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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Neighbour Dispute

149 replies

QualCheckBot · 14/08/2019 19:03

Not really a dispute, its all relatively civilised...

We are 3 households sharing a driveway. The driveway urgently needs repairs in order to keep it usable. The title deeds have it as being 50% responsible for upkeep for Household A and 25% each for households B (mine) and C.

However, A proposes that we pay a third each and DH and I are agreeable to that. C however lives alone and wants to pay only 1/5 of the total because there is only one of her and each other household has 2 people. She also says that as she doesn't have a car, she isn't contributing to the wear and tear. The driveway is the only way in and out of all the properties.

I am against this because I think it sets a dangerous precedent of her paying less than her share for future maintenance.

Furthermore, to avoid drip feed, C quite often has her parents staying with her so there are often 3 people there, and her parents have a car.

Neighbour A is wishy-washy and seems likely to let her away with it unless we put a stop to it. In fact, A's wife seemed to side with C because she doesn't like me for reasons unspecified but probably to do with the fact that I work and she doesn't, so I don't tend to fall for nonsense.

Is neighbour C being unreasonable?

OP posts:

Longdistance · 14/08/2019 20:26

Stick to what it says in the deeds. It’s s legal document so there isn’t any future confusion if you or your neighbours wish to sell,

GoFiguire · 14/08/2019 20:27

President Trump?

HeadintheiClouds · 14/08/2019 20:27

That’s the one

Redcherries · 14/08/2019 20:28

Op, I think you’ve worded your op in a way that reads two ways.

she doesn't like me for reasons unspecified but probably to do with the fact that I work and she doesn't, so I don't tend to fall for nonsense

Did you mean, “she doesn’t like me for whatever reason so I don’t listen to her nonsense or accept it, I think she dislikes me as I work”

It reads possibly as she doesn’t work but you do so you don’t take nonsense but she does as she stays at home.

Just want to clear it up as reads badly on your behalf.

RelaisBlu · 14/08/2019 20:31

It doesn't matter who likes or doesn't like whom.

You should all pay in the proportions laid down in the deeds.

Do not set a precedent by paying more.

tolerable · 14/08/2019 20:33

go with the deeds...shes blew all bargaining to an over spend 1/3 with arseholery.stop and offer her lift if shes walking up driveway.cos thats neighbourly

tomatostottie · 14/08/2019 20:37

Stick to the deeds. There is no other way to do it. It sets a precedent - paying a third each isn't acceptable because both B and C would end up having to pay more than they should.
C paying a fifth is ridiculous cheeky fuckery.

FireBloodAndIce · 14/08/2019 20:42

Put it in writing, email it over as per your deeds and don't start any work until you have the full money from both. If A wants to sub C, she can but you will not.

I though you could download a copy of someone's house deeds from the net if you wanted? You pay about 7 quid or something.

DurexCertified · 14/08/2019 20:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Smelborp · 14/08/2019 21:00

You’re proposing she pays 33% which is 8% more than she’s obligated to pay.

I think it’s a fair counter offer to pay 5% less than she’s obligated to pay.

Perhaps she’s hoping you’ll all end up back at your legal obligation levels.

Mummyoflittledragon · 14/08/2019 21:04

C has some form for being a wannabe CF

So does couple A. Can you not see they are also completely taking the piss? They bought the house knowing that it entailed 50% upkeep of the drive and now wants to change the rules. Neighbour C also wants to change the rules. What’s the difference?

And then irony of ironies they’re setting on you. Don’t you realise this is a play? You’re the nice and reasonable ones, who for the sake of neighbourly relations may just cough up double what they owe so both neighbours can pay less than their share.

Does it state in the deeds who owns what?

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 14/08/2019 21:22

I also think 1/3 is a reasonable enough solution should it be necessary to change title deeds to refer to that in the future - at
least its fairly certain.

I can't think of any reason that anyone's deeds would change in the future if they're already clear on the burdens. Anything you pay more than your share is entirely your choice and doesn't make anyone in the future liable for more than 25%. You certainly couldn't force a change on neighbour C.

I think you also have to be careful that it's only repairs to the current surface that are being quoted for, as getting neighbour C to pay for an improved different surface probably won't be enforceable.

BarrenFieldofFucks · 14/08/2019 21:25

Why does A's wife not own the house? Do they rent?

rodentforce · 14/08/2019 21:30

Pay what is says in the deeds. The fact that it's in writing means you don't need to get into this. The neighbours knew what they were getting when they bought their houses, assuming they read the deeds, and it's not your problem if they didn't.

MadisonAvenue · 14/08/2019 21:32

Old Orange bollocks gets everywhere, these days...

Anyone suggested building a wall between the houses yet....?

MrsFezziwig · 14/08/2019 21:36

Everyone is saying pay what it says in the deeds, but you don't seem to be catching on. And you're trying to present yourself as someone who doesn't take any nonsense from anyone, but you've actually agreed to pay more then you should in favour of someone who doesn't even like you.

Sewrainbow · 14/08/2019 21:37

I'd only be paying as per the deeds, it seems A & C are cfs....

SabineSchmetterling · 14/08/2019 21:40

I agree with others that A were the CFs. Their suggestion that you all split it equally was them trying to push you and C into picking up £1k of their bill if the total is around £6k.
If I was C I’d be telling them to go jump. I wouldn’t be terribly impressed if my other neighbour then suggested that 1/3 each was fair made me feel like I was being cheap by not wanting to pay £500 of neighbour A’s bill.
C is suggesting they pay 5% less than the deeds state (£300) and you think they are being cheeky but you thought it was fair when A suggested they pay 17% less than their share (£1000).

Elieza · 14/08/2019 22:12

My vote is on stick with what the deeds say. If you stray from the legal position and something goes wrong it could cause all sorts of bother.

Sunflower20 · 14/08/2019 22:12

Nevermind C, why would you agree to pay more than you have to...? Doesn't make sense to me. Always go by what's written in black and white.

Chloemol · 14/08/2019 22:14

Just go back to them, say you have discussed it, it’s better to go by what’s in the deeds, get them to show you quotes and invoices for the work when complete and pay 25% and leave them to sort it out between them

Nothingcomesforfree · 14/08/2019 22:16

Why are you happy to subside A but not C ?

I can see why C thinks that odd.

Pay what you are supposed to and if C is struggling help her out. As you say she’s own her own with the bills.

thecatinthetwat · 14/08/2019 22:33

If you’re going to pay more, then C has made a more reasonable case than A.

Get a copy of As deeds.

Also,

A's wife (please suggest another name if that's objectionable)

I can’t believe you would call her that and have the nerve to think she’s the one who has a problem with women

redshifter · 14/08/2019 22:44

What if C is quite happy with the drive as it is? Can you really enforce them to agree to a new one?
If you could do this legally it may take a.long time and cost more money.
If I didn't have a car I wouldn't be too fussed about getting a lovely new smooth one.
IF you are ok with paying a third, then you pay a third, let C pay a fifth and A pay the rest. That way both A and C save money because of you paying more. What can they complain about with this. If they won't agree then just pay your 25% and let them sort out the rest however they agree to.

But still haven't answered who is not an owner? Is someone renting? Surely a tenant wouldn't have to pay anything.

heronontoast · 14/08/2019 22:54

'What if C is quite happy with the drive as it is? Can you really enforce them to agree to a new one?'

Exactly. If C doesn't have a car then she probably doesn't care what state the drive is in.

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