges on their boundary beat and tidy and I’ll do the entrance to our gate. Now they are refusing to do anything and are refusing to allow me do outside my gate.
Neither party owns the land beyond our boundaries and the owner to the land is deceased. Can you give any advice ?
We have asked the offending neighbour to put this right, but our polite requests have been ignored.
I fear that our landlord may hold us responsible and issue a Section 21. We did not agree to this work, and cannot pay to have it put right. We feel that the neighbour should pay to have her soil and turf removed properly. What can we do?
I am living in a terraced house. There are 4 properties , and my neighbour extend his garden up to the end of his garden including the alleyway and is block my access to the alleyway.
I asked him to move the shed but he didn't yet.
I checked in Land registry and I have a right of legal access to the alleyway.
But He doesn't care.
What I can do in this situation?
Thank you
Advice / thoughts welcome!
My neighbour is either unaware of this problem or refuses to reply and cooperate, as his garden gate is preventing me from accessing the garden of my property.
There is a legal right for residents of both our properties to use the shared access passageway. In addition there are covenants in the title deeds of our properties which determine how the shared access way can be used.
By blocking the shared access way, my neighbour is in breach of these covenants. I believe that I am entitled to seek an injunction to prevent blockage of the access passageway, but his can be very costly.
What is the best way to deal with such a problem?
But after checking on the ordinance map it shows a small alleyway path behind my garden which i have never noticed before today.
My neighbour now wants to reduce my garden and open the communal passage so he can take his bike using this alley way.
He is not reducing his garden, therefore opening back the the communal walkway will not effect his property what so ever, although the alley way runs behind his garden also - where do i stand?
Ask Problem Neighbours a question
Ask our editorial team a question and we will reply with our advice. Tell us as much about your situation as you can: the more detail you give, the more useful our answer can be.
You do not need to use your real name. Please do not include your full address, phone number, email address, or the names of other people. We may edit or remove identifying details for privacy and legal reasons.
Comments are moderated before publication.