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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours have 'made' a driveway which MY parking space blocks

407 replies

SomewhatNewToThis · 30/06/2017 22:52

Trying to keep it short. I live down a very weird road- very few houses have driveways. Some of us have allocated bays in the street. Other people- generally the owners of newer houses- must park in a car park about a minutes walk away created especially for our road. It's literally at the end.

Neighbours have a weird upside down U shaped house, facing the road. They have decided to put a very ugly, gravel driveway on the reminder of their front garden.

However, MY allocated council parking space that belongs to my house is where the exit to their 'driveway' is. Their DD just passed her driving test- hence driveway- and I've had to move my car from my space SIX times since Tuesday.

Neighbours have now sent letter asking me to park elsewhere so their DD can use 'driveway.'

AIBU to have posted a polite letter back basically saying no and that I will not be moving car multiple times a day in future? Hmm

Car park for our houses requires a permit. As I have the allocated space, I cannot apply for a permit as I already have a space. Neighbours have one space in car park provided for those without allocated spaces, however can apply for space for their DD as car park has spare permits available. I can't park anywhere else as you can only park in allocated bays.

AIBU to think my allocated space is mine, it's not my fault it's in front of their house and that I shall not be moving my car from now on?

Diagram provided. Grin

Neighbours have 'made' a driveway which MY parking space blocks
OP posts:
Jaxhog · 03/07/2017 09:54

There really isn't anything to discuss with them, so I wouldn't go. If you do go, one of two things will happen:

  1. They'll bully you into moving your car
  2. You'll say no, and they'll get annoyed

Either way, you'll be worse off.

Planningoz · 03/07/2017 10:22

Agree with some others above - nice note -
Dear (entitled) Neighbours,
Coffee would have been great but rather busy at the moment (for the rest of my life....) At least there's nothing pressing to actually discuss - so glad you now understand and appreciate the position re my allocated parking space.
Lots of (passive aggressive) love, etc etc
Sorry - can't do the line through words thing others can (mumsnet failure)
I'd also be extremely concerned JIB is correct so would avoid at all costs for that reason alone.....

trulybadlydeeply · 03/07/2017 10:24

Honestly, OP, I don't think you should go. I would write back and thank them for their kind offer, but you suggest that they clear up the matter with the council first, as it's clearly their mistake, as they have given permission for a driveway which is blocked by a parking space which they know belongs to you.

Ok, we know they don't have permission, but they should have sought it, so assume they have done so, and keep referring back to the councils "mistake".

Theonethingididntwant · 03/07/2017 10:25

i take I think they've been told it's a council parking space and due to your disabled mother not being able to walk far you would be better not to move it further away.
I can't blame them for asking but after being told that there would be no discussion!
It sounds like they are trying to stay civil but hoping a face to face meeting would make you back down.
Unfortunately I'd just keep repeating it's not down to them. It's a council allocated parking space that works very well for you.
They haven't got a leg to stand on here and are being cheeky to assume this can go their way.

FATEdestiny · 03/07/2017 10:28

I shall stand firm...

Depends on the price

What price would make you give up your parking space?

Littlemissamy · 03/07/2017 10:48

Fate, one million dollars (said in the voice of Dr Evil)

MrsHathaway · 03/07/2017 10:49

If you meet them (and I wouldn't) EVERY time they use the word drive or Driveway, say "you mean your garden". Don't validate use of the term Drive, cos it's not one. It's a garden with a pavement in the way

I absolutely agree with this.

Good luck for coffee - though I agree it would have been better to avoid - and stay firm with your broken record.

"No, it's my space that I paid for when I bought my house."

I think pp's suggestion that it's worth £50k isn't completely absurd (unless houses cost under £100k) because the space adds so much to the saleability and therefore value of your house, not to mention the thousands of times over your ownership of it where you/your mother don't have have to shuffle up and down the road to the car park.

FATEdestiny · 03/07/2017 11:01

I would probably accept £20,000 for the parking space, if it was near me.

In fact I'd probably give some consideration to £10K, given that you will get an alternate (less convenient) parking space rather than no parking space.

Point is, no reason not to have the chat. Everyone has their price.

LexieLulu · 03/07/2017 11:31

If family are making a gravel pit drive I doubt they have thousands...

mumof3boys33 · 03/07/2017 11:58

OP's obviously gone to the meeting as she's not replying. So I'm place marking to see what happened. I hope all goes well.

