Table of Contents
- 1 Is a shared driveway a bad idea?
- 2 Is a shared driveway private property?
- 3 What are my rights with a shared driveway?
- 4 Can I erect a fence on a shared driveway?
- 5 Can you legally split a shared driveway?
- 6 Who owns a shared driveway?
- 7 Are you buying a property that is on a shared private road?
- 8 Does your driveway affect the resale value of your home?
The most significant possible negative is that – because you are sharing the driveway with other people – you may become involved in a disagreement. Neighbors, being human, can sometimes get into arguments.
A shared driveway is usually owned by each of the homes involved. The part of the driveway on their land is owned by them, and the maintenance of the entire driveway is shared by all parties. In some cases, the driveway may be owned by one house, but legal access is given to anyone who needs to use it.
Neither neighbour has a right to park their car on a shared driveway, as such it’s something that must be worked out privately between both parties. There’s little legal protection on this issue as whichever way you slice it, your car will either be illegally parked or blocking a right of way.
What rights do I have with a shared driveway?
If your neighbor is parking entirely on his half of the driveway than there is nothing you can legally do to prevent it. This is because both of you have a legal right to use your part of the driveway in any way you see fit.
Does a paved driveway add value?
Paving a new driveway can add significant value to your property. You can definitely get a great return on your investment. At the very least your property value increase will cover the cost of the driveway. The amount of added value can fluctuate.
Answer: Check your title deeds and those of your neighbour to establish the boundaries of your property and how the driveway is owned. You could each own half of it, or one of you could own the whole of it. Either way, as the driveway is shared you will each have been granted certain rights of access over it.
Typically, shared driveways fall into one of three categories of legal ownership: (1) the entire driveway is owned by one neighbor but the other neighbor has an easement over the driveway (a right to use the driveway); (2) ownership of the driveway is divided in two, with one neighbor owning part and the other neighbor …
Are shared driveways a good idea when selling a home?
Shared driveways can also help out buyers by lowering the sale price. Particularly in neighborhoods where shared driveways are uncommon, they can bring down the sale price of a home and get you a great deal. There are potential issues that come with sharing anything and driveways are no exception.
What happens when you share a driveway with a neighbor?
On the positive side, you can generally expect the costs of maintenance and repair to be shared between you and the other owners. If you live in an area where snow is an issue, you and the other people sharing the driveway may also share in the cost of snow removal.
If you are buying a property, or own one already, that is on a shared private road, there are some things you should be aware of to avoid unnecessary expense or conflict with the road’s owner or you neighbours. This article considers the issues that can arise in relation to shared private roads and how they can be avoided.
Does your driveway affect the resale value of your home?
If your home has a steep or particularly long driveway, it may not detract from the resale value, but it will probably increase the time you need to sell when you’re ready to move on. Does Your Driveway Feature a Turnaround Area or Circular Drive? A turnaround or circular drive, on the other hand, is a major driveway plus.