Neighbours have 4 cars on shared drive designed for 1 each

[FabLaura]

For 7 months our neighbour has parked 4 cars on the shared drive. It means DH & I struggle to park our 2 cars every time we use the drive as the entrance is now very tight due to their cars sticking out. I have spoken to our neighbour and politely mentioned how annoying it was for us. This was a month ago and nothing changed. One of the cars was a present for son who doesn't live there and he doesn't want the car. They said if they sold it, they would lose money and can't park on road as not taxed. Two are personal cars (1 for Mum, 1 for Dad) and the final car is a work van.

What would you do next? Our neighbours are lovely people but the car parking is driving me mad!
I haven't attached a picture as you'll see the name of their business

[CanaBanana]

Paint a line down the middle?

[missmouse101]

Can you draw a diagram so we can visualize it?

[Sugarhunnyicedtea]

If it's designed for one each why are you parking two?

[BettaSplenden]

Can't visualise this. And it's the rule. We need a diagram x

[FabLaura]

Thanks for the replies
Here's a diagram

[imsorryiasked]

What does neighbour 1 think?

[5foot5]

Is there any possibility you could lose the triangle of grass and a bit of garden to widen the drive on your side?

[Rubyslippers7780]

I would put a fence down the middle and take away your angled strip of grass beside your house and make your drive wider ( straighten it off )

[KMoKMo]

Can you ask them to park one vehicle outside the other garage? I assume the garages both belong to them?

[FabLaura]

Sugarhoneyicedtea - we are parking two cars as these sensible fit.

In the diagram, I've added Neighbour 1 garage because this is another neighbour who legally shares the drive. They park their 2 cars on the road and are ok to do this. This then allows me and neighbour 2 to have 2 cars on the drive each. This was always the scenario until the work van and son's unwanted car appeared

[ElenOfTheWays]

It looks from this as if they would only have to lose one car to give you room to swing in.
Can't they park another car (not the untaxed one) on the road?
They are being very inconsiderate. Get a bit tougher with them.

[WTFdidwedo]

If their car is always overhanging a pavement could you get your local council involved?

[Seeingadistance]

Where does Neighbour 1 live, and how do they access their garage?

Could Neighbour 2 not put the son's unwanted car into their garage?

[LadyChatterlysLoofah]

Can they not park at least two in their garages? And is car 4 really obstructing the pavement that much?

[MissConductUS]

They said if they sold it, they would lose money and can't park on road as not taxed.

A bit off topic, but the car lost value as soon as they collected it from the dealer, and keeping it unused is not going to make the value go up.

If they sold it they could invest the money and make a bit. Now it's just a depreciating asset.

Could you try explaining this to them?

[BewareOfDragons]

Your neighbours are not 'lovely' if they think this is reasonable neighbourly behaviour. THey're taking the piss.

Tell them you expect 2 spaces daily. They can use the other 2.

[Blankscreen]

Check the title deeds. If you have an essential they shouldn't block your easement. Who owns the entrance of the driveway?

[FabLaura]

Yeah, I think we do need to get tougher. Their car does overhang the pavement that much .... but we live in a quiet cul de sac so people tend to walk down the road.

I haven't spoken to neighbour 1 about this as hoped my polite chat would of done the job.

I was thinking they could park one of the cars in front of neighbour 1 garage but thought the suggestion was taking the mick a bit as we both are the reason why they can't park on their drive.

I think the last resort would be to pave over the grass and some of my front garden but don't want to incur the cost and lose greenery because of their bloody cars

[NoSquirrels]

They can park the taxed cars on the road, leaving the drive for the work van & son’s car.

They could put the son’s car in the garage.

They could convert their front garden to a parking space.

There are options - you need to be more forthright about complaining!

[TulipsTwoLips]

Tricky though. I guess in their minds they are just parking along the side of their house and garden.

[TheFirstMrsOsmond]

Why can't they put the car which isn't being used in their garage?

[FabLaura]

MissconductUSA - my husband said exactly the same

[Melamin]

Someone on our road block paved the front garden and the drive and put a concrete edging block up the middle www.wickes.co.uk/Marshalls-Round-Smooth-Edging-Stone---White-600-x-150-x-50mm/p/220357

TBH the front garden is large and looks like a shitey municipal car park. If you do this, remember that you will never park on all the block paving, so you can work out the bits you need for parking and plant the rest up with a bit of artistic imagination.

[Zaphodsotherhead]

Disregarding the whole 'parking' thing - I am boggling at them buying their son a car that he apparently 'doesn't want'.

Can I have it? I promise not to leave it overhanging the pavement...

[FabLaura]

These are all great suggestions and what I needed to hear, thank you.

Their garage is full to burst as they are just the type of people not to throw things out. Also it has business stuff in I think, so not possible to get a car in unfortunately