My neighbours are car verge-parking wankbadgers

[IndefatigableMouse]

My neighbours bought a house with a drive only big enough for one car.

A few months back they began taking down the garden wall between us so they could fit two on, before I pointed out it was actually my boundary and not theirs (they never fixed the wall, but that's a whole other unfinished thread).

As a result of that, they now park one on their drive, and one on the verge outside my house. Yes, possibly a reaction to me not letting them knock down the wall, but honestly it wouldn't have fit two anyway. Would this annoy you?

I feel most normal people would either block themselves in, or park on the road.

I really don't care if people park 'in front of my house' - it's legal, whatever, but something about being on the verge is really winding me up. Of course I don't own that either! But on the roads around me the only other people who do this live in the house the car is parked in front of. It looks so messy. The grass is all chewed up underneath.

Right now her car has been parked right up to the edge of the grass all week, enough that it is difficult for me to get on and off my own drive if the other neighbours opposite park in the road too. There's loads of room to pull up closer to her own house.

If she was a normal person I would talk to her about it, but after the fiasco with the garden wall (she literally stormed off in a huff when I pointed out she was wrong, even though by this stage she had taken a lot of bricks off my wall!) she has avoided us.

I need to chill, don't I?

Instead I'm burning with car-parking rage!

[InvisibleWomenMustBeRead]

Fingers crossed they start acting more reasonably Op!

[IndefatigableMouse]

Last update for now I promise - so we went out and when we came back the car was on the verge but towards their side rather than ours, which I’m much happier with!

Seems calling the police has had them move the car and promise not to do late DIY

All we’ve had to do is say we won’t knock on the wall if they do late DIY...

[IndefatigableMouse]

NoIdont - it is hard to park but she could park on the verge but closer to their house - instead it’s as far away as possible. The road itself is tight for parking. There are some bays for general use but she’d have to walk a little way down the road.

I sympathise to an extent. Just not that much.

Anyway car has gone! I think they’ve gone out rather than move it forward (as that would look like they agreed with the police).

I’m going to annoy you all and not immediately move our car onto the verge - we are about to take kids to the park and we want to see what they do next, if they are reasonable. I think the police would roll their eyes if we immediately did that.

But don’t worry I won’t do nothing, email of some sort to council or councillor will go out tonight.

[Ifonly86]

YANBU they sound awful I’m angry on your behalf!
Can you get some of those drop bollards fitted?
Block her car in with the reason that you are worried you won’t be able to get out again due to her inconsiderate parking and visitors.
As for the wall do what you can to find the legal proof of who owns it, if it’s you start a small claim against her. If she genuinely owned it she would happily provide you with proof and knock the wall down completely, the fact she hasn’t shows she knows she is in the wrong. Could you put up a fence on your own boundary blocking her side from your view? If she was to take the wall down she will still be held back by your new fence.
Calling the police is pathetic, she just wants to make you look like bad neighbours. Don’t play into her hands. As tempting as revenge is don’t do it, that’s clearly what she’s waiting for to get her own way.
An anonymous ‘glitter bomb’ or bag of shit posted to her should suffice

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

YANBU but practically speaking, is there somewhere else they can reliably park? Is the issue that this is older housing stock set out with no "real" driveways snd simply not enough space for modern two car households?

I know that's not your problem, but what would you do in their shoes?

[IndefatigableMouse]

All true but I think we should be able to ask, right? I was there when my husband asked, he literally asked twice, said don’t be mean (yes used those words, nothing harder!), and after she told him to F off he mentioned about fixing our wall as a throwaway line.

[IndefatigableMouse]

‘The van wasn’t their fault and was going to move soon anyway’

[BlackCatSleeping]

What did the police say you should do if a van is blocking your drive? Surely it’s not unreasonable to ask a van blocking you in to move?

[IndefatigableMouse]

Yep council only way forward now. Think I will ask them about recording noise disturbances too. Will also save up to move!

[BlackCatSleeping]

I can’t believe they called the police on you! 🤦‍♀️

I think if I were you I’d have as little to do with them as possible. Ignore the parking on the verge. I know it’s annoying. Keep on at the council about it, but apart from that, there is nothing you can do. Don’t put boulders near their car or hose the ground. Just stay away from it.

I absolutely would continue to complain about work vans blocking your drive, but make sure you are not threatening or abusive when you do so.

She’s crazy, but she thinks she is in the right.

[IndefatigableMouse]

The police have just come to talk to us...

Apparently she is feeling vulnerable because my husband asked her to move the car.

