To ask for your help with parking issue?

[IsThisACrazyThoughtDec25]

This is such a boring issue but is causing me loads of hassle. I own a house with a garden and double gates opening onto a parking space in a cul de sac. Neighbours have had a broken down car in their space and about 2ft across mine for months, meaning I can't open the gates and use the drive.

I've had a chartered surveyor out to confirm they are across my space. I've taken then copies of the deeds and surveyors report. I've spoken to their landlord amd explained the situation. Nothing has happened except the neighbour coming round to scream obscenities at me (police were called and v helpful).

The car is still there and I can't access the drive.

I've emailed the council civil parking team but apparently it may be months before they can do anything.

A solicitor consultation and letter to the neighbours will be around £600 which i can't afford.

What else can I do?

Report the abandoned car to the police?

Could you afford to hire a tow truck to remove it?

Diagram!

It's taxed and has MOT and on private space that they own, so can't tow or get police to move. Is mostly in their space, just at such an angle I cant use my gates.

It's taxed,has MOT and mostly in their space so police can't help.

Can you use the drive if you take the gates off the hinges? Not ideal or fair but might solve the problem temporarily.
Otherwise, I’d be complaining constantly to the landlord and try not to engage with the neighbours directly as they sound extremely unpleasant.

Unofficially if you happened to know a burly bloke who has a few mates, they may be up for physically lifting the car and moving it 2ft for you. Buy them pizza/beer as a thank you, do it quickly and deny all knowledge.

Do you have legal cover on your house insurance you can tap into for this? I'd ask the council to do their business when they are able.

Did you go abd talk with them first and explain the problem/ask them to move in a couple of feet?

Is it a dropped kerb?

I don't get how they can own part of a cul de sac outside your gates. But if you say they own that land, the car is properly taxed and MOTed, and neither the police or council will help, then you just need to put up with it.

No point paying for a solicitor's letter as it has no foundation.

Could part of the problem be that it's very difficult and expensive for them to move it 2ft, just like it is for you? Your money might be better spent offering to pay for the moving rather than on a solicitor's letter.

Otherwise PP's idea to remove the gate is a good thought, though not ideal.

They sound awful OP, I sympathise. No advise but to keep on at the council/land lord.

I normally love a diagram, but I'm afraid the squiggles on there make it even more confusing! 🤔

Surely you just take the handbrake off and push it? I've moved a small car by myself in this way and I'm not particularly strong. If it's a big car getting a couple of strong friends to help might be necessary.

So you're suggesting that OP pays to get their car moved?

@LovelessRutting unfortunately even with gates off i wouldn't be able to get the angle to drive in.

It's an odd set up. Square courtyard of 14 houses but car spaces owned by each house are on a curve around edges to get more in. So their space is the slice next to mine in the corner of the courtyard, and they are at a more oblique angle than they should be and about 2ft too far over. It's such a little thing but means I cannot get access to drive.

They absolutely could move it easily by pushing forward and back even if engine doesn't go, but they won't do it because they are horrible. (Without being too outing, police have been there frequently and they suspect it is me that has reported them. Drug and DC related. It wasn't me anyway!)

Ask them to move it?

Is this better @JDM625 ? Red is my space. Pink is their car.

@MrsDoomesPattersen (superb name btw- love the reference!) I've asked them repeatedly and politely. They won't move it.

I'd keep pestering the landlord and offer to help move it - should be easy, take handbrake off and one or two people push.

Get a jack and some car skates, wait till they’re out and move it over so it’s not blocking you in. Deny all knowledge if they ask about it.

Trolley jack under the back bumper, lift the rear and move it to the right?

They have a ring doorbell pointing at car. Also really scary people and I'm here alone with kids so dont want to antagonist. Trying to think what other reasonable and legal avenues I can pursue.