AIBU to ask to borrow our neighbour's drive for 2 hours next Wednesday?

[mummysandwich]

We have recently moved into a new house on a new build estate and I am wary of upsetting our neighbours by asking a parking related favour, so would appreciate honest opinions please!

We (us and our neighbours) have a shared driveway in a cul de sac, and not much visitor parking. We are having a 4 year old's birthday party next week so expecting around 10 additional cars.
It is our neighbour's second home and they are not there very often (approx. 4 days per month) so AIBU to pop a note through their door (we have no other means of contacting them) asking politely if they mind us using their drive for our party guests IF they are not going to be there themselves?

I will attempt a diagram...

my diagram :)

Go for it, I definitely would.

Perfectly reasonable. My neighbour borrows ours when he has an open garden afternoon. If they are nice about it a bottle of wine goes down well

YANBU. It doesn’t hurt to ask and it’s hardly a majorly cheeky request.

Why can't your visitors park on the street like normal people do? You can't ask to use the neighbours drive every time you have a party.

I wouldn't mind being asked about this sort of thing. It's when you have people assuming it'll be fine without checking first.

Makes a lot of sense, I would also put your phone number on so they can easily contact you if any issues!

We live on a new build estate and have a big drive for 6 cars whereas most have a drive for 2 - we are ex show house and inherited the car park. If I see a neighbour moving in, or with a lot of visitors for a party I offer parking our drive. I wouldn’t be offended by a request at all.

It wouldn't bother me at all, particularly if I wasn't even going to be there.

I wouldn't have a problem with this at all, as long as you asked first, which you are doing.

Often streets on new build estates are very narrow and no pavements so parking on road isn’t feasible or a nuisance.

Why can't your visitors park on the street like normal people do?

A lot of cul-de-sacs have very little spare street parking. 10 additional cars simply wouldn't fit in ours.

I think it's perfectly reasonable to ask, OP. If it's their second home, if they've any sense they'll want to be on good terms with neighbours who can keep half an eye on their house.

I would ask; unless they are actually using the house, it would be churlish to say no. But a small bunch of flowers to thank them for understanding when they are there would probably sweeten the deal and might even get an invitation to use the drive whenever needed. It would from me.

Thanks for all your responses, I'll be brave and go ahead and put a note through! Their cleaner should spot it and pass on the message I hope 🤞🏻.

We love where we have moved to except for one thing, the lack of visitors parking! The roads are far too narrow to park on road, and we have 1 visitors space provided for our road of 12 houses (which is often occupied by a car from another house despite them having a double garage and double drive). We will park our cars FAR away to maximise the space.

We don't have many parties so I doubt this is likely to become a regular occurrence .

I'd just be worried they might not see it before your party next week. It wouldn't bother me if my neighbours asked me this. We live here full time and would let our neighbours do this for a special occasion.
Thank you chocolates would probably be appreciated

You're entirely reasonable to ask. I've lent our drive to neighbours in a similar circumstance. Especially as it's a one-off, it's not like you're asking to park a skip there. The worst they can say is no, it's not convenient, and then you can just let your guests know not to park there.

Of course it's OK to politely ask. Maybe also invite them for a drink when they are next around and try to make friends with them, then it will be easier next time. You will probably end up doing each other the occasional favour over time anyway.

Definitely write them a note.
And include your diagram. How could anyone deny a request with such a diagram? Mark their house in royal purple, natch.