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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

*New thread* AIBU to use NND dropped kerb

131 replies

Cleo2628 · 29/05/2018 00:36

Thought it would be clearer with this photo. Previous owner left note saying she used his dropped kerb. AIBU to use it?

  • [Pic now removed at OP's request]
OP posts:
PetulantPolecat · 29/05/2018 07:51

Oh and nothing illegal with next door not allowing you to use their drive even if they did allow the previous owner to do that and even if they promised whoever bought it could continue to do so. You’ve got no legal right of way contract with them. They can withdraw permission at any time without needing to explain. Except of course, they’ve actuallly never given you permission in the first place.

Sprinklesinmyelbow · 29/05/2018 07:53

Neighbours won’t pay for wear and tear but even so- wear and tear of a curb? C’mon!

I’m lolling at the passive aggressive bin. Why doesn’t he just come round and tell you to stop using it?!

EggysMom · 29/05/2018 07:54

If your house was sold with off road parking then you have a legal comeback against the vendor. Because you don’t have off road parking, you have a paved garden. Sue the previous owner and use the money to pay for a dropped kerb.

It was our solicitor who pointed out to us that the house we were buying didn't have a drive and off-road parking, it had a paved front garden - she spotted that the photos didn't show a dropped kerb, and when we drove round there to check, we noted that the vendor was using the NDN's dropped kerb to park on the paving.

It didn't bother us as we had no plans to park there anyway, we've re-enclosed the paved area to make it safer for our son, and have a disabled bay painted on the road. But I was very grateful to our solicitor, who also took great glee in pointing this out to the vendor's solicitor and their estate agent. She advised that, without a dropped kerb, we had no rights to drive over the pavement. (Which is ironic because after moving in, we realised that everybody actually parks on the pavement, it's wide enough for a big car and a wheelchair and a pram!!)

GingerIvy · 29/05/2018 08:00

Are you planning on starting new threads on this until people agree with you or something? It's going to be a long day then. Hmm

Minniemagoo · 29/05/2018 08:05

Tbh your neighbour may have allowed the previous occupant to use his dropped kerb but I get the impression you have never asked him yourself just taken the vendors word and tbh been a cf. It would have been polite to talk to the neighbour before using his kerb. Bad start to neighbourly relations.

Usernameunknown2 · 29/05/2018 08:06

Your solicitor should have investigated if there was a right of way in place with the neighbours. The old owner could have been a cheeky fucker like my dad's old neighbours. He approached them about sharing the cost for a dripped kerb to cover them all, they refused and wanted to drive over his drive and use it without paying anything. The council put it in on the side of his drive not the bottom so the neighbours have a very fetching paved garden not a drive.

Usernameunknown2 · 29/05/2018 08:15

The photo you have posted with the cars in it on the other thread, looks like you have to partly drive over his drive as well as pavement. If he extended his wall down his drive you wouldnt be able to access the kerb. Perhaps he's pissed at that?

DGRossetti · 29/05/2018 08:22

Fgs people. It is KERB in this context.

Seems to have had no affect Grin

MargaretCavendish · 29/05/2018 08:22

I can't understand why you're maintaining you don't use his drive - if that were true then there wouldn't be anything at all inconvenient to you about where he parks his car or puts his bin, as they're still on his property. If that makes things 'difficult' for you then inherently you must be using his drive normally.

WilburIsSomePig · 29/05/2018 08:25

Maybe I'm being thick, but I don't understand why you can't see the issue here OP? (Though I very much doubt you'll be back ...)

TodaysMostPopular · 29/05/2018 08:28

It is an offence to drive over a non dropped curb.

Using the NDN's so you don't have to pay for yours to be done is a bit cheeky.

At least ask

SoupDragon · 29/05/2018 08:29

Why do you need a new thread?

You can’t drive over the part of the pavement that is not in front of the dropped kerb regardless of who paid to put it in.

polsha · 29/05/2018 08:38

Fgs people. It is KERB in this context.

Can you explain how the context makes a difference? Both words are correct

OrchidInTheSun · 29/05/2018 08:43

Polsha -curb means to restrain. Kerb is a at the edge of a pavement. They're not alternative spellings, they're homophones

MsJaneAusten · 29/05/2018 08:44

Wow.

You didn’t get the answers you wanted first time round so you’re trying again?

Nope, still being unreasonable.

Can’t you park on the road in front of the house, and put some nice plant pots on the ‘drive’ until you can afford to drop your own kerb?

Iamnotacerealkiller · 29/05/2018 08:45

in order to get a dropped kerb you need to make an application to the council that is effectively asking for permission to cross highway's land (the footway) permission for a dropped kerb is then granting access. the kerb dropping is paid for by the applicant except in certain circumstances e.g. road works are happening anyway.

Having a dropped kerb means that the neighbors have permission to cross the footway and you do not. you are technically trespassing on highways land to gain access to you drive.

i used to work for a local council.

SoupDragon · 29/05/2018 08:46

curb means to restrain. Kerb is a at the edge of a pavement. They're not alternative spellings, they're homophones

Curb is an alternative spelling of Kerb, mostly American.

missmouse101 · 29/05/2018 08:46

Shock Polsha, because the context is that we are discussing the edge of the pavement and that IS how that is spelt!

It’s like discussing the pretty things growing in the garden but spelling them flours.

GingerIvy · 29/05/2018 08:46

Just to clarify, as some of us on here are Americans (living either in the US or the UK) and may have different spellings.....

Curb - definition of curb by The Free Dictionary
www.thefreedictionary.com/curb

Curb is also the American spelling of the noun kerb. There is no difference in pronunciation. The kerb is the raised edge between a pavement and a road.

Stopandlook · 29/05/2018 08:47

I’d apologize to the NDN and explain that previous owner gave you wrong info. Save for the dropped kerb work and park on road in meantime.

OrchidInTheSun · 29/05/2018 08:52

The OP is in the U.K. so the fact that some Americans can't spell is pretty irrelevant

SoupDragon · 29/05/2018 08:57

so the fact that some Americans can't spell is pretty irrelevant

They can spell perfectly well.

SoupDragon · 29/05/2018 08:59

Chambers gives the curb spelling the explanation “chiefly” N American. So, not exclusively.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 29/05/2018 08:59

Yabu, pay for your own dropped curb and stop breaking the law by driving over pavement without one.

SoupDragon · 29/05/2018 08:59

It’s like discussing the pretty things growing in the garden but spelling them flours.

It really isn’t. 🙄