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Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

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Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Property/DIY

Talk to me about shared driveways

40 replies

MrMenAndLittleMiss · 28/05/2017 21:17

The house we are considering buying shares a drive with the next door neighbour. Each property has space for two/three cars on the parts of the drive that more obviously belong to just one or the other house (ie immediately in front of, or next to, that particular house.)
Does anyone have any experience (good or bad!), or advice re the practicalities of sharing a drive?
I should add that the house next door is currently sstc so we have no idea at this point is who our new neighbours might be.
Thank you.

OP posts:

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smu06set · 28/05/2017 21:23

Don't!
My parents have a shared drive, they have had a decade of crap from their neighbour. Things like wheelspinning on the gravel drive to send stones flying at my parents cars, and damaging their property.
I didn't learn from this, and dh and I bought our first house and it had a shared drive. The person next door seemed lovely, but a year down the line when we didn't do what they wanted (change our access essentially) they went batshit and caused loads of issues including reporting us to anyone they could.
Not saying all shared drives have issues, but I won't ever live with one again!

ChicRock · 28/05/2017 21:25

We had a shared drive. I hated it so much that when we moved we decided against buying our absolute dream house that ticked every single box because, again, it had a shared driveway and we had already said never ever again.

Our neighbours were arseholes, they used the shared access bit as parking for their visitors or for the 2 of their 4 cars that didn't fit into their own spaces. We had to knock and ask them to move so we could drive in/out at least 3 times a week and would quite often be told "I'll move in a few minutes when I've finished my tea" or "he's just in the shower, I'll get him to move it when he's out".

Never again.

MrMenAndLittleMiss · 28/05/2017 21:28

Oh no. This thread isn't going to go well. I did ask though didn't I?

OP posts:

rachllsn3 · 28/05/2017 21:31

We have a shared drive and we are lucky that our neighbours are lovely and we've had no problems in the 5 years we've lived in our house!

FlyWaxSleepRepeat · 28/05/2017 21:34

Don't do it.

We had a house at the very end of a shared driveway and our neighbours were constantly using it for parking and blocking our access.

Things really turned sour when my son was ill and had had a fit due to high temperature. We needed to get him to A&E, it was about 11pm and the gobshites car was yet again blocking the driveway, so DH drove our car over their front garden and did a wheel spin in their flowerbeds to get past... although they never blocked the drive again after that.

justdontevenfuckingstart · 28/05/2017 21:35

We have a shared driveway, lovely people. But then they are nice, if you share a driveway with not so nice people it may be a problem.

toomuchfaster · 28/05/2017 21:38

We have a shared drive that is only big enough for one car, but are really lucky that our neighbour doesn't drive! Not sure how it would work otherwise.

Completeguess · 28/05/2017 21:38

I went to view a house recently and the only thing that put me off was the shared drive. On the day of the viewing the neighbour had parked in front of the garage belonging to the house for sale and I just couldn't see how it would work.

bojorojo · 28/05/2017 21:39

It's a don't from me too. It can be a source of arguments and just isn't worth it. If you cannot widen the drive I would sweve it!

wisteriainbloom · 28/05/2017 21:42

We have recently moved and it was a definite no if there was a shared drive.

FlyWaxSleepRepeat · 28/05/2017 21:46

When you think about resale, a shared drive is never on anyone's "must have" list, and it will put at least 50 percent of potential buyers off or at least be seen as a negative.

JustineCase · 28/05/2017 21:49

Bought a bungalow with a shared driveway (original owner built bungalow for his parents so shared driveway not issue)
1st co shared neighbour -no problem
2nd co shared neighbour -no problem
3rd co shared neighbour - wanted to split it and put a fence up for security/child safety/privacy. We said if you want to split it, then you pay costs of fence, your own legal fees, our legal fees and all other land registry and mortgage charges as they were the ones that instigated the request.

They paid all requested as amicably agreed, but it meant I was left with a "garage" that a car could not get in as the pathway was too narrow - but I only use a garage as storage, not to put a car in, but others will differ

y0rkier0se · 28/05/2017 21:50

We have a shared drive with space for two cars - one on each side. DP parks his there and the man next door parks his there too. I park on the drive at the front and the lady next door parks on the street as they don't have a drive at the front. There's no problems whatsoever!

emsyj37 · 28/05/2017 21:53

We have lived in a house with a shared drive for 8 years. Our neighbour is a nice elderly lady who used it as parking for her own car for the whole time. We didn't ever stop her as she is struggling with mobility and really needs the car to be near her house so she can get out and about. The format was that there was a single car width driveway leading to a wider area with 2 garages.

