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Original poster

CF neighbour and parking

50 replies

Meadowflower88 · 29/08/2021 20:33

We have a little townhouse that we rented out while we rented in another city for a job contract. We're now back and we are just about to put the townhouse on the market as it's too small for us now, it's vacant.

It's attached to another townhouse and it has a shared driveway with a double carport at the end of the driveway by our little garden, one space for each house. The problem is that the NN in the front townhouse just parks in the middle of the driveway by her house. This didn't bother our previous tenant who didn't have a car but I am getting increasingly annoyed! She has been slightly aggressive to me as I knock and ask her to move everytime, she basically doesn't see why it matters as the house is vacant but then she gets grumpy at me when I knock on her door at 7.30am to move her car when I need access. She was also very rude to the carpet layers and the people who staged the house for sale.

It's really going to affect us if she keeps doing this when we are on the market. And I should be able to drive down my own driveway when I bloody want to!!!!!

Im not quite sure what to do next. I contacted her property manager in advance of us taking back the house so he could tell her that as of X date, she could no longer park in the middle of the driveway. I knocked on her door to introduce myself and commented that we now need clear access. I knock on her door everytime I can't access the house. She won't stop!

OP posts:
GoldenBlue · 29/08/2021 20:42

Arrange a skip for you half of the drive to break her bad habit.

Boatintheocean · 29/08/2021 20:45

Cones down the middle of the drive

yourestandingonmyneck · 29/08/2021 20:46

Can you or someone you know just park there until the place is sold? Hopefully it won't be long.

KidneyBeans · 29/08/2021 20:49

Can you park halfway down for a vouple of days abd when she complains make an agreement tgat neither of you will do that any more

Original poster
Meadowflower88 · 29/08/2021 20:56

Sorry I should have said the drive is only wide enough for one car. And she has a car parking space at the end of it, she has just got to used to not having to walk the additional ten meters to her house.

It wouldn't affect her if we put a skip on the drive unless we put it right on the entrance to the drive, if it was by our house all it would do would block access to her park that she doesn't use, she would just park in front of the skip.

Yes I am contemplating maybe getting DH to spend a few nights there (on a airbed so he doesn't ruin all the staging 😅) as it might be the only way to get her to break the habit? If we are actually using our carpark?

OP posts:
KingRoloIV · 29/08/2021 21:08

Diagram please

Mariell · 29/08/2021 21:15

Whoever built these houses should know that this was just asking for trouble. I would never buy a property with a shared driveway or access as I read over and over the problems it causes.

It must be so frustrating for you.

frerecoler · 29/08/2021 21:26

@KingRoloIV

Diagram please
This.
zogadog · 29/08/2021 21:28

@KingRoloIV

Diagram please
You know the rules!
Mooloolabababy · 29/08/2021 21:43

So is it an access only drive then op? Access to a parking spot but she's decided to park there instead all the way to the parking spot? Do the deeds say access only? Do you both use the drive to drive to your parking spots?

happinessischocolate · 29/08/2021 23:44

Buy a cheap car and park it where she parks hers, then leave it there for a few days.

Blueleah · 29/08/2021 23:54

You need some lockable bollards along the centre of the drive. This would also show prospective purchasers that the space they’re purchasing is clearly marked out and secured.

Original poster
Meadowflower88 · 30/08/2021 05:38

Struggling to upload the sketch I made but @mooloolabababy has it right, it is a long driveway that is only one car wide that allows access to both car parks. It is common ground between the 2 houses and should not be blocked as per the deeds. The neighbour got into a habit of blocking it because our previous tenant didn't have a car so didn't mind. It has never ever been an issue before now when we lived in the house or with any of our tenants.

CF neighbour and parking
OP posts:
WeAreTheHeroes · 30/08/2021 05:56

Too late now, but this is why this kind of thing shouldn't be put up with even if it doesn't actually cause an issue. Your DH could park across the end of the drive meaning she'd have to ask him to move his car to let her out. She might get the message then.

WilsonandNoodles · 30/08/2021 06:06

Can you not park at the end of the drive on every visit and block her in. Make sure you 'busy' when she needs to go out so she gets the idea of how annoying it is.

Original poster
Meadowflower88 · 30/08/2021 06:10

@wearetheheroes yes you are totally right, we should have made a fuss when we first found out 😓 Now it's a habit and she thinks we are being totally unreasonable as the property is vacant...I think DH actually does need to go and spend a few nights there so she gets used to someone else being there and using the driveway.

OP posts:
Paq · 30/08/2021 06:16

Definitely CF.

You need to turn up at all times of the day and night and blare your horn at her house if her car is blocking your way.

LivingLaVidaBabyShower · 30/08/2021 06:41

@Paq

Definitely CF.

You need to turn up at all times of the day and night and blare your horn at her house if her car is blocking your way.

Agree with this Seek access at awkward times.

Midnight
6am
Just before dinner.
6am. again.

Leave a car in your space and then require access to leave again at 11pm on a sunday.

She's very entitled

chatw0o0 · 30/08/2021 06:53

She sounds like a pain. It's also the kind of thing that viewers of the house will pick up on (if they are paying attention!).

Original poster
Meadowflower88 · 30/08/2021 07:10

@chatw0o0 yes we are worried if we make too much fuss, she will do it deliberately to put off viewers :(

OP posts:
itsgettingwierd · 30/08/2021 07:15

There are just some absolutely entitled pricks on this planet.

I agree with needing access at all hours.

Polite note through the door that states if she blocks your driveway and access and it costs you money you will be seeking recompense through the courts?

bert3400 · 30/08/2021 07:17

@Meadowflower88
Really interested in the staging company and was it worth the expense. We were quoted 10k Shock Good luck with your parking issues.

ApolloandDaphne · 30/08/2021 07:31

That very cheeky when she parks there no one can get access to your house. Is there space to park behind her to block her in when she does this? Maybe give her a taste of her own medicine.

Original poster
Meadowflower88 · 30/08/2021 07:32

@bert3400 that's so much! We paid £800 for a two bedroom townhouse. It's very normal in our area for houses to be staged so it almost looks odd if they are not!

OP posts:
Onlinedilema · 30/08/2021 07:36

Sorry op but my parents told me from a young age never, ever but a house with a shared drive. They had endless problems with their shared drive. The house was bought before they could drive.
I think you need to price your house accordingly.
Hopefully your neighbour won't be parked in the way when prospective buyers turn up.