And they don’t like the fact we have occasionally banged on the walls when they’ve been doing diy.

I have no words.

Fuming.

We are trapped now. Can’t do anything really.

Police obviously thought whole thing was ridiculous and suggested we don’t bang on the walls any more. (We have knocked on the walls maybe ten times in a year).

They also mentioned the wall and said they had proof if was theirs. (I don’t even care about the wall but show me the proof!)

I suggested it would be helpful/neighbourly if they could park considerately even if it is legal.

They went back to talk to next door but left shortly after.

Gah!

Will still talk to council but other than that can do very little now.

[BlackeyedSusan]

report the damage of the verge to your local councillor and see if they want to do anything about it. they are more likely to get results.

[YogaDrone]

Could you park right at the top of your drive so that the nose of your car is where the road begins? That would block them in nicely.

They can't just take down a wall (even if they think it's their wall) without proof of ownership. Even if they did own it, and decided to remove it, you could just put your own wall or fence up. You just need to ensure that it is entirely within your property boundary.

[IndefatigableMouse]

N2 definitely drive across grass to get to their drive. They have at least two vans and a car they get onto their drive and outside their house. Their proximity is probably why N1 park on my verge as far away from their own house as possible.

N1, I've taken photos and can't be sure if it's a verge or drop kerb. If it's a verge, it's very low to the ground and there's a mix of grass and concrete. I suspect verge that has been ruined over decades of being driven over.

Did ask council to clarify but they never replied. Need to try them again.

If N1 think they own the wall then I guess removing the bricks is fine? At the moment I'm just 'happy' the wall is standing so there is a boundary. They're clearly not the sort of people you want to get too close to.

Looking forward to all the building work now the kitchen stuff has arrived... (nb we've had two neighbours on that side in last five years and between them they've installed at least three kitchens - whaaaaat?)

[BlaueLagune]

So are my neighbours OP. Parking on the grass verge, opposite other cars, on a single yellow line (sadly only in force at school drop-off and collection times) and close to the end of the road so difficult for people turning in.

I did think of knocking on the door yesterday and asking them to move to the same side of the road as everyone else (and off the grass verge). But was too lazy in the end.

[YogaDrone]

typos, sorry. Final sentence first paragraph should read "Does NOT mean N1 owns both though."

[YogaDrone]

If the boundary is your to the rear of the property and the boundary line goes directly through the dividing wall between the two houses then it's highly likely that the front wall is also yours. If it's been built encroaching their land they could ask you to remove it but if it's been there for more than 20 (I think) years then not even a court will make you remove it. How old are the houses? The wall could have been built by the original developer and that's why your wall is the same as the wall between N1 and N2. Does mean N1 owns both though.

Do your wankbadger neighbours and the people at N2 house have to drive across the grass verge to get to the road? That would imply that they are not "real" drives. How does wankbadger neighbour exit the grass verge when dark blue car is parked where it is in your diagram? Surely they are blocking wankbadger neighbour in anyway?

As a PP said the removal of the bricks from your wall is criminal damage and the disposal of them is theft.

I would take photos and speak to the council and ask them to allow you to put a couple of those enormous rocks on the verge to prevent parking. It must obscure your visibility of the road as it currently stands which is a safety issue.

[ThatUserNamesTakenTryAnother]

Hi
Only read your title so far, however, I wanted to just congratulate you on it 😂😂

[Poissonpoison]

Next time just put your hand on the horn till they come out and move...

[Weirdwonders]

She hides every time she sees you because she doesn’t want confrontation and she knows she’s out of order - she’s relying on you to be too polite and shy too do anything about it. Yet she’s damaged your wall and now she’s churning up the verge in front of your house? Confront her politely every time you see her! Don’t let her get away with it!

[mumwon]

did you say that some of the bricks on your wall haven't been replaced? hmm they need to be stacked up somewhere, with a few extra replacements? I was going to suggest white stones but she would probably still park on the road & make it awkward

[InACheeseAndPickle]

I love the revenge ideas! Hose or some rocks should work!

[NoProblem123]

Fuming on your behalf.
If you’re not at horse trials then don’t park on the grass !

A few big rocks painted white strategically placed would work. The bigger the better,

[JKScot4]

Where I have marked red, you could install a single bollard as a safety measure as you have been alarmed at people stepping out when you’re driving on/off your drive. Get onto your local council at 9am Monday to check this is allowed. You ARE a public safety minded person 😉

[IndefatigableMouse]

Kitchen company did eventually move van and I got to ballet just in time...

I feel sad about the car-boats in my diagram - will find better software next time!