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Original poster

Neighbours' visitors blocking driveway!

25 replies

FingersXrossed · 23/10/2020 11:36

Just moved into a rental flat with DH. 4 in a block property with similar next door. I have a car and there's a driveway that I leave it on next to the flat. There's a lot of elderly people living here and many of them don't drive, not sure if that's a factor.

People keep blocking the driveway by parking across it. Nurse visiting the person across the way, visitors to god knows who. There's currently 2 cars blocking my exit! Fortunately I don't need to go out right now but what if I had an emergency?

There's no dropped kerb or yellow lines but there's a plank of wood to help us out as the kerb is a bit bumpy. And they can clearly see my car up the driveway!

There's plenty of street for these people to park in too but no they have to block our driveway. They don't even live here! So annoying!

OP posts:

Boonlark · 23/10/2020 11:38

Sorry but if there's no dropped curb then it's not a proper driveway. It would be nice for them not to block you in though. Is there anywhere else for visitors to park? And is it your property that you're parking on, or shared property?

TheQueef · 23/10/2020 11:38

Who told you to use drive?
Obviously everyone knows it gets blocked that's why they don't use it.
You park on the street, drive can't be legit if you need boards.

LastGoldenDaysOfSummer · 23/10/2020 11:41

That's not a driveway as others have said. You have no right to ask them to move.

Original poster

FingersXrossed · 23/10/2020 11:47

Ugh, really I didn't know that. I thought people would be courteous though as it's our home. I'd never park over a driveway regardless of whether it was dropped or not. Share driveway with elderly couple below but they don't have a car. Leasing agent told us to use the driveway. The entire street is empty of cars that I can see and yet they choose to block my exit. Is there nothing we can do then.

OP posts:

SoddingWeddings · 23/10/2020 11:47

That's not a driveway, you have no right of access or egress. Unfortunately you're blocked in to an off road area, so no action can be taken by police or council.

The landlord needs to pay to have the dropped kerb put in for this to be enforceable.

If you've rented on the basis of a free parking space, it's been missold.

TheQueef · 23/10/2020 11:49

Get ll to drop the kerb or ask agent.

user1471528245 · 23/10/2020 11:49

If it’s not a dropped kerb then where you are parking is not a driveway, the people parking there are not doing anything wrong however you are in the wrong by driving over the kerb, your only option is to park on the road or pay to have the kerb dropped

RB68 · 23/10/2020 12:06

No dropped curb its tough they are fine to park there

Chloemol · 23/10/2020 12:08

No dropped kerb, then no official drive. So they can park there. Sorry

LilacCandle · 23/10/2020 12:09

I have this and i do have a dropped curb across my drive! You could park across your own drive so you can get out easier?

Original poster

FingersXrossed · 23/10/2020 12:09

I'm assuming I could just park across the entrance like they're doing then? If it's not a driveway and is fine to park there maybe I should do so myself! Rather than face someone's ire by parking in front of their house (gerroff my land!)

OP posts:

Redlocks28 · 23/10/2020 12:10

I'd never park over a driveway regardless of whether it was dropped or not

But it’s not a driveway if there’s no dropped curb.

Comefromaway · 23/10/2020 12:13

As others have said, with no dropped curb it's not a driveway its a paved garden. In fact I think it's illegal for you to drive over the pavement in that circumstance.

And yes, you can park there.

Slightlybrwnbanana · 23/10/2020 12:13

Where I live there are many unofficial driveways, with little ramps out out etc but not an actual dropped kerb. I don't see anyone park over them, legal or not, presumably as they wish to get on with their neighbours!

TheQueef · 23/10/2020 12:22

If I saw your car I would assume you'd parked it off road because no tax. Park across it yourself if it suits.

Original poster

FingersXrossed · 23/10/2020 12:29

I've put the car out front now over the entrance. There's a few neighbours here that have little ramps as well so maybe they're also not aware that this is illegal?

I'll be looking for a proper dropped kerb driveway when I buy my next place!

OP posts:

Emmie12345 · 23/10/2020 12:29

It’s not a driveway . You have absolutely no right of access to it and they are doing nothing wrong parking across it .

If you bought the property on the ground that this was a legal driveway I would seek damages from whoever did your conveyancing if they didn’t flag it

Emmie12345 · 23/10/2020 12:30

@FingersXrossed it’s something loads of people do if they don’t want the expense of having proper driveway (or are refused by LA)

Original poster

FingersXrossed · 23/10/2020 12:34

It's rented. The guy who showed us around said we could park there and there's planks of wood that others have used to drive over the kerb.

Anyway it's out on the street now so hopefully that's ok. And I don't get any hassle off visitors who like to park there!

OP posts:

Billben · 23/10/2020 12:36

There's a few neighbours here that have little ramps as well

Those little ramps would not stop me from parking in front of those houses. If they want access to their drive, they should be paying to have their kerbs dropped.

ProfessorSlocombe · 23/10/2020 13:55

There's a few neighbours here that have little ramps as well so maybe they're also not aware that this is illegal?

The cynic in me would say they know damn well it's illegal (technically unlawful).

Pre-Covid a lot of councils were cracking down on this - there was a flurry of sadface stories on social media with people "not understanding" why they "couldn't park on their drive".

If there is no properly laid and authorised dropped kerb, then they can whistle if anyone parks on the public highway outside their house.

FelicityPike · 23/10/2020 13:58

Lots of councils are stoping installing dropped kerbs now as it limits on street parking, so people are taking matters into their own hands by “installing” little ramps/ bits of wood etc....but yeah, that’s not a driveway.

ProfessorSlocombe · 23/10/2020 14:10

@FelicityPike

I believe there was also an environmental issue that concreted/tarmaced front gardens added to flood risks and some councils were insisting on (more expensive) permeable drives.

If the OP has anything in writing from their LL or agent (and the cynic in me is already knowing they don't) then it would be interesting to forward it to their local planning department for reference. Especially since it's an offence to cross the footpath with a vehicle in the absence of a dropped kerb.

Original poster

FingersXrossed · 23/10/2020 14:42

Yeah I asked the young chap who showed us around if I could park up the driveway and he said yes - thought nothing of it!

Prior to moving here there was a parking area around the back of my old flat and before that I lived with my parents so had never come across this before. You live and learn.

OP posts:

user1471538283 · 23/10/2020 15:27

We've never had a dropped kerb but like you I don't park across a drive with or without one. In our last street no one did either. This street though they park across anything that is not dropped. I think it's bad manners but people don't care. Do as they do. Park across it.

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