Communal Ground outside my garage...alteration??

[DarkHorseTerence]

Near my house are a group of 8 garages, owned by the freeholders of my close.

They were built in the 1960s and are in an L shape of 4 garages on each side.

The ground in between them is concrete and was laid down in sections.

As far as I can tell and the neighbours say....this ground has never been maintained or altered since it was created.

I would like to alter the gradient of the ground leading to my garage.....either by breaking up a section and re-laying it or by laying something on top of the existing.

However I have no idea who owns the ground, who is responsible for its maintenance, and what rights I have (if any) to make alterations to it.

Where do I start and what are the pitfalls?

(FWIW - I believe that a friendly chat with the relevant neighbours would yield no objections at all to the minor amendment I would like to make to ground.)

Thanks

[megaphone]

To clarify, you own a leasehold house which includes a garage? No management company involved, you all maintain your own property?

[superlightr]

Sounds like you are the freeholder of your own house and you also have a garage in a block. You will have a right of way/access to your garage. Have a read of your title deeds - can get them on line.

It sounds like you will also own the freehold to the garage but not the communal ground in front. Normally in a freehold it would confirm the maintenance arrangements that you and the other freeholders will have for that area. ie 1/8th of the cost of repairs/maintenance etc.

In reality no body maintains. So in practice if you "maintain" the area in front of your garage then you are not going to have any issues. May be diplomatic to just mention the same to a few neighbours.

[hutchst]

If we're just guessing, and if it's freehold properties rather than leasehold, then I think it's more likely that the 'communal land' is actually divided into 8 freehold titles, with each home/garage owner also owning a piece of the communal ground and having legal right of access over the 7 adjacent bits. That's certainly how it was when I owned a house with a separate garage in a block many years ago. If that's the case you might already own the bit in question. As mentioned you need to look at the registration plan.

[trickywoo]

I have a similar setup and what others are saying about your own situation sounds about right. In my case my house boarders the access road and I own that but all the other garage owners have right of way over it. Its up to me to maintain that bit.

People in houses the other side of the access have built driveways and asked my permission before dropping the curb. Not sure if they had too or not and it wasn't any skin off my nose. You could try asking the house(s), if there are any, near the access about who owns what before you start digging / laying cement.

[scarble]

Does mud gather I front of your garage too?
I'm not sure how mine could be modified to keep mine clear without redirecting to someone else's

[largelunchbox]

I have a service ally at the back of my house and I have just contacted the council about resurfacing it and they said its private land and check your deeds, it’s down to the freeholder to keep the ally maintained which many don’t, and as such I’m going to have to foot the bill to sort it hopefully with some contributions from the neighbors,I suspect it’s the same in your case.

[DarkHorseTerence]

Thanks guys for the replies. I shall get the deeds online and go from there. Reckon i should be ok with the neighbours.....wont be doing anyone any harm. Cheers!