However, we want to move and when we put our house on the market late last year, the feedback from every viewer was that they loved the house but hated the shared drive. We were really frustrated, and decided we had to resolve things. We agreed with our neighbour to split the driveway in two, demolish the front garden walls on each of our houses and create 2 individual marked parking spaces, one for our house and one for next door. This seems to have had the desired effect, as the first viewer when we put it back on the market wants to buy it!!! She is not proceedable at the moment, but still - clearly it has made a difference.

So I would say, it's a risk to take it on - and it may prevent you from selling in future. Whilst we have not had any issues with our situation, the difficulty in selling (and the hassle and expense of having to do work to resolve the problem) would prevent me from ever buying a house with any form of shared drive or access ever again.

Tigerpig · 29/05/2017 06:50

We have a shared driveway, and it is absolutely fine. The gateway/entrance to drive area is shared the then the rest of the driveway is owned individually by each house.

States in the deed that the shared area can not be blocked etc.

Is the entire drive shared or just a certain part? I think that would be a key question for me. In theory if the whole thing is shared then the neighbours could be selfish and park wherever. Including right in front of your house...

I like to think that most people are reasonable and wouldn't be a nightmare to share access/driveways with. But admittedly I haven't had any neighbour issues wherever I've lived (maybe I'm lucky though) so my views are more relaxed.

Let us know what you decide in the end.

Chottie · 29/05/2017 07:00

We have a shared driveway and have lived in our house for 30 years. In that time we have had 4 different sets of neighbours and it has been absolutely fine.

It's only the driveway bit which is shared, we both have double garages and parking for 4 cars.

JT05 · 29/05/2017 07:49

We bought a house, a year ago, with a shared drive. Absolutely no problem with next door. We both have a legal agreement that states the rules for the share, set up by the previous owners 15 years previously and linked to the deeds.
Having said that, we only use the drive for delivering stuff to our back garden, compost, greenhouse etc.
When we bought the property we were in competition with other purchasers, so the drive wasn't a big issue.

GU24Mum · 29/05/2017 08:06

I wouldn't: my OH said he lived in a house with one when he was growing up and nothing would persuade him to repeat that. The best a shared driveway can be is neutral and not off-putting to buyers....... but you'll put off quite a few and don't gain anything by it. At least with your own driveway you can block your own cars in if you have visitors but you can't do that if it's shared. And although the deeds no doubt say you can't block in the other person, the reality when you have a grumpy NDN may be very different and you don't want to go to court to try and resolve it!

chipscheeseandgravy · 29/05/2017 09:15

We had a shared drive on a rental property we used to live in. The single driveway ran up to their garage and then my drive veered of for about 3/4 car lengths which was my drive. This was fine when we first moved in, as the previous home owners would park their car in a way which meant I could get out. When the new family moved in they would block my drive with their car(s). Providing they parked their car close to the hedge and the garage I could squeeze past. However, they didn't bother doing this .. ever. I used to leave work at 7, so would have to knock on their door every morning asking them to move so I could get out. It was bloody annoying and let to a lot of resentment both sides.

Try and speak to the new people as soon as possible and point out boundaries and try and make it sound like it's in their best interest to do as you say

MrMenAndLittleMiss · 29/05/2017 13:49

Thank you for all of your replies.
We're still seriously interested in the property and I assume the solicitors will ascertain what is/isn't allowed in terms of parking? As well as two/three spaces per house there is also some parking on the road so I'm hopeful that it shouldn't become an issue. The only slight concern is that next door is a five bedroom house and has only two spaces, immediately in front of each garage door (double garage). If they were to park another car directly behind either of those car then, while not blocking off any access, it would be right in front of our lounge window.
I would also be interesting to hear anyone's experience of how they have arranged mantaince and improvements to a shared drive.
Thanks again!

OP posts:

MissDuke · 29/05/2017 14:59

Would be a massive no-no from me, definitely think carefully about the effect if you were to sell.

Tigerpig · 29/05/2017 15:19

I guess it comes down to whether all the driveway is shared or if parts are owned individually within the boundaries of the properties. I'd be worried about next door parking in front of your living room, but if that part isn't shared then it shouldn't be a problem iyswim?

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koalab · 29/05/2017 15:23

We have a shared drive but each house owns one parking space in front of their garage. We have had two sets of next door neighbours and no problems.

thepurpleline · 16/05/2018 23:01

No, don't do it. Some years ago the house next to mine was a House of Multiple Occupancy (students who thought they could do what they wanted)... until I involved their university. Avoid like the plague. You never know who is going to buy the house next door.

MrsBlondie · 17/05/2018 09:26

We have a shared drive and have lived here for 13 years. Its the type of house that people tend to stay in long-term though. A few issues with one neighbour parking right in the middle of the drive but they have moved! No other problems.

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