The image above shows the layout of the two houses: ours (left) and the Braun property (right). The green areas mark the “right of way” as defined in the deeds, while the red dashed lines show the “right of access” to our garage. The driveway entrance at the kerb is approximately 2.74 metres wide, widening towards the garages.
The driveway was originally gravel over hardcore with lawns on either side. Around 1990, it was upgraded to block paving, jointly arranged by both existing households. In 2015, the surface was replaced with a block paving and gravel design to address wear and sinking caused by the original sub-base failure. The new driveway was professionally installed and widely commented on for its quality.
By 2025, however, the condition of the driveway has declined. The surface now suffers from flooding, denuding of the gravel surface, and a lack of consistent maintenance. This change followed works carried out in 2019 during an extension project at the Braun property.
In 2019, the Braun property underwent the construction of a rear kitchen extension. Part of the work required excavation of a trench along their side of the driveway. The excavation was carried out without advance notice to us, and the surface was left uneven and unfinished afterwards.
Following the excavation, the driveway was partially reinstated using mixed spoil and a reduced amount of aggregate. This left uneven levels, drainage issues, and a noticeable loss of material compared to the original installation. Maintenance has not been carried out to address these defects despite written requests.
As of 2025, the shared driveway remains in poor condition, with flooding, exposed sub-surface, and general lack of upkeep. Communication about maintenance responsibilities has been limited, and requests to repair or maintain the shared surface have not led to improvements. The garage area also shows signs of neglect, including unaddressed shared guttering issues and pealing paint on their garage door.