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AIBU?

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Neighbour blocked shared drive deliberately, AIBU or are they?

227 replies

WoesFromAuntFlo · 23/10/2026 13:43

We moved into our new home around a year ago and have had nothing but weird vibes from our neighbours who we share a drive with. Our front doors face each other up a steep drive and we both have garages at the end of them, kind of backing onto our separate gardens.

We have been nothing but pleasant with them and have kind of just let them use the driveway as there isn’t a lot of room for two cars so we never really pushed it.

They have always been a bit odd. A lot of curtain twitching when we leave the house and barely looking up when we say good morning etc. Other neighbours have told us they’ve had issues with them but we have just assumed they’re quirky and let them get on with it.

ANYWAY, we had a rubbish clearance man come to collect some rubbish from our side of the drive and the garden yesterday. He called us after (we are currently away seeing family) to say he couldn’t do half of it because the neighbour said he couldn’t pull up the drive - he did knock to ask. And then used his car to completely block off access to the driveway, so the rubbish clearance men struggled to get the rubbish past the car and didn’t want to cause any damage so abandoned the job.

For avoidance of doubt, the rubbish guys we use are really lovely and polite, we used them on our last home refurb, and they’re not the type to argue or whatever. They just said okay then, took photos to show off, and left the job when they couldn’t do anymore.

WIBU to ask my neighbours what they’re playing at?! It’s cost us money as we have had to (rightfully) pay for the full clearance even though they couldn’t access it all.

Or AIBU for wanting to be able to use our shared driveway?

OP posts:
WoesFromAuntFlo · Today 14:28

Dabspeed · Today 14:19

I'm sorry it is so shitty and stressful but why did you move you car again? Easy for me to say when it's not my life I know, but a Sunday would seem to me a good day to reclaim your spot.

Seems to me they are asking for you to block them both in but that is probably very poor advice.

This is a bullying situation and while they are holding all the cards, unfortunately there is so much power and fun in pissing you off and nothing in it for them in answering the door to you.

We can’t park in front of the garage because he’s too far over, we wouldn’t be able to open the doors - that’s why we just stopped outside our front door to unload last night before putting it back on the street.

It’s honestly just ridiculously stressful. We have never had issues with our neighbours and we get on with half the street here, there’s a real sense of community which I love. I just wish this couple would stop being so bloody difficult.

I know we could park behind the daughter but it just feels like an escalation that I really could do without at the moment. My DH is going to go knock round again shortly and hope for third time lucky.

OP posts:
Tryagain26 · Today 14:29

winter8090 · 23/10/2026 14:02

So the rubbish van would have had to have access to their side of the driveway to collect the rubbish? In that the rubbish wagon is too wide just to fit on your side?
if so then it would have been courtesy to let them know. It’s is however very petty and most people wouldn’t have batted an eyelid by this but it does sound like your dealing with difficult beasts.

Could you place the rubbish at the end of the drive for their next collection?

I think id make it my goal to find a solution without involving them.

oh and start parking your car on the drive too.

No from what I understand the driveway is shared and allows access to two garages at the end of the drive one belonging to OP and one to her neighbour the working space in front of the garage belongs to whoever owns the garage. The rubbish was In front of OPs garage in her parking spot. The neighbour was parked on the drive blocking access to OPs garage, her parking spot and the rubbish.
OP is definitely not being unreasonable she has probably been too reasonable not complaining before as her neighbour also parks his car blocking her garage so she has to park in the road

jamimmi · Today 14:32

@WoesFromAuntFlo they are teating u and bullying you. My parents had a similar issue. If you dont respond now by blocking her in, and asking them to contact you as they wouldnt respond to the door this will contune and worsen. You do now need a camera too aimed at your door and drive only. I bet its used more than u think. Personally Id also be tempted to have glass of wine be unable.tondrive goe a few hours but u may not want to escalte that far😂

Dabspeed · Today 14:37

Ah I have caught up I think. I was picturing the blocks at the end as your houses but they are are just the garages. Can you not park next to him super close and get out driver side only? Bit awkward having to reverse down the drive I know but hopefully only temporary.

I just worry that by you doing nothing other than ringing the doorbell every couple of hours they are having far too much reward.

Getting a ring doorbell would prompt an engagement if nothing else... You could also put one up on your garage pointing down the street.

Allmarbleslost · Today 14:42

Can they see the drive from inside the house op? I'd make a big show of going out with my camera phone to take lots of photos of their cars and maybe a pretend phone call.

Pessismistic · Today 14:50

Hi op if they don’t answer leave a note of the times you have knocked tell them next time it is a call to the police as the garage is private property so they are blocking access to you garage. Then if they do it again put a ring bell up let them knock to complain tell them to go fuck themselves it is a necessity with suck obnoxious neighbours. Your past politeness now op.

Whothought · Today 14:54

BigAnne · Today 14:20

You must must block her in or this aggression will escalate. When one of them comes to the door don't be meek and mild.

This.

Youlostyourlemons · Today 14:54

op you are letting yourself be bullied off your own drive. You have no choice but to let this escalate by blocking her in today and finally getting to speak to them otherwise you are allowing yourself to be a pushover and they will always take over the shared drive. I would wait till their cars have gone out at very least and then park outside your garage so far over the way he has been to prove a point.

WoesFromAuntFlo · Today 14:57

No answer on the third knock round so I’ve just popped a note through their door asking them to move the car OR to call me if there’s an issue that means they can’t move it as we need access to our garage.

