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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to see if neighbours would consider letting us park on their drive?

89 replies

GardenWoes231 · 26/09/2019 19:04

First thing - they don’t have cars.

Our street is mix of drives (illegal - none have dropped kerbs) but a lot of on street parking. For the last few years this has actually been fine as most people are pretty sensible and everyone who parks there every day parks in front of their house and everyone is considerate.

My neighbour however now has a new job and has parked an extremely long flatbed truck covering the front of our house where we’ve parked every day since we moved in and also covering his own drive. He has an additional car that also takes another space on the road.

So what was previously an easy setup I never even had to think about is now stressful every day as I genuinely have nowhere to park on my street.

Before anyone says - I can’t speak to him about it. He’s my immediate next door neighbour so knows he is inconveniencing me - last time we spoke was when he came into my garden and screamed in my face for a good 10 minutes because we had objected to his planning application. That’s the sort of person he is.

So is this a totally mad idea? If you had a drive and you never used it and didn’t own a car how would you feel approached by someone on your street and asking if they can park their car there? I would offer a small amount of cash (monthly?!) for their troubles?

Need to know if this is totally crackers and I’ve lost the plot and if someone came to your house and asked this what you’d think?

OP posts:
Original poster
GardenWoes231 · 26/09/2019 19:27

For clarity we currently have a front garden and our house is above the road so the garden is raised quite high above pavement level so the earth would have to be excavated so sadly it’s not a super easy driveway put in job Sad

OP posts:
1990shopefulftm · 26/09/2019 19:28

before we got our car, we happily let our neighbours children use ours.

Original poster
GardenWoes231 · 26/09/2019 19:29

Thanks all, it’s definitely interesting to hear the different perspectives - lots I didn’t think about!

OP posts:
reginafelangee · 26/09/2019 19:29

No harm in asking. I'd personally say no but wouldn't think there was anything rude about being asked.

The idea of notes through doors is a good one.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 26/09/2019 19:31

Our elderly neighbours ask us to park one of our cars on thei driveway if they go away for a few days as they feel the house looks less empty that way.

I wouldnt mind a note through the door asking me, I can always say no or not respond. I wouldn't knock and ask in person though.

cosytoaster · 26/09/2019 19:38

There's no harm in asking. Is there any chance you could have a drive made, with a dropped kerb so nasty neighbour can't park there?

Ronsters · 26/09/2019 19:38

I would probably agree to this. I have let my neighbours use my drive when they have had family parties. I do use my drive, one car, but room for other cars.
Id probably be ok with it on a permanent basis, as long as we could work out me being able to get in and out ok.
It can't hurt to ask. My neighbours asked me in person but we say hello, etc. I think a note may be better so they don't potentially feel put on the spot.

Sparadrap · 26/09/2019 19:39

We have a spare driveway which we rarely use. Our neighbours often ask to use it if they have visitors as they only have one space. I never for a moment thought it was cheeky when they asked. We don’t ask for payment but they do drop round lovely wine from time to time Wine

Maybe make sure they know it’s something they can say no to at a later date. And maybe arrange that if they need the driveway that they can text you to let you know. People usually like to help but don’t like to be tied into things long term.

Biancadelrioisback · 26/09/2019 19:41

There are schemes for people to rent out their drive way so it's clearly not that crazy an idea!
Ask. If someone asked me it would be a polite no but only because our driveway is so narrow you can't park in it and walk to the front door without walking across the flowerbeds. The old owners apparently had a tiny little car which used to go in the garage and never sat on the drive. Our car barely fits on the drive way width wide let alone in the garage!
But if my driveway was wider I would let people

mrsm43s · 26/09/2019 19:41

I think it's ok to ask if you are happy to pay the going rate. I would expect that to be at least £100 a month (about £3 a day, much cheaper than 24 hour carparks), even outside of London. If you're planning on offering a paltry amount like £10 a week or something, I would expect you'd be turned down, as it wouldn't be worth the hassle for the space owner.

HappyHammy · 26/09/2019 19:41

Could he park his flatbed or additional car in his own drive, would that help.

Jicole · 26/09/2019 19:43

We dont have a car and have an empty drive and we let who ever needs it borrow, they've offered payment and we said no, we don't use it so it's no hassle and it's just being a decent neighbour, they bought us choclate and wine as a thank you.

TwelveThirtyTwo · 26/09/2019 19:47

happy hammy did you read ops post?

NarwhalsNarwhals · 26/09/2019 19:48

I don't have a car, I would be fine with this as long as you weren't likely to be moving your car in the middle of the night on a regular basis (because their drive is presumably under the bedroom window)

BaklavaBalaclava · 26/09/2019 19:49

I think they paid £5 a week, it was about 3 years ago. They were more worried about paying me than I was!

I had something that I didn't use, seemed silly not to share it as it didn't cost me anything! They didn't park there when I had people staying with a car, so was no hassle for me

Winsomelosesome · 26/09/2019 19:49

It'd be a no from me. If parking is that bad where are their guests meant to park? I often leave my own drive empty and park elsewhere because my dad is here often picking up DS and he has a dodgy knee and I don't want him having to park miles away. I certainly wouldn't want to have to get in touch with a neighbour every time someone was visiting. If you are going to do it a note through the door would be better but really I wouldn't.

HappyHammy · 26/09/2019 19:52

Oops, thought it was the same neighbour.Confused

Itsallpetetong · 26/09/2019 19:52

I wouldn’t think you were BU for asking me.
They can always say no if they don't like the idea.
Let us know what the outcome is.

Peanutbutterforever · 26/09/2019 19:55

I wouldn't ask, I'd feel it would make the nice neighbour feel pressured. Just my opinion though.

Idontwanttotalk · 26/09/2019 19:55

I wouldn't do it:

  1. In case someone's car dripped oil on my drive.
  2. In case it inconvenienced me getting out of my garage with my refuse bins etc.
  3. I particularly wouldn't do it for a neighbour I hardly knew.
  4. Even for a good neighbour/friend it would depend on the vehicle. I wouldn't want a transit type van on my drive or some old banger or a car in a colour I can't stand.
Slomi · 26/09/2019 19:55

I don't drive but it would be a polite no from me if a neighbour asked to park on my driveway, regardless of offers of payment. I like to be helpful especially when it doesn't cost me anything but I would be too worried if the car was damaged/stolen/etc that I would be sued for compensation as it was on my property with my agreement. Something similar happened a neighbour of mine except it was farm machinery. Not saying you are like that OP but I wouldn't risk it for someone I don't know well.

Original poster
GardenWoes231 · 26/09/2019 19:55

Great to hear some of you would be amenable to it!
My husband is very likeable and very polite so he’s going to pop round and explain the situ but very plainly say please don’t answer now here’s a note and our number so just see what you think! I think this might be nice to put a face to a name and to see that (hopefully) we come across as reasonable humans!

OP posts:
saraclara · 26/09/2019 19:55

It's not such a weird concept. There are several websites like this:

www.justpark.com/about/rent-your-space/

crimsonlake · 26/09/2019 19:56

I think it depends on your relationship with the neighbours really. If it is good ask, if you do not really know them it may come across as rude.

firesong · 26/09/2019 19:56

I have the same problem OP. If I had a spare drive way I wouldn't mind neighbours using it after asking. I imagine CF behaviour would be just parking there without asking, or demanding to use it, not a polite request that makes it clear you have no expectations.