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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to find this really fucking annoying even though it doesn't really affect me much

237 replies

walkway8 · 15/08/2024 15:52

I live in a detached house with a walkway between myself and the neighbours to access both our gardens at the back (diagram attached).

The neighbour has a front garden whereas I have a driveway. They have a gate that opens to the side of my house to allow them access to the walkway to get to their back garden. The walkway is shared land according to the deeds but stops at the top of my driveway (basically my driveway isn't shared but the walkway is).

Whenever my neighbour is doing anything in their garden, bringing this in / out of the garden/ taking things from the garden to their car on the road or whatever, they will go up and down my driveway instead of going through their gate and then down their garden.

It really annoys me. I don't really know why but AIBU to think this is just an odd thing to do?

My living room window looks onto my driveway and some days they will be working in the garden and making multiple trips up and down my drive and I feel awkward and like I need to close my blinds.

I don't even have a bad relationship with them, not friends or close but fine neighbours and we say hello how are you etc when we see them.

But I just find the whole thing really weird. I would never dream of strolling up and down their garden path repeatedly.

We also have cars on the drive so when they are bringing things in and out it worries me they will get scratched.

Aibu to find this annoying and tbh a bit rude?

to find this really fucking annoying even though it doesn't really affect me much
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walkway8 · 15/08/2024 16:07

MikeRafone · 15/08/2024 16:05

How are they supposed to get onto the shared walkway if your drive isn't part shared?

I know that they are going to and fro on what looks like your drive - but is that really how the deeds are laid out?

Through the gate at the top of their garden which opens into the shared walkway.

OP posts:
DinnaeFashYersel · 15/08/2024 16:07

It looks shared to me.

goodgirlwannabe · 15/08/2024 16:07

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bergamotorange · 15/08/2024 16:06

MikeRafone · 15/08/2024 16:05

How are they supposed to get onto the shared walkway if your drive isn't part shared?

I know that they are going to and fro on what looks like your drive - but is that really how the deeds are laid out?

Neighbour has a gate between walkway and garden, it is marked on the drawing.

Iwasafool · 15/08/2024 16:06

I imagine it is because it is walking in a straight line. Can you park in front of the path so they need to divert either to their side or yours. If they divert to your side then they are being very odd but I imagine if it isn't a straight line then they'd go to their own side.

goodgirlwannabe · 15/08/2024 16:06

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goodgirlwannabe · 15/08/2024 16:05

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MikeRafone · 15/08/2024 16:05

How are they supposed to get onto the shared walkway if your drive isn't part shared?

I know that they are going to and fro on what looks like your drive - but is that really how the deeds are laid out?

goodgirlwannabe · 15/08/2024 16:04

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bergamotorange · 15/08/2024 16:04

walkway8 · 15/08/2024 16:02

Just to clarify there is a fence between my drive and their garden so I would have no reason to walk down their drive (if they made one) or garden.

Do you mean there is a fence between their garden and the walkway?

You need a corresponding fence, between your drive and the walkway.

Minikievs · 15/08/2024 16:04

I don't understand why people think you're wrong to be annoyed, this would piss me RIGHT OFF.
I completely understand why they're doing it, it's way easier than unlocking /opening their gate all the time. Plus for example if they're coming out in slippers, I'd rather walk on a driveway than a garden in slippers in case I track mud back into the house etc.
But it would get right on my tits if I were you! I'm completely petty so I'd start parking my car in a way that blocks my driveway from their gate onwards.
However I'm a MN outlier as I also get really pissed off with my neighbours parking outside my house when they have a perfectly good driveway, so I appreciate my view isn't the norm!

walkway8 · 15/08/2024 16:04

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I want them to use the gate from their garden into the walkway and vice versa when bringing things to and from their back garden yes. Instead of bringing this past my cars and going up and down my drive whilst I'm trying to relax in my living room (big bay window at the front so when they are up and down my drive all day they are practically 2ft away from where I am sitting in my window in my living room)

OP posts:
MikeRafone · 15/08/2024 16:04

yes UABU

BurntBroccoli · 15/08/2024 16:03

Just put up a low fence alongside your drive with a padlocked gate near your house.

walkway8 · 15/08/2024 16:02

NoSquirrels · 15/08/2024 16:01

I can see why they do it. I can also see why it’s annoying.

If they had a drive not a garden, then it wouldn’t annoy you, probably. The driveways together would feel more shared, and sometimes maybe you’d be walking on their drive too. It’s the demarcation being so obvious that’s annoying, I think.

Gated drive probably your only solution - but it’ll be obvious why you’re doing it!

Just to clarify there is a fence between my drive and their garden so I would have no reason to walk down their drive (if they made one) or garden.

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goodgirlwannabe · 15/08/2024 16:02

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NoSquirrels · 15/08/2024 16:01

I can see why they do it. I can also see why it’s annoying.

If they had a drive not a garden, then it wouldn’t annoy you, probably. The driveways together would feel more shared, and sometimes maybe you’d be walking on their drive too. It’s the demarcation being so obvious that’s annoying, I think.

Gated drive probably your only solution - but it’ll be obvious why you’re doing it!

goodgirlwannabe · 15/08/2024 16:01

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bergamotorange · 15/08/2024 16:00

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No, it is their drive, but the point remains - the neighbour is using the OP's property in a way the OP wouldn't use someone else's property.

The neighbour has no right of access.

goodgirlwannabe · 15/08/2024 16:00

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walkway8 · 15/08/2024 15:59

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You have completely misunderstood me. The walkway is shared. They have the right to use that I am not in any way disputing that. But I want them to not walk up and down my driveway to access it (which is NOT shared) instead of using the gate which opens off their front garden into the walkway.

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goodgirlwannabe · 15/08/2024 15:59

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museumum · 15/08/2024 15:59

I think it's weird to be bothered by this unless they're scratching your car on the way past. It's obviously much easier than opening their gate, going into their garden and out again to the road, especially if the reason for the gate is that they have pets in the garden.

Bettysnow · 15/08/2024 15:59

To be honest good relations with close neighbours are priceless. I would personally ignore this if they aren't doing any harm

walkway8 · 15/08/2024 15:58

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And it's not their driveway!

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