neighbours car has been in my garden for 3 months

[PastryOnMyMind]

first ever thread but I wanted some opinions from the outside

neighbours came to me in early May to ask if they can use our drive for two weeks, they bought their DD a car for her birthday as a surprise.
fair enough I thought no problem

the car is still there.

we don't want to cause tension with the neighbours because we all have to live here

my DD is 14 month and has just started to toddle so would like front garden back to make safe ( weeding, gates) for her to play in and I can sit on the door step whenever she wabts to venture outside.

we managed to catch him last week and told him we want to do our garden for DD (can't use back garden, subsided and v unsafe) and asked if he had an idea of when he was planning to shift his car

two months!!! we were quite shocked because he was very matter of fact, no apology etc and dp said "it's kind of taking the piss" and neighbour shrugged it off. it's the end of October...

aibu to want my garden back before October so I can let my DD run loose in her own space whilst we may still have sunny weather/ light evenings??
part of me feels selfish because we don't drive so don't have a car therefore a "drive way" in the literal meaning isn't needed. but our garden IS the drive way.

I'm quite timid and have no idea how to go about this whole situation so I was hoping some mumsnet opinions might help me figure out what to do

MrsOverTheRoad - liking the 'grow some flaps'! Better than grow some ovaries. In her garden?

When you speak to him bear in mind these questions:

Who has more right to the space - your dd or his?

Who is more important to you - your dd or his?

If that car isn't gone today by either him moving it or you having it towed you are prioritising what he wants over what your own dd deserves.

That should fire you up!

I thought he had nowhere else to put it, but the CF has! I don't like confrontation, but in this case I'd positively relish it.

What's happening with your back garden? That sounds awful.

Not ANOTHER CFN (Cheeky Fcking Neighbor) grin*

There's an absolute epidemic!

Broken record as pp says.
Theres an assertiveness book that talks about methods - broken record is one of them, here's an overview
www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/assertiveness-techniques.html
You can do it!

It doesn't matter if it's taxed or not, as it's in private land, it only needs to be taxed if it's on the road..

Just asking them to remove the car and stop being a wet fish!

Good luck. Say what you've got to say to him and then stop talking. Don't let silence make you fill the gaps and back track. He can park it on his own bloody drive. I can't believe it's taken you so long!

Why did you ever agree in the first place if they have a drive and there's parking on street? I don't understand why they don't use their drive?

plenty of space to park on our road, they park their car outside their house and have a drive hey don't use. everyone has a drive on our road and it's a quiet road

I'm struggling to get my head round this part - so why on earth does he need the use of YOUR drive. Why didn't you say that when they first asked?

Picture the scene - you've bought a new sofa and on the day of delivery, a neighbour decides to plonk themselves down in the "Sheldon" sweet spot and decides not to move. They say that they're going to move but they don't actually move at all. Even if they do move, they get someone else in their family to take up 'their' space....you'd be pretty quick at telling them to move wouldn't you?

I'm pleased to read your update that you'll go over at 1pm to tell them to move their car, permanently.

Get gates or some deterrent to stop any one else thinking that your garden is an extension to their property and to park on it.

It's a larger version of "manspreading", common on trains.

It's "neighbourspreading", increasingly common on MN.

Where do all these cheeky fuckers come from? I never meet them.

Just think OP, at 1pm you'll have the entire nest of vipers behind you!
It's not easy, and having a baby can really knock your confidence, but think of this as the first step to getting back to your pre-pregnancy assertive self. Don't let the cheeky fuckers win

YANBU to expect them to move.

They'll tell you that you're being unreasonable. You need to stand firm. They've had an extra 3 months free use of your drive.

I didn't think, we are relatively new to this road, didn't quite know which house was his then assumed he used it for parking until I noticed he doesn't.

in regards to the back garden, our area is sinking so it's slanted, the conservatory fell down and was replaced before we moved here (we rent)
the back garden is a lot of steps, then a path and then a rectangle of what was once a lawn I assume which is now mainly soil and tree roots from surrounding gardens. it'll take a lot of money and time to fix which we don't have right now. the front is paved with a little flower bed so easy to fix up thankfully

What is it with MN and suggesting that a local rugby team can move cars? They don't do that...it's not part of their recommended training you know or are there flyers posted in most rugby clubs suggesting "Is your neighbour a GF? Have they parked on your driveway and you need their car moved??? Then call XYZ Rugby club and we'll be happy to help you move the car" ???

Confused....

Ooh I wish I was your friend IRL OP, I'd go round there with you and give it both barrels!! You can do it

Where do all these cheeky fuckers come from? I never meet them

Me either. I'd quite like it, I think, for the entertainment value.

Apparently I do give off something of a 'don't fuck with me' vibe, and I do a nice line in acidic reprimands, so I doubt I'll ever be blessed with a CFN tale to share.

Send him a bill, you can rent your drive out through websites like parkonmydrive.com declare that you will now invoice him at a daily rate should he continue to do so. You don't need to register with any website, but you can legitimately charge!

they can either move it or we will use it ? Im sure your LO would love a few pet chickens

((((((Hugs))))))) OP. You Can Do This

Tell him to move it today or you'll be reporting it as been abandoned and having it towed away. Don't let him be a twat

Blimey, he is a cheeky fucker.
How long have you lived next door to each other?

I'd also be tempted to buy a scraper, SORN it and plonk it on his drive.

Blimey, I'm as wet as they come when it comes to confronting people, but you're on a whole new level!!
You said they could park on your drive for two weeks in MAY and it's still there with what looks like no intention of moving anytime soon before OCTOBER?!
They are taking the absolute piss because they know they can.
Get 'em told!!