Residents use empty house's garden as public path, until its new homeowners move in and fence their entire yard to keep the neighbors out: ‘That's our private property’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
May 21, 2026 1:45 PM EDT

If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound? If someone uses a path in an empty property, did they even leave any footsteps?

When I was a kid, there was an empty lot at the end of the street that we used as a shortcut to the park. Instead of going around the whole block, we would just cut through that big field of nothing and save ourselves a few solid minutes. 

It was great, honestly.

At least it was, until that empty lot was finally purchased by someone, and the construction of a new house began. At first, the new owners didn't notice that a group of kids was walking through their property, so we were able to get away with it, but it didn't take long for that to change. When the owners and the builders on the lot started noticing that people were using the property as a pathway, they decided to build a fence to keep people from coming through, and for a while, that was enough to stop the trespassers.

But we were kids, and we felt so entitled to something we've had for so long that we decided to rebel, even if we had no right to do so. Every time a fence was put up, we tore it down. No matter what it was that blocked our path, from metal fences to giant boulders, people found a way around it and continued on their way.

Eventually, the new homeowners and a few of the neighbors decided to turn to the city and ask it to find a solution to the problem. Surprisingly, the city actually helped and managed to ensure the homeowners got their privacy without closing off the entire path for the other residents. We still use that path to this day, and everyone's happy.

I hope the residents in the story below can also reach an agreement with their neighbors, as I hate to see their dispute escalating any further…

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  • 01
    Couple Pointing at their House
    via @andydeanphotography

    Couple Pointing at their House.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut?

    My fiancé and I bought our house a year ago and our garden backs onto a large public car park. The play park, community centre, bus stop and the towns super market are all off this car park.
    via Axeli-IX
  • 03
    The train station is just down the street at the front of our house as well.
    via Axeli-IX
  • 04
    Now our home was empty for three years before we moved in so people have been walking through our garden (fully fenced and
    via Axeli-IX
  • 05
    gated at both ends) as a short cut. Otherwise you have to walk down the street and basically around an entire block of houses.
    via Axeli-IX
  • 06
    Now ultimately... they're just walking through. Thats it. Yes there is occasional litter left in our garden but they're not doing any real harm.
    via Axeli-IX
  • 07
    Part of my thinks whats the big deal? Let them cut through, But the other part of me is like thats our private property that we have paid for.
    via Axeli-IX
  • 08
    We have four children between 7 and 13 and if they're playing in the garden I dont want random strangers just walking through.
    via Axeli-IX
  • 09
    A fence
    via Randy Fath

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 10
    So would I be the a hole for locking the gates either end of our garden to stop people? Or am I just being possessive?
    via Axeli-IX
  • 11
    EDIT: I am in the UK. I am very highly unlikely to get sued by a trespasser hurting themselves because there are no obvious, out of the ordinary, already known dangers in my garden.
    via Axeli-IX
  • 12
    From what i have seen, it's mostly children/ teenagers but I have seen adults 2-3 times as well. But im not always home or looking out the window.
    via Axeli-IX
  • 13
    UPDATE: the gates are locked and the signs are going up tonight as soon as they're delivered. My fiance actually replaced the small iron garden gate into the car park, with a solid wooden 5ft gate.
    via Axeli-IX
  • 14
    CnslrNachos lock your garden yesterday
    via CnslrNachos
  • 15
    Id7337 NTA—the fact that your kids play there makes it a very real safety risk, about way more than your property. What if some creep wanders through? Anything could happen. I'd lock those gates yesterday.
    via Id7337
  • 16
    Traditional-Cat6145 Oh hk no! You've got to protect your kids and yourselves. If someone gets hurt you could be held liable.
    via Traditional-Cat6145
  • 17
    paganliam NTA. They honestly have no right to your yard.
    via paganliam
  • 18
    YesterdayShot1924 Lock the gates and if you want to leave a sign temporarily that says "we know this is a common shortcut while it was empty but a family lives here now and this is our private property that will be locked from now on" for as long as you think
    via YesterdayShot1924
  • 19
    Brilliant-Fig-7148 Lock the gates. But put up Private Property and No Trespassing signs. It let's the public know this is no longer an access and gives you a legal standing if someone were to get hurt. I
    via Brilliant-Fig-7148
  • 20
    would also expect the teenagers to climb the fence. So you might set up some chairs for a few weeks and watch to make sure they don't jump it and understands you're serious. You can always explain your concern for liability issues.
    via Brilliant-Fig-7148

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neighbors house neighborhood garden fence homeowner new homeowners yard neighborhood-stories backyard gate
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