Neighbour blocked shared drive deliberately, AIBU or are they?

They sound awful

I wonder if he was worried about the weight oft he removal truck cracking the drive way? If this is a new build then the drives are very thin and could be cracked - if the manhole covers broken.

They are being unreasonable, BUT, you probably should have let them know about it beforehand.

Don't move anything, OP. If your neighbour complains tell them it's there until the contractor who they deliberately obstructed is free to collect it.

People are a bit like dogs. If you reward bad behaviour, they will repeat it.

Also if he normally parks outside his garage, is he blocking your access to your garage? If he isn’t that’s ok but he still shouldn’t be parking there. If he has blocked access to your a garage that is unacceptable and goes against what is in a shared driveway deed. Get hold of a copy and let them see it.

My parents have just been through this. They had many years of privilege parking on the driveway as the neighbour paved over his garden and parked there. When his new tenants moved in they parked two cars in front of the house and also blocked my parent’s car in. Parents paid to pave over front garden to park outside their house or they’d be on the road as no-one should be parking on the shared drive. You’re allowed to park temporarily on the driveway to load and unload so your neighbours are in the wrong. Any other time access to garages should be kept free. My folks accepted their heyday of parking there was over as in the deeds it is for garage access only with loading/unloading acceptable. They’re being very unreasonable.

I’d leave the fence panels blocking the drive until the neighbours paid for them to be taken away. Years if need be.
If the wind picked them up and damaged the neighbours car that would be very unfortunate.

Tell him to move over and start parking outside you garage … he’s taking the piss quite frankly!

Just thought re cameras, you can programme some to only record a zone you create within the camera programme.

so I would stick one in that does that. Let them report you to whoever and then go from there including the shared driveway debarcle.

they won’t get far.

Can you put a fence up so he can’t block your access?

I haven’t read everything (8 pages man). I am in the process of selling and we have just had to fill out a form (ta6) and it specifically asks on our form if we have any known disputes and I think both solicitors (the buyers solicitor and ours for our purchase) has specifically asked if we have had any issues with the shared area of our house. I’m not sure how long you have to raise this with your solicitor after completion but worth double checking the ta6 and sending an email to solicitors to advise

It’s true, most houses though have a road between the house opposite and with most ring cameras you can set where it picks up movement etc. if I was OP I’d get a camera above and angle it towards the road but try and get my own front door in and not theirs

The neighbour is definitely out of line. I dont think you have any option but remind them that the access to the garajes is shared and should always be left free. If you have let them.block your access to avoid problems before, it has now started to cause you problems.

Time to dig out out the deeds and remind them that they have no right to block the access to your garaje.

We have four households on a shared drive, and we manage fine, including visitors. I'm sorry you've got this.

Camera on your garage, missing their property but covering the drive?

I'd be tempted to leave all the rubbish that your neighbour dropped being taken away on their parking space, and when they complain say "as you stopped the paid for rubbish collectors taking it away I now regard this as your responsibility to get rid of...I can give you their phone number if that would be helpful..."😉

Get the photo, take it to show neighbours and say that their blockage just cost many £££ and the tip lorry needs now to return as a result. Explain that you have access rights and that they deliberately blocked this access and are liable for the extra cost. Go in heavy as they will just take advantage (it is NOT their drive, it is shared and can be proven)

RJ2023 I wonder if you have legal insurance LEI with your home insurance? I thought the next step is mediation, not many days of court. If you really are supposed to have shared access that sounds like strange advice!!!
A letter is great idea if you had a right of access—it creates a paper trail that you are not ceding.

Please check that you aren't in a situation where you might legally lose access by ceding the driveway through non-use. Perhaps also take a volunteer or friend to advocate for you to a new lawyer to reduce stress? I hope that op sees this and decides not to let the bully neighbour get away with it.

I would just start using the drive way tbh

Put something between the garages thats thin and small but splits it so they can't use your side

Stop saying hello

Just do you and don't bother talking to them.

Rebook the removals and make sure you are at home for it

They are arseholes and using your own driveway is not petty, it's just normal. Glgl

Hi. We have a front door that faces next door's front door. The doors a little recessed and we've made a wooden mount (for want of a better word) so the camera points down what would be your shared drive. Do that if you can!

I’d appropriate a rusty wheelbarrow with sharp corners and use it to move stuff in and out of your garage.

his careless parking may mean that said wheelbarrow gets a bit accidentally close to his car.

What an fa. Id be having words. Probably best that you be in for the next time though

Were you told that before you bought by the sellers? They should have declared a neighbour dispute

I would not block the dirveway as that may weaken your position as "the good guys" with authorities in the future, Their aim may even have been to get evidence of your blocking of the driveway in case you ask for a return of your rights. It may be time to park in the garage you have though. And begin documenting.

I agree with the consult a lawyer replies. A real lawyer to review the property deeds as this is deliberate, The lawyer can write a letter Do you have legal expenses insurance? a lot of people have LEI without knowing as part of home insurance.

Perhaps get ring doorbell creatively placed so it doesnt aim at their door at all? I would abssolutely hange your locks.What they are hiding? Id look at some sort of cheap nannycam in the house for when you are all out.

Can’t you set where a ring doorbell records, and blur out any neighbours who you don’t want to record?

You need to start using your drive; they’ve got away with doing it their way for too long and they’ve now ruined it by being unreasonable.