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Original poster

How long must I keep neighbours’ parcels left at my house?

114 replies

Spring1664 · 16/03/2026 06:46

How long do I have to leave neighbours parcels which have been left at my house before I can get rid of them? I have not accepted these parcels, there is more than one notice saying don’t leave parcels here that are not addressed to [address redacted], the other houses have their house number clearly displayed, everybody has been warned I am not redelivering parcels anymore. If I catch a courier trying to leave a parcel I insist they take it back and either keep it or take it to the correct address.
The background. Ever since moving couriers have left parcels for other houses. One week I had about 8 parcels left that were for other addresses no one came for them and I had to drop them off and I said no more.
I am still getting some parcels left, I did leave one at the end of their driveway the other week and they drove past it for 2 days! It was quite a large parcel. There’s one tucked in near my gate atm and they could just reach round and get it but it’s been there for over a week now.
I would like to get a parcel bin thing for my own parcels but at this rate it’ll just fill up with other people’s.

OP posts:
Original poster
Spring1664 · 16/03/2026 07:01

Mines the postcode centre, I have a normal gate, the plots are not all the same and my house has a big front garden and drive but a small back garden so I’ve garden furniture on the front lawn that stuff gets left on. It also really easy to turn round at my house

OP posts:
Original poster
Spring1664 · 16/03/2026 06:58

I have handed it to them and said I’m not accepting parcels anymore, most of the neighbours have acted and added more delivery instructions etc, but a couple of the, don’t seemed bothered.
I don’t think I can leave it on the pavement as I think it would be littering but I have left them on drives. The point has been reached where I don’t want to have to think about other peoples parcels.
I am still redirecting a couple of drivers every week when I catch them as I’m in most of the time

OP posts:
AlongtheWall · 16/03/2026 06:57

But why are they leaving other people’s parcels on your property when you’re not there or answering the door, instead of leaving them at the actual recipient’s houses even if they’re not answering? It doesn’t quite make sense.

RunningJo · 16/03/2026 06:55

can you get a ring doorbell so you can tell the couriers to not leave parcels?
I know you shouldn’t have to but this may solve the problem?

NorthSouthEast · 16/03/2026 06:55

Put a note through neighbours doors telling them ther parcel is at the end of your drive; it will be left on the street if not collected within 3 days; do not direct any couriers to leave further parcels at this address; any parcels left on your property will be immediately put into the street. You accept no responsibility or liability for any parcels left at your property and they should take this as immediate notice of that fact.

Bernadinetta · 16/03/2026 06:55

That’s so weird- if the courier is willing/able to leave the parcel at your house when no one is in, why won’t they just leave it at the correct house when no one is in?!

somanychristmaslights · 16/03/2026 06:53

Why are couriers leaving the parcels outside your house instead of the house it’s for? I don’t understand

PersephoneParlormaid · 16/03/2026 06:52

If you’ve not physically taken it off the courier then I’d take the parcel to the neighbour and say that, in future, you will be leaving parcels on the pavement outside your house.

Lochroy · 16/03/2026 06:52

This sounds excessive! How have you ended up with so many? Is no one else in? If the courier is jus leaving them dumped on your property rather than handing them to you personally, I don’t understand why they can’t be dumped in the same way on the recipients property?

I’m all for being neighbourly but this is crazy. Perhaps 48 hours at the most. And then I don’t know what I’d do though. Put them out on the pavement, in the absence of any better options? Given you’ve said you’ve warned them, they need to actually feel a consequence because fit doesn’t seem like they’ll change habit any other way!

Whyherewego · 16/03/2026 06:50

Possibly previous owner used to accept parcels for rhe neighbours? So it may be their alternative delivery? Obviously refuse the delivery if you are in, if they just leave it outside, then leave it outside in the rain. Eventually they'll get the message? Or take it in and then never answer the door so they cant get their parcel.

Original poster
Spring1664 · 16/03/2026 06:50

They are just leaving the parcels usually when I’m out. There are notices up saying don’t leave parcels near the door, wheelie bin and a couple of other places where they like to leave them

OP posts:
CatherinedeBourgh · 16/03/2026 06:49

Do the neighbours even know you have them? I've had parcels delivered to neighbours even though I was in and I had no notice that they'd been delivered elsewhere, if the neighbours hadn't brought them over I wouldn't have known. It would be quite a while before I might have chased the company to see what happened to the parcel.

dementedpixie · 16/03/2026 06:48

Are they just leaving them outside your house if you arent accepting them as a delivery?

PersephoneParlormaid · 16/03/2026 06:48

Do you mean that the courier has left it on your doorstep, or that you’ve taken it off the courier?

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