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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:
homebythesea · 03/07/2017 13:49

Dear Neighbour

I am writing with regard to my parking space.

This space is owned by me, and as a Result I have no right to a permit to park elsewhere. It is my understanding that it is not permitted for you to drive across my parking space in order to access your garden. In the circumstances i confirm that I do not grant permission to you to drive across my property to access your garden. In addition I confirm I will no longer move my car in order to allow you access to your garden.

Yours etc

Short, factual, simple to understand. If they persist then you say "I refer to my letter of x date and will now be seeking legal advice etc etc"

righteousviv · 03/07/2017 13:58

I would rather have kept the cherry tree!!

Rachie1986 · 03/07/2017 14:01

Placemarking to see what happens!

LentilBolognaise · 03/07/2017 14:04

I don't think there's any need to be confrontational about it. As you've said, your neighbours have been perfectly pleasant up until now and it may be that they don't understand or realise that a) you own the parking space and b) what they are doing is technically illegal and they could be fined etc.

Could you write them a friendly note along the lines of "Thanks for your suggestion to meet up to discuss the parking issue. I think there may be a bit of a misunderstanding as we, in fact, own this parking space which is included in the title deeds to our house. I contacted the local council this morning and they confirmed this. Therefore we will continue to use the space as before. I hope you understand that we don't want to be difficult. Perhaps you can purchase a parking permit for the local car park for your daughter's car. Best wishes, Somewhat" You could then include a copy of your title deeds and the email from the council to back up what you're saying. If it were to go further (which hopefully it wouldn't!), at least you can clearly show that you've approached the situation in a friendly, non-confrontational way and suggested a reasonable solution to their problem. At this point, I really don't see the harm in being nice.

PickAChew · 03/07/2017 14:04

It's the brass neck that keeps that cheerful look on their faces. Oh look, aren't we so lovely and reasonable about all this? Er, no you're not.

Justhadmyhaircut · 03/07/2017 14:07

Does sound like they think they can't possibly be in the wrong!!
BIG SHOCK ALERT!!

pam290358 · 03/07/2017 14:08

I really wouldn't enter into any kind of discussion AT ALL with them as it will inevitably come back to bite you on the bum !! My mum had a similar dispute with a neighbour regarding a passageway down the side of her house, which was clearly marked on the deeds. Her neighbours insisted on blocking it with their bins and told her it was a shared space. She went to meet them and they taped the conversation - she ended up having to take expensive legal action to get it sorted out, so these things can easily turn ugly. If your parking space is on the actual road at the end of their 'driveway' and the council have confirmed in writing that it is yours, and it is in the deeds to the house, then I really can't see what they can do about it. If they apply to have the kerb dropped they will have to pay for this, and will also have to pay to have the pavement reinforced in order to drive their car over it into their 'driveway'. In that event, the council would have to reallocate your parking, which would have legal implications, as the space is on the deed to your house, which is freehold.

I would start by taking a copy of the council email confirming the details of the space, and put it through their letterbox with a polite note saying that you now have proof that the space does not belong to the council, but that you actually own it - it is your land and is shown on the deed to their house, so they have no right to block it, or to ask you to move. Tell them you are sorry but you have no intention of giving up the space and you hope that will be end of the matter. It's good that you have this confirmation but I think the other important thing is to find out from the council what your rights are in the event that these people do apply for planning permission. Personally I don't think they have any intention of applying for planning permission otherwise they wouldn't be trying the bullying tactics they're employing now. If you don't get the response you want when they see proof of ownership, you may have to send a solicitors letter and see if that does any good, but I wouldn't meet with them under any circumstances - either in private, or in public.

AliCat36 · 03/07/2017 14:10

I agree with Lentil. You have to live with them as neighbours so as much as a fight might be more entertaining for us, it's better for you if you can get along. Give them the benefit of the doubt & try to sort it amicably. Hopefully they'll see sense.

ThisisrealityGreg · 03/07/2017 14:13

Don't meet them - there is nothing to discuss! Tell them in writing you're not moving your car and send them a copy of the council email.

mateysmum · 03/07/2017 14:15

Go with homebythesea's suggestion. It's simple, unambiguous yet not arsey.

