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!

I don't think I understand the diagram but that may be because of tiredness and wine. I demand to see versions 1 to 9 - for clarity 😆

If someone told me I could park on their drive I'd assume I could park on their drive. It's easy enough to say you need to use it now, I don't really understand why you haven't.

You need to go round tomorrow and tell them that as you need to use the drive yourself, it isn't convenient for them to use it any longer.

They have assumed that as you haven't said anything, it's fine to continue. They probably secretly know it isn't, but they'll keep doing it until you spell it out.

First of all, it's mumsnet LAW that you have to post a diagram. As PP said, I would also accept detailed photographs with mark-ups, a pano video and if you have one, drone ariel views would be helpful. Thanks for posting these on the computer as well as the app so we can all see them.

Now that's out of the way, without a diagram, I think PPs were right when they said you need go over there, with chocs/wine and nicely explain your car was snatched and permanently rescind your offer. And then you either need those bollards or you've got to stop parking in front on the verge, so they see you really meant it. Otherwise...

*scratched not snatched (although both work but they have eyes)

Orange that's unfair.

@OrangeLindt are you posting that on every live thread that you find inappropriate?

It's very sad. I hadn't heard. It's not really relevant tho is it...

The problem here is that you basically gave them the drive but now want it back and you are expecting them to just know this. They don’t. The last they heard from you was- it’s fine to park on the drive!
You have every right to your drive back but you need to tell them this clearly. They don’t know you are secretly seething about this as according to them, it was a done deal. You gave them the drive, they bought you wine as a thank you. You’re gonna have to speak with them face to face about this I’m afraid.

OrangeLindt
I suggest you get off MN tonight as it's all mundane, daily stuff that you are clearly not up to
Though how you can waste your time on the Internet when people are dying is beyond me

Orange

Come on, time and place. This isn't it.

OP yup I am afraid you will have to have the chat, maybe take some chocs and just explain that circumstances have changed and you'll be needing the drive full time again.

I've looked out my windows this morning and their two cars are there and guests car has moved. However, they have parked their second car over the drive now. Last night it was nose to nose with the guest car but I'm certain they have moved it forward once this car has gone.

So you told them they could use the drive but didn’t tell them to stop assuming they’d ‘take a hint’ because you started using it?

Definitely unreasonable. Go tell them.

Then just go over and politely explain you will be using your drive now so please can they keep access clear. You don’t really have any reason the believe they’ll be unreasonable about it.

In other news, the dodgy van is back.

I'll let you know what they say. I'll knock after we have been to DDs sport activity.

Can you access your side from their dropped kerb, or does the car obstruct both?

I wonder if they’d eventually get right of way rights? Put a stop to it, and that means speaking to them in a friendly but clear (and assertive) way.

You need to be clear and direct about this.

Just knock and say “just to let you know I am using my driveway regularly now so sorry, I need to withdraw the offer to let you use it”.

They can hardly complain, they have no ‘rights’, and being open is the friendly way to be.

Telling them they can use your drive and then bring p/a when they do, because you can’t communicate is unfair and will cause tension.

Just be nice and honest and clear.

You were silly to give them permission in the first place. You need to specifically withdraw permission as eventually they’ll be able to do if legally.

Is their part of the shared drive much smaller than your part? From your diagram V1.0 you share it equally?

You’ve probably created the situation by being kind and letting them use your drive. Now they think they can use it as their own. You’re going to need to go and speak to them and withdraw your offer. This will obviously sour relations.

I don’t think it was a good idea to give them permission in the first place if there was ever a chance you might want to use it again.

You have created this situation and are now unfairly annoyed that they don’t know (because you haven’t told them) that you want your drive back.

You’ve done the correct thing OP.

Have none of you got any imagination rather than insisting of a diagram

I think they have come to regard the drive as theirs and now are pissed off you’re using it with out telling (asking?) them so are blocking it deliberately.
You need to speak to them and tell them you need to use your drive and the circumstances have changed and they cannot use it any longer and please don’t prevent you from accessing it either.

Do they have their own drive-I can’t work it out?