BluePencils · 03/07/2017 12:00

Did you go OP?

Justhadmyhaircut · 03/07/2017 12:03

Waits not so patiently for update. .

NeedMoreSleepOrSugar · 03/07/2017 12:21

Not place marking at all...

Questioningeverything · 03/07/2017 12:24

Oh come on, op, please update us!

Redsippycup · 03/07/2017 12:49

The trouble with accepting money for the space is that OP doesn't own it - the Council does.

So she could 'sell' the space but the Council may not recognise that and then OP still wouldn't be eligible for a space in the carpark.

Although it sounds like OP isn't remotely interested in losing her space anyway!

moyesp · 03/07/2017 13:03

Hate to ask two things. The Nieghbours house YOU PARK IN FRONT OF is it freehold and does it including the parking bay you are currently parking on?

What does you council allocated parking bay contract says - presuming you have one and do you pay the council any additional costs for this bay? Because if you take this matter to court this is what you will have to prove. Not that it should go that far as they seem reasonable enough to ask you if they can get their car up the driveway..
I presume by the fact that you mentioned permits that you are either in an inner city area for a suburban one. And that parking spaces are few and far between.

If you find that their freehold land is part of your parking area then you will have to ask them if you can continue to use it. If it is still owned by the council then you are quite right in suggesting to them that they take it up with the council. Maybe their housing officer can arbitrate for both of you so you can come to some amicable arrangement before it gets ugly. As letters or personal requests are becoming fraught to what seems like a formerly friendly arrangement.

Let us know what happens

Vereesa · 03/07/2017 13:09

Stop moving your car.

wellymelly · 03/07/2017 13:18

YANBU definitely not!!!! They don't sound like very considerate neighbours at all. In a way good they brought it up as you may have just got more and more annoyed but not felt that you wanted to say anything. Good luck.

wellymelly · 03/07/2017 13:20

Inconsiderate, I meant!

Original poster
SomewhatNewToThis · 03/07/2017 13:27

I didn't go, it was too much of a hassle and a risk, and I'm not sure what their intentions are in terms of a "solution."

The letter they sent was more of a, "if you can come come over, please do," so my not turning up is fine. It was definitely not a sure arrangement!

I'm trying to draft a new, firmer letter.

Currently I'm saying that their driveway is not a driveway, legally/ in the eyes of the council, my parking space is mine,
I would not like to sell it, etc... And then I shall not be moving my car and my car shall remain there.

However, I'm also thinking of adding a, "I would not like to fall out over this, please continue to be civil," line at the end. But I'm not sure. What do you think?

OP posts:
BluePencils · 03/07/2017 13:31

I'm saying that their driveway is not a driveway

You need to word it slightly differently, that their garden is not a driveway

waterlily200 · 03/07/2017 13:33

Sounds good. Bit take a photo of the letter for your records before it's posted.

Justhadmyhaircut · 03/07/2017 13:35

As above do not acknowledge that their GARDEN is in any way a driveway!!
And hurry on up. .
Lots of invested mners here waiting!!

Original poster
SomewhatNewToThis · 03/07/2017 13:39

Also, have kept all letters, kept a diary, etc..

One thing that does weird me out and that I forget to mention is that I went outside earlier and neighbour was in front garden, she smiled and waved at me in a rather friendly manner. Which was a shock Grin

Their actions are very rude and entitled, but the letters they have sent have been amicable. Recent letter had the lines,

"Our daughter is currently away for a few days, so we won't need to bother you about the moving the car."

"We'd love to have you round for coffee, to discuss things,"

All in all the letters they're sending are not rude in any way, in fact they are weirdly pleasant.

Is it hopeless of me to wish that maybe a friendly reconciliation could be reached? Grin

Council have confirmed that the parking space IS mine, as my house is freehold and as some people have remarked, I have right of parking if is freehold. It's all in the deeds of my house/land. I have all this is an email from the council, but only received the email half an hour ago.

I'm wondering if I could meet neighbours in a neutral place, ie, coffee shop, show email from council, state that the parking space is mine, hold firm, etc... And if they see sense, good. And if they don't, THEN take legal action and report officially.

I want a chance to solve it amicably first, but I don't want to go to their house and only feel confident doing so now that I have confirmation from that the council that they're wrong.

OP posts:
Catlady45 · 03/07/2017 13:49

hi op, just wondering if your neighbours own their house, is theirs free hold ? would the parking space they currently use included in their title deeds?