Neighbour keeps parking across our drive “by accident”

[GirouxSein]

Our neighbour has started parking partly across our drive. Not fully blocking it, but enough that it’s awkward to get in and out. I’ve mentioned it once and they apologised, but it’s happened a few times since.
I don’t want to start a neighbour war over parking, especially as we otherwise get on fine. At the same time, it’s annoying having to squeeze past every other day.
What’s the best way to handle this without making things uncomfortable long term?

a diagram would help, is there any part of your drive you can block that would make it difficult for them

Keep politely asking them to move their car. They will soon get fed up.

park accidently over their drive and let them ask you move your car, they'll see the ignorance of their actions soon enough

They are not parking there by accident, they are parking where it is most convenient for them and they don’t care that it causes you a problem.
You just have to politely ask then every time to move the car, maybe if you can find a time to ask when it inconveniences them (say at 3am when you need to get to airport or something) they will learn more quickly.

First things first - can we see a diagram please?

Instead of "mentioning" it, be more firm and tell them clearly that their parking is creating a problem for you and they need to park further forwards. Make your point then change the subject to pleasant small talk.

You can't control how they'll react but if you're polite and not aggressive you'll have done all you can.

Every time they park over your driveway, knock on their door and tell them to move so you can get out.

Leave a cone on the boundary

i had the same issue but it was next doors visitors doing it constantly, i just kept knocking and telling them to move their car by the tenth time they were sick of me and don’t do it anymore.

They're inconveniencing you for their own ease and you are worried about your actions causing issues?

Stop it!

Knock on their door every time, make it less convenient for them

"sorry, but although I can just about squeeze out, I'm concerned that I might hit your car by accident"

They shouldn’t be parked over a dropped kerb.

You have to tell them to move every time, or it won’t stop. It’s either that or live with it.

Our neighbour used to periodically do this when our street was really full. She tends to park her back end halfway across our driveway so we had to knock for her to move it. Once she said “ok I’ll move it for you this time” and my husband not so politely said “no, you’ll stop parking over my drive”. He works nights so every time he comes back and she’s done it he knocks on her door no matter the time. She didn’t appreciate it when he knocked at 1:15am but he needs the drive to charge his vehicle. She doesn’t do it as often now funnily enough!

my dad said the right thing when I had this problem, it worked a treat.

Get your member of family to knock on their door and say “ could you move your car please she can’t get out, and by the way she’s not good at judging distances so you’re risking being hit” said with a slight chuckle !

This is where you need your hippy friend with the big old battered bus to park on your drive and then drive slowly back off it. You know, the one whose spatial awareness isn't quite what it was...

Or instead of having a man paint you as a dippy female stereotype, you could have a grown up conversation.

I wouldn't waste a minute feeling uncomfortable. One of my biggest peeves. Speak to them initially and if it continues, leave a note saying that if it happens again you will have to ring the police. It isn't acceptable at all.

Too passive. Just tell her to move it!

park across their drive partially and make it difficult for them a few times. Then they’ll stop.

Absolutely not. Why would you apologise to the person inconveniencing you and suggest you could try harder not to inconvenience them but you lack confidence in your competence to manoeuvre a car.

You ask them to move their car every time they restrict access to your driveway. Politely but firmly and you do not apologise for the inconvenience they created for themself.

Ask them to move their car.

Every.
Single.
Time.

Yes, just do this ,every single time. They'll get the message .

If you get on alright with them then I'd just say "look Sharon, I really don't want this to be an issue but you keep partially blocking my drive when you park and I'm sure you don't realise but it makes it very difficult to get off my drive. Please could you make sure to park no further along than <hedge / wall / fence> so we've both got plenty of room?"

If they're in next time it happens ask them to come out and show them what you mean. If you work to a solution together it's less likely to put anyone's back up.

Just knock on and say they’re in the way, and please can they park on their drive properly