Neighbour parking on and blocking my drive

[ParkingThreadPamela]

Moved into our house 4 years ago. The house is in a cul de sac. Driveway is behind the house and there is a grass verge for two cars at the front of the house. We have parked on this for almost all of the time we have lived here. Only using driveway when guests have visited. Can provide diagram of required.

As we weren't using driveway and neighbour shares the drive, we said to the neighbour behind that they could use it if they like. To say thank you, the lady brought a bottle of wine, a magazine for DD and possibly some chocolates round. I thought that was really sweet. Neighbours seem nice (wife lovely, husband might say hello if I do) and we say hello, nothing more.

They rarely parked on the drive, probably once or twice a month.

I have now started parking on the driveway as neighbours kid scratched my two month old car with bike (another neighbour, very very nice) and due to all the rain we have had, the grass verge is a mud pit that we are looking to dry out and then maybe tarmac.

Oddly, the neighbour has started parking on the driveway more and more since then. One day over the Christmas week, there was a LWB high roof van parked there overnight and a lot of the next day. Only assume it was something to do with them. Their guests park on there and sometimes I'll go out and come back to one of their vehicles will be in the drive. Sometimes they park over so that although I can fit on, I can't get out of my car comfortably and have to revert to the grass verge.

Anyway, tonight their guest has parked over my drive, on the road meaning they aren't parked on it but I can't get on either without blocking their part or risk getting blocked in if they do come home and park on their drive. They have also gone out so no one could move the car. I have popped a note through saying "please do not park your car over the drive and then go out. Thanks house number".

I cannot believe the liberty. Why have they done that?

Was I unreasonable to put a note through?
Should I leave one on the car too?
Should I tell them to not park there anymore and be considerate?

Feel silly even fucking asking BUT I did give them permission years ago. I just assumed they would stop when I'm using it all the time!

sounds like they think its their property now they've given you a bottle of wine

Given that you told them they could use the drive, it seems to me you'll have to say something & not just assume that they should see you're using it & stop using it themselves.

Pick a time when you're not cross & they haven't got visitors, & just explain why you need to use the drive & make it clear that they no longer have permission to use it. Phrase it nicely, as an everyday occurrence.

If you don't want to do it face to face, write it in a letter (& keep a signed copy).

And if they say you can't rescind permission, or now they've been using it they've got rights over it, I don't believe either of those is legally true - I hope someone can give the facts on this.

I'd say the gift's purchase has long since been used up on the amount of use they've had out of the OP's drive! May do well for goodwill to take a gift but I definitely wouldn't feel it never nor would I want to when they'd been so rude as to block it off and not move the car when requested.

Just go and TALK to them it's what we do here and it works very well, indeed a TALK is a 2 way communication works mucho better than a one way note:)

Could you make a short film please? Black and white would be fine. 😁

Oh Christ honestly just knock on. The neighbours here knock on if your car or friends is in the way of them sweeping the road in front of their house!

Diagram required!!

I think the note is a little passive aggressive, better to talk face-to-face.

It’s rude they have blocked the drive completely.

If you don’t want them to use it, speak to them and explain why. Ie. Damaged car.

Could you make a short film please? Black and white would be fine. 😁

Yes! I'm fine with b&w. Or Polaroid photos even.

@Tistheseason17 there is a diagram. Can you see it? It's probably not that clear.

DP went to bed at 9.30, so they may have. I also think they work odd hours. I will put my big girl trousers on and knock tomorrow. Calmly. I'm nervous already.

If they say they've got rights, I'll buy a banger and park it there all the time.

Put lockable bollards up

Nope, no diagram

I regret the note. I thought about putting a "x" to show I was nice but I was really pissed off. Passive aggression at its finest. It was a small note so they may not have seen it but I would have thought they would come and knock after seeing it. We are obv up.

Second attempt. Diagram.

No diagram showing 🤔

If the vehicle blocking your driveway is not belonging to the neighbours, call the police who can get it moved. I did this at a previous property as I said I had to go out on an emergency. Current issue aside, you are taking a risk allowing your neighbours to use your driveway. You get a vehicle discount on insurance when stating that you park your car in a private driveway, especially overnight. I know my car insurance is less because I declare this anyway. Secondly you are probably not insured for damages related to the neighbours car being parked on your driveway. On a standard policy, you might be able to make a claim if they caused damage to your property while there as guests. However, if they fall over on your drive or their car gets vandalised or otherwise damaged while parked there, you are not routinely covered for any claims they make. I add all sorts of extras to my policy like accidental damage, public liability insurance, legal cover etc. Since you are not financially benefiting from this arrangement, I would stop it immediately. Tell them you have taken advice and know you are not covered for matters arising with their vehicles on your driveway, so you cannot allow it anymore. Put this in writing if you have to, and if they persist then send them a solicitors letter. Years ago I owned a house at the bottom of a hill, and out the front there was a concrete post buried in a hedge. One night a drunk driver missed the bend and drove into my front garden at speed, and was stopped by the concrete post. Just as well, or else he would have taken out the lounge wall. Police were involved but at one point he was threatening a personal injury claim arising from alleged physical injuries linked to the concrete post. It had little merit, but it did make me think about upping insurance cover.

still.no diagram.

OP you need to do this nicely. You told them they could use the driveway, you've now changed your mind but not told them. So they don't know that you don't want them to park there anymore.

Speak.to them when they haven't got any visitors and explain the situation.

I can see the diagram.

OP, go round and talk with them with the assumption they will be reasonable. It might well be a straightforward and easy conversation.

And you might get another bottle of wine out of them to that you for the years of access to your driveway and to apologise for the latest cheekiness.

I'm not blocked on the drive, I'm blocked off so no need to request police. If I had parked on the drive, now that they are back I would be blocked in. The car blocking the driveway has not moved.

In the morning the car may be gone meaning I'll lose my bottle. If the husband answers I'll be more nervous, probably completely unnecessarily. It made sense to knock and ask them to move at the time.

I get that they aren't mind readers but they're probably not stupid either and can work it out. As they say, never assume.

I can't see the diagram when I read the thread on the web but weirdly it is visible on the app.

Good work, OP, I see what you mean. YANBU at all to want them to move, and not use your drive any more, but agree that you'll need to tell them 'officially' that things have changed now, because at the moment they don't know that.

I understand that you feel frustrated though. I would be too.

Are you sure the car is connected to their house?

Whether or not OP is using the driveway surely they should have the sense not to park over it and block it off for everyone

"V10" on your diagram really made me

@ffswhatnext reasonably sure. It's been on both our driveways and their grass verge. I think I've seen their daughter getting in and out months ago.

There is a house opposite them that has 100 cars for the 100 people that appear to live in it. I don't think it's to do with them tho. I thought maybe the LWB van was.

It's a really nice area but some odd goings on. One house appears to be a grow house but probably isn't. It's rarely got lights on and all thick curtains that never open. Once in a blue moon I see a person at the door. The gardens overgrow and then every few years get a huge chop. There was a van on the avenue that appeared to have people living/sleeping in it. I only know because over summer they had the back doors open and they had a raised mattress. It was back recently and woke us up trying to start it before the battery died from whatever appliances were running. Just a standard looking Renault master. He stays a few weeks and then goes for months. Odd.

An ambulance would never get in.

I posted the pic on the app so I wonder if that's why.

Why isn't the diagram showing? Although I do have an imagination!