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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be furious with neighbour parking on my driveway

58 replies

Getorfmyland · 04/08/2013 22:50

I have NCed for this, as if my neighbour reads this she'll know exactly who I am.

I have a house on a narrow street with limited parking. My house is one of a few that has its own driveway. The rest of the home owners have to park on the street.

I live with my DP but we go to stay at my own house most weekends. When I moved in with DP, I told one of my neighbours that she would be welcome to park her car in my driveway during the week, but that I would be needing it at weekends. (I was trying to be kind. I now know I'm a mug)

On several occasions, I have returned to my house on a Friday evening to find her car in my drive. Each time, I have to go and ask her to move it. Each time, she has run out of the house, moved the car, and run back into her house without saying a word to me. No apology, no thank you, nothing. On one occasion I was sitting right there watching her move the car, and she didn't even look up to acknowledge I was there.

On other occasions, I have returned home to find her car in my drive, and I've just parked on the street to avoid confrontation. I have always assumed she would see my car, and come and move her car and apologise. She never has.

This weekend, I go stay at my house on Friday. On Saturday evening, we went out for dinner. When I returned home HER FUCKING CAR WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY. I immediately drove up to her front door and repeatedly beeped my horn. She ran out, moved the car, and didn't even acknowledge me!!!

Now, I know I'm not being unreasonable - it's my friggin land that she is parking on and she's taking the piss - but I'm a wimp and don't like confrontation, and I just want to keep the peace with my neighbours, so I really don't want to have a go at her about it. I'm considering a chain across my drive, but I genuinely don't mind other neighbours parking there in the week, as space is limited. So help me grow some balls MNers - what would you do?

OP posts:

Bogeyface · 04/08/2013 23:28

I would tell her that the neighbour with three cars will now be using it and she willl not be able to use it at all. Make it clear that this is not a "when she isnt there" but NEVER USE IT arrangement.

The law is changing about renting out drives soon if what I heard on the news is correct, so you could then legitimately charge her whenever you find her car on your drive!

wharrgarbl · 04/08/2013 23:31

I think it's gate o'clock.

Original poster

Getorfmyland · 04/08/2013 23:35

Oh I'd LOVE to stick a bill through her door for rent of my driveway!

Yes, I've now asked lovely neighbour to please block up my driveway all week with one of her cars. And we're considering a chain.

Why are people so inconsiderate and thoughtless eh?!?

OP posts:

WhatchaMaCalllit · 04/08/2013 23:41

Maybe in the note that timidviper has suggested, you might remind her that it is your driveway and not hers and that she has been able to park there up to now without incurring any costs but if she continues to abuse this privilege, you will consider a rental option - Mon-Fri inclusive 08:00 to 16:00 only at (insert your hourly parking rate here)

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/08/2013 23:47

Neighbour is taking the piss. Either

tell her she can use it mon am to fri 5pm - never at weekends
withdrawal your offer as she is rude
tell neighbour with 3 cars she can have option 1

mummymeister · 05/08/2013 00:12

whose land is it? Yours. who has the right to park on it? you do. you have tried to be a good neighbour and let her use the space when you are not but she is clearly taking the mickey. the only way to deal with this is not to try and find a compromise or be polite or any of those things. just go up to her door and speak to her face to face. tell her that as per the Saturday night parking this arrangement no longer works for you and therefore she is not to park on your drive. yes it is tough to have to confront people but stop being so british about it and just do it.

LessMissAbs · 05/08/2013 00:13

I generally find the solution is to block her in.

You can be as passive-aggressive about that as you like. I once blocked someone in with my horsebox (was a serial offender who deserved it) while I went away on holiday for a week. It worked brilliantly.

mummymeister · 05/08/2013 00:19

LessMissAbs I like your style we often have people who pull onto the top of our drive thinking it is a layby for some strange reason. tried to block someone who was on the phone and refused to move and they drove off across the verge leaving their exhaust on a boulder as they went.

lovecupboards · 05/08/2013 08:42

Just tell her she's taken the piss and is no longer welcome to use your drive at any time of the week. You made the offer altruistically and she's behaved like a twat in return, so she can fuck off.

