AIBU for thinking I should say no to my neighbours putting a skip on my garden again?

[Gingernutsandtea]

My neighbour asked me a few months ago if she and her DH could use my driveway to put a large skip on, so that they wouldn't have to apply for a skip permit and save money.
I don't use the drive and, as I felt like I was put on the spot and also because I try to be neighbourly, I agreed.
The lady said it'd only be there for about 5 days, and said that once they'd put their rubbish in I could feel free to put anything I wanted to get rid of if there was room.

Her DH filled the skip and put a cover over, held down by slabs, I'm assuming in order to prevent anyone else's rubbish going in. Fair enough, it was their skip after all.

The skip was removed and I was left feeling a bit narked that it was left to me to clear small bits of wood/rubbish etc that had been left on my garden. Furthermore, neither of the couple have since thanked me for allowing the use of my drive (although the wife did thank me when I initially agreed to the skip).

Now the lady is talking about having to get another skip soon after they have a kitchen and bathroom refit. I'm expecting to be asked again for the use of my driveway, but I anticipate I won't hardly get a thank you or even a bottle of wine as a thank you gesture , and I'll again be left to clear any mess left behind. I wouldn't mind so much if I felt my favour was appreciated.

AIBU to say no? How can I get out of it?

To add, the neighbours in question have never once done me any favours, in fact the DH tried to rip me off years back by trying to overcharge me for something. Nothing major, but won't go into it as it may out me! ....

yes, I agree you can find suddenly a skip on there, so take some action.

Yes you should say no, just on principle. Ohterwise you become the folk who say yes to anything - which isn't good with neighbours, especially slightly cheeky ones.

'Oh sorry, we're probably going to have my uncle's car on the drive for a month or so while he's abroad.'

Agree that you may find they don't even ask, if they're cheeky. They will ASSUME! So I'd bring it up.

'By the way Neighbour, you know you were talking about getting another skip? Just to let you know we'll probably be using the driveway for uncle's car in the near future so we won't be able to help you out with the skip, so you'll need to get the permit.'

'Oh tell us when and we will work round you'

'No, sorry, it wouldn't work for us again - we will be using the drive more regardless of what Uncle does and to be honest the mess clear up last time was a real pain! So yep go ahead with the permit.'

Thanks for all the responses!
ShotsFired I like your way of thinking!

I did think to myself that they were CF's for not clearing up, and it did piss me off that the DH covered it. I felt like he was making sure I couldn't benefit from squeezing anything in. He's usually a bit of a miserable bastard quiet and never stands chatting, and I only agreed for his wife's sake as she's usually friendly.

If I did come home one day to find they'd took it upon themselves to use my drive again, I'd be so incensed and would get it moved after chucking what I could in it.

I think I would preempt the CFery and block your drive with something.

Neighbour has mentioned to you they are getting another skip. To her mind she now may well think she has told asked you already. Entitled people are like that.

Just to add, they can't put a skip on their property as they don't have a driveway.

Another thing, its probably irrelevant but it does make me wonder if they'd be such CF's if I wasn't a single parent.

If you don't use your drive then it's time you went out and bought some nice big planters and had those there instead. You're definitely going to come home to find a skip in situ otherwise.

Tell them no. You don't need to give a reason - although you could say you're renting your drive out shortly - but get in there first before the skip arrives along with all the builders and plumbers.

Advertise your drive on one of the driveways-to-rent sites and get some money from it. Then you can say "no, my driveway's busy. Or you could rent it instead of them for £10 a day" or whatever the going rate is

Advertise your drive on one of the driveways-to-rent sites and get some money from it. Then you can say "no, my driveway's busy. Or you could rent it instead of them for £10 a day" or whatever the going rate is

that only works if the driveway is near where people want (and are willing to pay) to park ....

If you live in a popular area you could possibly start renting your drive out. Look at sites like "Park on my Drive".

I had a skip and it cracked my driveway so there’s no way I’d have someone else’s on there. I doubt they would repair/replace yours if it was damaged given they couldn’t even tidy up last time.
I doubt they will even ask permission this time

I'd say no and then comment on their bare faced cheek to ask.

I'd say no and explain it's because of what happened last time. They might try to argue so no and that's final but I feel like they should know why

OP let them know sooner, rather than later, that you won't be accommodating another skip, due to complaints from other neighbours. They can then organise their permit.
If you feel they will attempt to use it anyway, install a couple of penguin bollards, that'll stop 'em ! 😄

If they put a skip on your drive regardless of your permission you can call up the skip company and tell them they’ve put the skip on the wrong property as you did not order nor did you authorise the use of your property to be used to store it.

say no.

you don't have to give a reason, it's your drive. if they press you as to why you can tell them. 'you didn't clean up, you didn't give me the opportunity to put stuff in as agreed, it was inconvenient and you didn't appreciate it.'

then if she tells you that she'll fix all those things say it's too big an imposition.

agree with fuzzywuzzy.

Doesn't matter if no one wants to park there, you can advertise your drive (for free) anyway.

My house isn't anywhere near where someone would need to rent a space. It's just a quiet residential area.
There's loads of room on the road for them to have a skip placed, they just thought it was easier to ask for the use of my drive in order to save them money and for the convenience for them just to walk in and out my garden.

We get this all the time, repairing their garage from our garden, replairing their guttering from our side access. We had a skip too for them too. I’m sick and tired of it too and would love to say no but it’s hard in the interest of getting along etc isn’t it?

fuzzywuzzy I'd definitely ring the skip company up and get it shifted.

Say no if it comes up in conversation. If one just appears then phone the skip company and explain it is your land and they have to remove it.

I'd say yes as long as they clear up properly afterwards, if the drive is standing empty, I couldn't bring myself to say no just to be awkward.

I'd say yes as long as they clear up properly afterwards

That shouldn't need saying. The fact it does is an answer in itself ...

An empty skip is only around 250kg. It would perhaps be possible to move it off your drive yourself with your dh if it is a flat,smooth surface.

But I think you should try to broach the subject before it gets this far. Cheeky sods.

Yes it is difficult in the interest of getting sling but they aren’t trying to get along, they are trying to save themselves time (and money?) at the OPs expense.

Don’t ever be intimidated into this sort of thing, you just become a doormat and no one respects you anyway.