Private managed estate, issue with footpaths

I rent so never realy dealt with the management company, except get the odd letter with news.
I'm here close to three years

In the corner of our estate you can walk past a downstairs flat in the corner and then down a hill.
It's a shortcut to the shops, everybody and I mean everybody who doesn't drive does it.

A new family moved into the flat and her mother (I think) live above them. Seem to sit outside in the sun these days on the steps. The boyfriend used to be there but I've not seem him around lately

Got a bollocking today for walking on the footpath past their house.
You see they live in the corner and people walking past go right past their windows, I suppose they want their privacy in their little corner and nobody to come down to them.

Was told they own the footpath and it's their property.

Is this true?
And I realy doubt they are homeowners but I rent myself so not realy getting into a renter/owner occupier debate

What I'm asking is, if you lived in a corner of an estate and it seemed to be pretty snug and private down there off on your own but had people walking past your windows and door on the footpath is it even clear who is right and who is wrong?

For starters if it's a flat/apartment they don't own ANYTHING, they would have a long lease (up to 1,000 years) but don't own even their own front door. Any common area is Management Company property owner by all members of the MC.

If there is a connecting footpath all the way around the corner I don't see a problem but if there's a gap in the path that people are stepping over or walking on grass then that would be a problem IMO.

They dont own anything except the air between their walls. They certainly dont own the footpath! Is it a legitimate path, or a shortcut that people have 'made' by walking on it?

I wouldnt be bothered either way, its not private property, youre not trespassing, walk there if you want and ignore them.