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 can see both diagrams and the photo. Im looking forward to more as the drama continues, as I can’t catch up with neighbours as my son has discovered fifa .

Giving permission for use of your land is never a good idea. You havent rescinded the invitation so you will need to do that politely this morning.

I understood the diagram no problem. Ive viewed a handful of relatively new and absolutely new build properties this past year where the driveway is behind the garden and it has put me off, as you cannot see the car from the house.

Failing reasonableness, and dont assume that will be the case, you need a penguin.

I think it's because your drive is behind your house and located in a more traditional location in front of their house. If you rarely use your drive then I think it's only natural for them to see it as 'their' space or at least usable space for them. In my opinion you either need to tell them you're going to start using your drive everyday because of the mud being created out the front of your house and then at least you or DH park on your drive every day. Or you continue as is and keep having the frustration of not knowing if your drive is available or not. You can't get mad at them for blocking or parking on your drive if you've given them permission to do so. They wouldn't know if you planned to park there last night instead of where you usually park.

If you've gotten on well with them so far just go over today with DH and have a chat about how going forward you're going to start parking on your drive. They might kick up a fuss if they've been using it for 4 years and now suddenly the arrangement is changing, but I think it's better to sort this now rather than later. I recently bought a house and apparently the previous owner was letting someone use my drive and when I bought the house and moved in the person thought they could continue to use my drive even though I didn't know anything about the previous arrangement and had bought my house with a drive because I wanted to park in it. It has caused all sorts of problems between me and this other person (neighbour) which is the last thing I needed after buying a house.

Regarding the van there were a couple of threads on here last summer about people living in vans either in someone's drive or in a residential road.

As above. Just tell them that as your car got scratched when you parked at the front, you're going to use the drive from now on. They'd have to be totally unreasonable to not understand. They were fortunate to have the use of it while they did.

They rarely used it prior to me parking on it. I'd say now, once a week I can't park on it.

I am a bit nervous to go round to be honest. As a PP said, I have no reason to believe they will be unreasonable. They've always been nice. The onus is on me to say it nicely.

I'm going to say what a PP has said. "hi, I'm from number x. Just so you know, I'm going to be using my drive now as my car has been damaged and the mud pit looks awful." Or just wanted to talk about the note I posted through last night. Etc.

I'm nervous as to where it's going to go after that but realistically I can't see it going any other way than "ok, thanks for letting us know."

I didn't see any of those threads about people living in vans. It was summer that I first noticed it. They aren't hurting anybody and don't make noise apart from the van cranking up but it's weird.

I looked at the title deed the other day by chance. House isn't new build. It said something about 1985 and then the building co sold it in 1989.

Ps @CalleighDoodle it should put you off. It's just weird and although the walk is only 10 seconds or so, I often think how stupid it is to have done it. I always have to draw a diagram or go into right move when describing it in real life.

If we move again, it is essential the drive is big enough for two cars (this is 2 small hatch's at most) and it's in front of the house/to the side.

If they have their own drive isn't that enough?

I think you should have told them you needed to use your drive from now on due to your car being scratched and that the previous arrangement would have to end. That would probably have stopped this happening.

You do need to speak to them in person as notes often come across as stroppy even when not intended.

When you say that you now need to use your own drive, also make the point that they can no longer block it and for them to please let any visitors know that you will need access 24hrs/day.

I probably wouldn't even mention the note.

@ShoeSnore no, they have two cars and one of the cars seems to swap for a works van at times so drive comfortably fits one on.

They have their own mud pit but it's tiny. I have a massive dip that hides the bottom part of my tyre in the puddle it's created. I get so embarrassed about it as the previous owner had rocks there so people couldn't park and it looked beautiful. Now it looks like a front garden from a rough area attached to a nice house.

OP, it’s your drive. You have every right to use it and owe your neighbors nothing. If they are twats about it, then that’s on them. You’ve been very kind letting them use it until now.

Don't really have any helpful advice. But I have gained new knowledge as I have never heard the phrase " knock on ."

@Stillfunny what do you say?????

That van has a large solar panel on top to supply electricity, and what looks to be either a flue for a heating stove, or the vent for an extractor fan - definitely inhabited. Although if they're causing you no trouble I'd say live and let live. People doing that tend to move around and stay in various places rather than sticking to one spot.

Don't really have any helpful advice. But I have gained new knowledge as I have never heard the phrase "knock on."grin

In what context?

Get some of those orange traffic cones and put them out on your drive

Just not used here I guess .Not in UK.
Would probably say the whole phrase .. Knock on the door or Call to their door.

@Stillfunny it's used in parts of the midlands and the north, so definitely the UK.

Oh, unless you mean you're not in the UK!

Yep , I am not in UK ! But hope this grammatical interlude does not hijack the thread!

OP Any developments ?

Hmm normally I’d say YANBU but you changed the terms of the ‘deal’ without telling them!

Also - after seeing some new builds this year, I would never ever get a shared drive. It is physically impossible to put two cars next to each other and leave room for doors to be opened so passengers can get out!

@FiddlesticksAkimbo exactly. Live and let live. No issues from them although I don't imagine they have a toilet in there.

@Stillfunny people around here say something else but I can't remember what. DP and I sat knock on. We are midlands. Now I think we are east mids or anglia. They don't say knock a door run here. It's knock down ginger. Weirdos.

@Stronger2020 yes, i only have a one series but have to park right over so no passenger can get in without me pulling out first. DD sits behind me because of this. When I had a sportage I just couldn't fit it.

For what's its worth DP is not bothered at all. He says just park there when you can and the mud pit when you can't. Calmest person ever.

@Stillfunny no developments. Still out. Popped back to collect DP but as was running late I didn't knock on.

Did you manage to get round there in the end?

I thinking is fine to knock and say you are going to be using your drive from now on due to the mud pit/scratching so can they make sure they stop using it and don't block it.

Just got home and wanted to update you all immediately.

He was smoking at the door when I parked on the driveway. He moved forward to avoid his own mud pit not because of my note. He was lovely. The car is his daughters. I thought she lived there but obv not as car not there all the time. They went out and didn't notice she had parked there or something. Apologised and will look out. Massive van was their friends who from the sounds of it couldn't drive unexpectedly (''twas the season) and had to leave it.

Glad I spoke to him. He was really nice. Love this area as everyone is great. Why was I so scared Thanks for advising me.