Al Massey Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Hello all. So the Mrs and I made an offer on a house, but after the lawyers did a search, it turns out the drive way is a shared driveway when we were told it belonged to the house. Now we really like this house, but this shared drive could really screw us over down the line. So I'm torn between pulling out completely, Or still go ahead with it. Or changing our offer on the house because of this. What are your thoughts or advice, I'm a first time buyer. The house is £172500. Here's a picture of the drive/house [ATTACH]197954[/ATTACH] http://m.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/photos/33170235#&ui-state=dialog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitch79 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Never heard of a shared driveway before. By shared is it wide enough for cars side by side? Or is it a case of, first home from work gets it? If it's the latter and that's the garage at the back it would do my nut it!! Find out if it's possible to buy the drive so the deeds say it's only belongs to said house. Like bright colours that owner didn't they! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris88 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Always a difficult one this. 1st problem with a shared driveway is that you can never leave anything in it (car, trailer, caravan etc.) so you are limited to whatever drive there is beyond the shared section. Second problem is the neighbours. They may be great right now but they won't be forever. They could move or have a dramatic change in circumstances which turns them into your worst nightmare. What if the neighbour blocks the drive, what do you do next if he/she gets stroppy? Personally I would avoid the shared drive. Even if you drop the offer and the lower one is accepted the drive will still be shared. I'd look elsewhere mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foodfreak Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Had a shared driveway once.. neighbour started off reasonable but later turned into a real pain & made life very difficult. never again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I echo Chris88's advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
listy Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I'd avoid the shared driveway. PITA potential is huge. What aout this one? Same postcode, similar price, 4 bed detatched, large garage and driveway for two. Garden isn't as big by any means, but lovely looking house for the price. In my area, you could double the price for that house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C12MMO Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I'd pull out and keep looking and get the seller to refund the cost of your searches as they should have told you about the shared drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManwithSupra Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Holy HDR !! Shared drives are a PITA, When we were looking for our first house we came across one that had a shared drive. That didn't initially put us off, however looking at the house once next door was home was another matter. That house is still up for sale 5 years later, I kid you not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Ignore my post, I can't read previous posts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Avoid, as already mentioned it may be OK but circumstances change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonR24 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I'd avoid the shared driveway. PITA potential is huge. What aout this one? Same postcode, similar price, 4 bed detatched, large garage and driveway for two. Garden isn't as big by any means, but lovely looking house for the price. In my area, you could double the price for that house http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/attachment.php?attachmentid=197966&stc=1&d=1424953809 That's good for that money. I'm paying the same for a new build 3 bed semi with a garage! Need to move north I think! I share the same sentiments with everyone above. A shared drive is an issue imo. Especially laid out like the picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippyboyo1 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 id pull out that house is too expensive al full stop anyway... and even worse if it needs money putting in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 Well the reason we want this is because it's 4 bed with other large rooms. Has a double garage. Which was my requirement on any house we want to look at. Not the whole drive is shared. We can park in front of the garage as that is owned, as shown on the deeds. I do understand that it can be a pain in the arse. But we could reconvert the front of the house to a drive. The bottom floor room used to be the garage and had a drive in front, which is what the next door neighbour is like. Skippyboyo, all houses are too expensive lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 This problem can be easily solved Al... You see that green bit in front of the house? Get a lawn mower and sort it out... You now have your own driveway Job done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Is there any reason for the shared driveway? Looks like a single driveway to your double garage.... have the lawyers made a mistake? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 This problem can be easily solved Al... You see that green bit in front of the house? Get a lawn mower and sort it out... You now have your own driveway Job done. That's what I was planning on doing anyway, I hate gardening lol Is there any reason for the shared driveway? Looks like a single driveway to your double garage.... have the lawyers made a mistake? No there is no reason, it was a covenant stained in 64 that both houses had access rights to the drive. The house I'm buying actually owns more of the drive. The deed shows the drive is 14ft wide and we own 10ft but both parties have access over both sides. But in front of the double garage is definitely the house we intend to buy, and the next door garden is tiny, so they wouldn't need any access to it. The next door also has a garage built into the house with a drive directly in front. It's the deeds and the covenant that's the problem. But the land can be bought if a sale is agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 as a first house, I would be looking else where - little bit more money now, lot less hassle. Also keep in mind that shared access has a negative association and will impact you if/when you decide to sell. As other have said shared property can be a PITA.... my neighbour is right PITA and we dont even share a driveway, they just dont like my car (too loud ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitbox Junkie Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I'd avoid the shared driveway. PITA potential is huge. What aout this one? Same postcode, similar price, 4 bed detatched, large garage and driveway for two. Garden isn't as big by any means, but lovely looking house for the price. In my area, you could double the price for that house http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/attachment.php?attachmentid=197966&stc=1&d=1424953809 same here cant even get half the house for that money Looks like Im going to living with parents for a while longer just sucks not having a garage for the supra. maybe il move up that way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 This is why the North is better lol Unless it's in York, then you need to sell a kidney and lung just for the deposit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitbox Junkie Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 This is why the North is better lol Unless it's in York, then you need to sell a kidney and lung just for the deposit id happily move, would probably land a ok job with good money its the other half i worry about. Don't think she would like to be away from family. Looks like a nice house though just a shame about the drive issue. id be put off it personally. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 This is why the North is better lol Unless it's in York, then you need to sell a kidney and lung just for the deposit Nonsense, down south is better even if it costs £500,000 for a small house... all worth it for the tropical weather we get here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkddav3 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Wow up North seems dead cheap! Me and the misses are trying to buy our first house soon and anything worth having down here is double that price for the same house But yeah I'd avoid the shares drive...just seems like it could Be trouble down the line Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Build a fence along the boundary, driveway divided, job done. Driveway still shared as per the covenant. Unless dividing it is another covenant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottybennoch Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Me and my partner have just bought our first house and we almost bought a few houses by being excited and thinking "this is the one" My only advise would be if something is make you question the house then maybe ita not right for you! Theres always more houses to view and the perfect house for you will come up! We waited 9 months to find our house but it was well worth the wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 This house ticks every box for me. The drive could be an issue down the line, and it does worry me, but everything else is great. My number one on my list was I wanted a double garage or big enough area to build one. The missus isn't bothered about the drive, as I can use the garage, park my van in front of it and she can park in front of the house. And she loves everything about the house. We've been looking for nearly 2 years. And one this size doesn't come up very often. Do you think I could change my offer to a lower amount and learn to live with the drive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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