You do not need to engage with these people. Of course they're being "polite" - they want something from you to which they have no right. Talking to them suggests you are open to negotiation - ie: compromise - or in other words disadvantaging yourself for their benefit.

Send the note and that is the end of it....

Tiredtomybones · 03/07/2017 14:17

Lentil has it spot on.

Ontheboardwalk · 03/07/2017 14:28

Is your parking space marked with white lines or numbered etc?

What would happen if they decided to park in your space rather than trying to get another permit?

Might be worth getting some advice in case they start getting nasty and petty because they can't get their own way...

NaiceBiscuits · 03/07/2017 14:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DirtyChaiLatte · 03/07/2017 14:38

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

In the nicest possible way (to try to maintain cordial neighbourly relationship) you need to make it clear that you will NOT constantly be inconvenienced by having to move your car when asked.

They're taking the piss by asking you to do this. What happens if the daughter one night wants to leave at 3am?

Giraffey1 · 03/07/2017 14:39

Dear neighbour
Thanks for the kind invite to coffee, but there isn't anything to discuss so I think you'd find it a an unecessary exercise. The parking space is mine as detailed in the deeds to my house, and is one of the reasons we bought the property. I will not be moving my car to give your daughter or anyone else access to your garden. She will need to apply for her parking space.
etc

HSMMaCM · 03/07/2017 14:49

I can just picture the scene. Daughter parks car in garden. OP comes home and parks in her space. OP and family are now crawling round the house on hands and knees, to pretend they're out for a week Grin.

But I agree - nothing to discuss. What would they do if you parked and went on holiday for a week? They shouldn't be doing it even if you didn't want to park there.

SnickersWasAHorse · 03/07/2017 14:50

They just don't get it do they.

MoreThanJustANumber · 03/07/2017 15:05

Why do people keep saying the council own the parking space? If it's on the deeds of the house then the OP owns the parking space, it's not actually anything to do with the council.

From what I understand there is a council run parking space that they could buy a permit for down the road. Or the OP could sell the parking space for a suitable price and get her own permit but only if she wants to.

The council will have a say in whether or not people can turn their gardens into driveways, but not over a parking space that is clearly listed on the deeds to the OP's house.

Polter · 03/07/2017 15:05

To be fair the gravel parking garden people probably haven't seen OP's deeds that give her the parking rights, so sending them a copy of that is enough to show them OP has a legal right to that space. There seems no need to give any other explanations.

BluePencils · 03/07/2017 15:20

I like what Giraffey1 wrote.

CuntyKitchen · 03/07/2017 15:21

What happens if there are roadworks? I'm intrigued by how a road is maintained when lots of people own a bit of it each.

AyeAmarok · 03/07/2017 15:21

I think they are being so nice and friendly and reasonable (re their DD going away for a few days) because they know they are in the wrong. They don't want to get all irate, because then you can go to the council, and then they'll be snookered. So they are trying to be so nice and thoughtful that you will roll over and let them have your parking space.

kimothyroll · 03/07/2017 15:26

1.Literally just paused Handmaid's take at a pivitol point to read this thread

2.Also signed up to numsnet to follow it (found it through an unrelated Google search)

3.Whats place marking?

4.YANBU (super proud of myself that I figured out what that means Wink) they are entitled knob heads. I'm all over shit parking and regularly have arguments over the none child possessing parkers in supermarket parent and child spaces

BoraThirch · 03/07/2017 15:27

"Hi Neighbours, my parking space is owned by me and I can't keep moving my car so your daughter can drive onto your garden. I need access to my parking space at all times. If you have any further queries then the council will be able to clarify.
Best wishes,
Somewhat"

catkind · 03/07/2017 15:29

I think there's a difference between OP owning the land of the parking space and OP having a right to park there written into the deeds. I suspect it may be the latter OP?

Doesn't make any difference to the fact the neighbours can't expect access rights across it though. The only difference I think would be who is responsible for any maintenance required on the parking space.

Lentil's non-confrontational message is great. (Though may need slight tweaking if it is entitlement to park rather than ownership of land that's in the deeds.)