The minute they’re gone we will be parking in front of the garage, even if it means I have to climb across and out the passenger side. I’m sick of it

OP posts:
Delphiniumandlupins · Today 15:07

Blocking in their cars would at least force them to engage! I'm sure your deeds (and theirs) will grant you both the right to use the driveway but not to actually block it. A few minutes to load/unload a car would be reasonable but may be difficult to negotiate when your neighbours are so awful. Is the space in front of the garages also marked on the deeds as shared? Does he actually park in front of your garage or just so close that it's difficult for you to get in? (I'm assuming you are younger and fitter and could possibly park close and scoot in and out the passenger door. Or back in and park close.)

CrayonCritic · Today 15:16

I know it’s tempting to block them in, but I think they are trying to goad you into doing it, you will have the upper hand if you manage not to sink to their level. I know it would force them to engage but the way that they wont even answer the door makes me think that they’d do something insane like call the police and try and take you to court or something mad. If you leave notes i think that’s a good way to do it, they are very likely to be read. Please start parking in front of your own house and stop letting them bully you by parking slightly over the line, as for all the other behaviour keep rising above it xx

Notquitethetruth · Today 15:28

You mentioned previously that you have been told that the previous owners had problems with your difficult neighbours. Did they declare that dispute to your solicitors before you bought? If they were asked and didn't declare then you can take this further. Bet they were glad to get out of there.

BigAnne · Today 15:31

Notquitethetruth · Today 15:28

You mentioned previously that you have been told that the previous owners had problems with your difficult neighbours. Did they declare that dispute to your solicitors before you bought? If they were asked and didn't declare then you can take this further. Bet they were glad to get out of there.

They only have to declare it if police or local authority involved.

goldylock · Today 15:54

You need to get a step ahead of this.

I'd put up the flashiest (on/off) security light you can find on your property, across from their door.

Theyll be over!

I'd then make it very clear that the parking situation changes or the light shall remain.

Guarantee will knock them back into place.

T1Dmama · Today 16:31

Is there enough room for you to put a fence up along the boarder line of your private part of the drive?
if so I would be doing so.
Do you know when they (and their car) will be out? Call me petty but I’d get hold of either a huge concrete block or a ginormous rock and put it right on the barrier of the property to prevent them even coming a fraction onto your side… or even better if you know anyone with a car they are going to SORN of the road, park that there and leave it there!
If he comes and knocks your door either ignore him like he has you, or tell him that you’re sick of his pathetic behaviour !
definitely put up a security light and camera on the garage. You might be able to fit the ring doorbell but at an angle so it isn’t on his front door… my friend has one and it’s pointing down her drive covering her front door and whole drive way. When you go out and come back I’d be tempted to hop out of the car at the end of the driveway then the other adult drive/reverse up the driveway into your parking spot, directing the other so your car is close to the boundary and get child out of side closest to your front door… if they realise that their parking prevents them from getting in their car door closest to the boundary then they’ll be forced (hopefully) to park closer to their own house !
I have to say I’d watch for them going out and spray mark the boundary or do something to make it clearer.

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · Today 17:10

Personally I'd keep knocking until they answered the fucking door if you know they are definitely in.
They are bullying you, do not let them. Knock, knock, knock and when they answer just say 'you need to move the cars as I wish to park mine on my property, if you want to make it difficult then I'll instruct my solicitor'
Don't take no for an answer.
Definitely get a camera on the garage to cover the driveway.

MotherofPufflings · Today 17:27

BigAnne · Today 15:31

They only have to declare it if police or local authority involved.

I'm not sure that's correct. The TA6 asks about disputes and if solicitors have been involved then that's clearly pretty serious!

Swmk · Today 17:32

For goodness sake stop being so nice and just park behind them.

OriginalUsername2 · Today 17:37

Swmk · Today 17:32

For goodness sake stop being so nice and just park behind them.

This.

BigAnne · Today 17:52

MotherofPufflings · Today 17:27

I'm not sure that's correct. The TA6 asks about disputes and if solicitors have been involved then that's clearly pretty serious!

I should have added solicitors. However if there's no documented official involvement then it doesn't have to be declared.

MotherofPufflings · Today 17:56

BigAnne · Today 17:52

I should have added solicitors. However if there's no documented official involvement then it doesn't have to be declared.

I never understand how anyone would prove that there was an official complaint anyway, because presumably any information would be confidential because of GDPR?

Youlostyourlemons · Today 18:05

WoesFromAuntFlo · Today 14:57

No answer on the third knock round so I’ve just popped a note through their door asking them to move the car OR to call me if there’s an issue that means they can’t move it as we need access to our garage.

The minute they’re gone we will be parking in front of the garage, even if it means I have to climb across and out the passenger side. I’m sick of it

Reverse in, let them climb out their windows fuck them.

Namechangewegovyjune26 · Today 20:48

Just read your updates - WTF?? I’d be tempted to hire a van for a month and park it outside your garage and spray paint the border. And install a zoom floodlight opposite their door.

dentalflosser · Today 21:07

OP, you have been generous and respectful towards your neighbours and they have taken advantage of you.
Unless the twats are paying for your side of the shared driveway and paying for your garage then they have no right to park on what is your land.
I realise this would be difficult but is there room to put a short chain link fence on your boundary between your and the neighbours garage, just long enough to not allow them to park right in the middle but to delineate parking areas?
The neighbours daughter is deliberately trying to cause an issue. I am furious on your behalf.

PyongyangKipperbang · Today 21:20

I think I would "helpfully" install a metal fence on the boundary between the garage areas. Too close and they damage their car and can't get out.

Seems like they bullied their old neighbours to the point where they think that the whole drive and shared access is theirs. If you play nice, they will do the same. Start out as a bitch, and stick with it.