Access doors on shared driveway

[M1AK]

Hi all.

Between two houses we have a shared driveway whereby we have two access wooden doors, one attached to each side of the property. They were painted white and opened independently. My door was okay but my neighbours door had broken wood.

My next door neighbour has decided to change both doors at his cost and paint both to the colour of his choice. In addition to this he has added a strip in the middle and screwed it to his side. Whilst my door opens independently, he now has to open my side to open his side. It wasnt like this before and I'm not happy about it because he never locks it properly and now he has to open my side everytime.

I spoke to him and he said I'm being ungrateful when he paid for it and complaining for no reason and said that's how its going to be. I think he should have consulted us and said that he is changing the door (if he spoke to me I would have even paid for my half) but he decided to just crack on.

Am I in the wrong? What can I do about it? As surely the door attached to my property is mine and he shouldn't have changed it without consent?

 

[big-all]

if what you say about ownership is correct then you are 100% correct
indeed its criminal damage to touch your gate beyond the normal use so stealing your gate and the criminal act off....................................................

..................................now in the real world whats done is done and you have to get on with each other
you can off course ask it to return to what was there you can off course paint your side gate as you wish but that will only create problems

you need to sit down and agree exactly what the legal situation is exactly as he sees it and explain what you think and take it from there
Dialogue is the answer with both sides holding there cool to get anywhere

i suspect whats in his head means he thinks he is right and whats in your head means your thoughts are right

 

[JohnD]

he now has to open my side to open his side.

Put a padlock on your door, while you're painting it purple.

 

[M1AK]

if what you say about ownership is correct then you are 100% correct
indeed its criminal damage to touch your gate beyond the normal use so stealing your gate and the criminal act off....................................................

..................................now in the real world whats done is done and you have to get on with each other
you can off course ask it to return to what was there you can off course paint your side gate as you wish but that will only create problems

you need to sit down and agree exactly what the legal situation is exactly as he sees it and explain what you think and take it from there
Dialogue is the answer with both sides holding there cool to get anywhere

i suspect whats in his head means he thinks he is right and whats in your head means your thoughts are right

Yes, so the shared driveway is basically an access area for both properties. Its a walkway that goes into the garden of each property. For us, it is to put out bins and access for large items, for him it is the same, but he also has a garage in the middle (which is used for storage). The land is split from my understanding of the deed and both are liable for maintaining.

The door needed changing, more so his side. My side had wear and tear but is serviceable. I had an intention of replacing it when I have another extension done (properly, and with his permission) but this guy has done a semi properly attempt at it (at his budget, had he have spoken to me then I would have contributed to get it done properly). Don't get me wrong it looks better than it was but A) he didn't even ask or mention that he is replacing the door that is attached to my property (I just came home from work one day and it was changed) and B) he chose a colour scheme (it just happens to match both houses, otherwise it would have been a bigger issue). In the grand scheme of things its not an issue and I'm not being difficult. But he has added a strip in between so he has to open my side to access his. I know what will happen, he will open ours each time and not his (out of laziness) and then it adds wear to our door. It is also the sheer rudeness from him, when I feel it is his mistake for not saying.

 

[M1AK]

Put a padlock on your door, while you're painting it purple.

LOL Great idea, but I don't want to be petty or that kind of neighbour.

 

[mattylad]

I would, just for security. Add a lock to it.
You can get bolt operated locks that you have use a key on from the outside then turn a knob to retract the bolt.
Ideal for a garden gate (assuming you cannot get to the inside of it from the outside).

Like the Squire Keybolt (available in lots of places).

Squire Keybolt

The Squire Keybolt is a weatherproof key operated locking bolt with a 4 lever locking mechanism, perfect for both internal and external use.

www.tfsdirect.co.uk

This is a neat resolution to having a lockable garden gate.

Remember, it's not petty, it's just being secure.
If it causes a problem for him then perhaps he needs to sort his gate out?

Best fitted when he is out too.