NaturalBaby · 05/08/2013 08:46

Go and talk to her. How else do you think you can resolve this situation?!

CSIJanner · 05/08/2013 08:50

YANBU - your land, your choice.

Personally I think the fetching that is griping here isn't the fact she's ignoring agreed times as so much being an ungrateful cow who doesn't even acknowledge your kindness let alone your existence. There's no thanks there or acknowledgment at all.

mmmuffins · 05/08/2013 09:00

I think you should tell her she isn't allowed to park there anymore. Give whatever reason you feel like (that in you are unhappy that she couldn't stick to your agreement, or that you suddenly need the drive during the week, whatever).

It makes you look a bit unhinged if you tell someone they can use your drive and then passively do everything in your power to block them from using it!

Mrsdavidcaruso · 05/08/2013 09:06

I had the same problem I had a thread on it in the legal section _ i got a couple of these
www.barriersdirect.co.uk/parking-posts-c1087/parking-posts-c1089/padlock-standfast-collapsible-post-galvanised-p3188

Mrsdavidcaruso · 05/08/2013 09:07

but the link does not work any how it was a parking post and It works
www.barriersdirect.co.uk/parking-posts-c1087

Latara · 05/08/2013 09:12

Getorfmyland - great name.

I totally sympathise - I would be furious too.

I have a shared driveway but my neighbour seems to think it's ok for her nephew to park on my side of the drive when he comes to use her garage.
I had a 'talk' to him because I was cross but he wouldn't move his car because ''you're not using the drive right now, are you love?''

Now I have a work colleague who parks on my drive on random shifts up to 4 days a week which has solved the problem mainly.

chilipeppers · 05/08/2013 09:21

Tell her she can't park there anymore. That would piss me right off rude cow!!

RubyGoat · 05/08/2013 09:21

The reason she doesn't acknowledge you when moving her car is obvious IMO - it's because there is no reasonable excuse for her behaviour & she knows it.

chilipeppers · 05/08/2013 09:22

Tell her she can't park there anymore. That would piss me right off rude cow!!

Fourwillies · 05/08/2013 09:22

Oh I do love a good parking thread! I'm still laughing about the poster who came home to find a mystery car on her drive, which turned out to be some nobber on the school run! So she blocked the car in for the weekend!
My favourite post was the naughty parking lady saying to her husband
"Get the autotrader darling, I've lost another car!"
PMSL

lisad123everybodydancenow · 05/08/2013 09:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

aladdinsane · 05/08/2013 09:41

I would tell her its not working and ask her not to park there any more
And learn from this- I wouldnt let anyone use my drive its too much hassle. You may change plans and then be running around finding people to move cars
If they want parking they should buy houses with drives or create a drive
Generally you give people an inch and they take a mile

Squitten · 05/08/2013 09:46

Are chains and gates really necessary?! By all means, if you want to be all melodramatic about it go ahead but it's just making more work for yourself.

TALK to the woman FFS. No confrontation required - just tell her that your schedule has changed now and you need your driveway to be free at all times now. If she sees your other neighbour parked in it, so what? If she won't even look at you when she's moving her car, she's unlikely to have a screaming row with you. And it's YOUR driveway - you could rent it out to unicorns and nobody could say a thing about it!

WeAreEternal · 05/08/2013 09:55

Why not just go round and say "I'm sorry but it is no longer convenient for you to park on my driveway when I am not home so please do not park there anymore"
Or put a note through saying that.

EasterHoliday · 05/08/2013 09:57

if you are anywhere near an airport, start renting the space out for cold hard cash!

gordyslovesheep · 05/08/2013 10:02

oh please DO rent it out to unicorns - that would be cool

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