Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would this bother anyone or am I just being petty? Neighbours walking past

111 replies

thebakera · 03/05/2026 10:51

I recently moved into a house which is a modern new build with 2 allocated parking spaces outside my living room and front door.
So it isn't a driveway as such but 2 parking bays designated for this property.

A few of the neighbours use it as a short cut to go from A to B and they literally are walking right by my living room window multiple times a day.

At times they will even have conversations.

The kids do it as well and it is really annoying me.

I want to kindly ask them to stop as I feel it's invading my privacy but feel petty doing so.

Would this annoy anyone else?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Hankunamatata · 03/05/2026 12:41

Would somehting like this work

Would this bother anyone or am I just being petty? Neighbours walking past
Bubble678910 · 03/05/2026 12:38

DeskGnome · 03/05/2026 10:57

Have you posted about this before?

There was a very similar thread a little while back where the advice was huge flowerpots or small fences if you're allowed.

Yes there was a similar one (with a diagram!!) about a month back.

I'd say either a planter, or if you can't "block the path" I'd put a window box planter under the window to A) make it more awkward to walk that way and B) have tall plants which make it a bit more private for you

Original poster
thebakera · 03/05/2026 12:29

It happens every day multiple times a day after school.
It houses 8, 14 and 16.
The parents all do it as do their kids who all play together.

I have a car parked there and OH dosent get back from work until 8pm and by that time they have all gone in.

OP posts:
TempestTost · 03/05/2026 12:28

To me this is the same as any houses that open right into a pavement or road. You just get used to people walking past or even standing there.

Purplewarrior · 03/05/2026 12:26

So it’s just people from 14 and 16? How often is this happening?

It looks like a shit design, and it’s human nature not to choose to walk in the road.

Do you not have cars parked there? Park really close to the wall so they don’t pass through, and put big plant pots right outside your window.

PeanutButterYoghurt · 03/05/2026 12:19

ParmaVioletTea · 03/05/2026 12:10

If they're on your land, block it off.

GERROFF MY LAND!!!

he he he he he

Oldraver · 03/05/2026 12:17

Like a previous poster has said, you need th planters with trellis attached

ParmaVioletTea · 03/05/2026 12:10

If they're on your land, block it off.

PeanutButterYoghurt · 03/05/2026 12:09

Yes, it would annoy me, but that’s a me problem I think. Unless I wanted to be one of ‘those’ neighbours who tells people not to stand near their house/car - which I don’t as I abhor those kind of people - live and let live. Unfortunately new build estates aren’t built with privacy in mind.

Atruthuniversallyacknowledged2 · 03/05/2026 12:08

While this is very annoying, it's simply how your house was built and there's really not a lot you can do about it.
Some people live in rows of small terrace houses that just open directly onto the pavement, with Joe Public walking right past their living rooms windows day and night.
It's just the set up you have and it can't really be changed.

Franjipanl8r · 03/05/2026 12:07

It’s just bad housing design - not putting paths and walkways where pedestrians want to walk. Slim tall planters would be best as I bet the housing designers haven’t bothered designing any green space in either!

WitsEnd694 · 03/05/2026 12:06

B1anche · 03/05/2026 11:57

But OP has said it is a tiny cul-de-sac, almost like a shared driveway. You would not be in mortal danger walking on the road. OP, your neighbours sound really inconsiderate.

Show quote history

I still prefer not to walk on the road... but you do you...

Atoxicsewerofhate · 03/05/2026 12:06

B1anche · 03/05/2026 11:59

It's a dead end with 10 houses. How much traffic do you think there is?

Show quote history

How much traffic do you need for a child to be hit by a reversing car or an Amazon delivery?

maudelovesharold · 03/05/2026 12:06

EgregiouslyOverdressed · 03/05/2026 10:54

It would annoy me too but saying something probably won't do much. Humans will always take the shortest, most convenient path which is why architects and planners refer to 'elephant paths'. You have an elephant path outside your window, unfortunately. Your best bet is to put something in place which makes the path feel less direct and intuitive but also means you can still park, like some large pots of plants.

Dh’s place of work (LA planning) refers to them as ‘desire lines’, which I think sounds rather nice! 🙂

DoAWheelie · 03/05/2026 12:04

You get used to it after a few weeks.

I live on the ground floor of a block of flats and the bin storage is to the side of the building next to my flat. Everyone has to walk past my living room window to get to the bins so there is someone going by at least once an hour. Very similar set up to the pic posted above.

At first I would startle and turn to look at the window every time, now I rarely notice unless I happened to be already looking at the window.

Pro tip if your windows open right out - it's fantastic for taking deliveries without having to walk out the flat into the main corridor and then to the door. Just pop open the window and grab. My regular postie, pharmacy, and chippy all automatically knock on the window instead of ringing the door now and it's great.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 03/05/2026 12:02

DeskGnome · 03/05/2026 10:57

Have you posted about this before?

There was a very similar thread a little while back where the advice was huge flowerpots or small fences if you're allowed.

Yes, this has come up quite recently.

Pasta4Dinner · 03/05/2026 12:02

Planters with trellis on the side, you can put chain in between them. Fill the space and stop the flow of movement.

Original poster
thebakera · 03/05/2026 12:01

The opposite side have their parking bays allocated further down the road so it's literally parking spaces for the 5 houses so hardly any traffic at all.

OP posts:
ThePeewit · 03/05/2026 12:01

Can you park so the cars are virtually touching the house leaving no gap wide enough for a person?

B1anche · 03/05/2026 11:59

Atoxicsewerofhate · 03/05/2026 11:57

I can see why people don't want to walk in the bit cars drive along though!

It's a dead end with 10 houses. How much traffic do you think there is?

user44455557621 · 03/05/2026 11:57

In the photo, which I know isn't of yours, there's what looks like a footpath between the parking bays and the houses, but there isn't in your diagram - so am I right that they're squeezing between the cars and your house and there is no footpath in between? Or do you not have any cars parked in your bays?

Atoxicsewerofhate · 03/05/2026 11:57

I can see why people don't want to walk in the bit cars drive along though!

B1anche · 03/05/2026 11:57

WitsEnd694 · 03/05/2026 11:54

So there's no footpath, just your houses, the parking spaces and then the road. I'm not surprised that people are walking between the houses and the cars then, as I'd not want to walk between the cars and the road...

Pretty s&*t... it's the way things are going though, no proper parking or privacy anywhere...

But OP has said it is a tiny cul-de-sac, almost like a shared driveway. You would not be in mortal danger walking on the road. OP, your neighbours sound really inconsiderate.

Cheesipuff · 03/05/2026 11:57

Lease the parking spaces

Atoxicsewerofhate · 03/05/2026 11:56

Do you have cars parked there? If you park as close as you can they might stop. If no cars, what about plant pots - anything that disrupts the flow of walking might help!
Or a sign in your window saying quiet or something.
I think it is a downside of not having an actual front garden sadly.