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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask new neighbours not to block our driveway (see Diagram!

208 replies

starrain · 15/01/2020 12:37

Hi all (please see my artistic diagram- im at work so no pic)

We have recently moved into a new build, the whole block of houses have just moved in. Our driveway is on a slight incline and at the bottom of it is a lowered kerb. Our neighbours have a house which has a long driveway where u have to park cars infront on each other. They knew this when they bought the house, many other houses on the development are made like this, and if it was going to be an issue for them they shouldnt have bought it

Now she keeps parking at the bottom of our drive half on the pavemement infront of their house, partially blocking our drive.
It s real nuisance trying to get in and out.

I have asked them once that can they move it as im struggling to get my car out, to which they replied well Steve is leaving in a bit so i dont wana block him in.
We have asked them twice now and they say its causing them a problem as one leaves after the other so they will be constantly moving cars, but i dont see why we should have the problem whilst they dont, its our house our drive and dropped kerb?!

Will speak to the customer care lady at the housing development, but i fear they will keep doing it. What can we do :((

To ask new neighbours not to block our driveway (see Diagram!
OP posts:
TorkTorkBam · 15/01/2020 12:56

No no, they don't get to make it your problem that they are blocked.

Every single time knock on the door "You are blocking us. You have to move your car." When they tell you their problems say "I'm sure you'll think of something. You are blocking us. You have to move your car."

Have a variety of phrases to put immediately before your mantra of "You are blocking us, move your car."

"yes, that does sound awkward."
"Oh dear"
"Poor you"
"I'm sure you'll think of something"
"That's a shame"
"I understand"
"That's not my problem"

Needbettername · 15/01/2020 12:57

Maybe you should contact developer and complain. Ask for large stones or simaler to be put on verge to block it or maybe do it yourself.

Continue to ask them to move their car every single time they do it. Point out it is not acceptable to block you in cause they have long drive. Not your problem!

gaffamate · 15/01/2020 12:57

Buy some cones, put them out in a line one night with a letter from the council on it about keeping the area clear.

In the morning to and question Steve about why there are cones there acting a bit annoyed so they won't suspect.

gaffamate · 15/01/2020 12:58

Or buy a very cheap old banger and reverse it into their car every morning

MummyFriend · 15/01/2020 13:00

Can you swap to a different house on the development? I hate to say it but from experience I'd say you're always going to have this problem. They might take notice of warnings in the short term but in the long term it's going to drive them nuts to keep moving their cars and they're going to go back to parking this way. It's their problem, they obviously didn't think it through before they bought the house, but clearly as far as they're concerned it isn't an issue. I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this, especially when you've only just moved in!

Original poster
starrain · 15/01/2020 13:00

I think in the covenants they are not meant to be parked on the pavement. and also no its not a place to park as its not a dropped kerb

I hav just spoken to the customer care manager who said hmm i dont think we can do anything about this as its a neighbourly dispute. But she will speak to someone and get back to me. I said can you speak to the neighbours too.

We have an old banger toyota which we were just using for bulding work until we get a new car. Might leave that parked there....

OP posts:
Original poster
starrain · 15/01/2020 13:00

thanks for the love on the diagram!

OP posts:
Damntheman · 15/01/2020 13:01

Park where they park so they can't! They clearly don't give a shit about arguing with you given their responses so why should you just roll over? Stand up for yourselves OP, otherwise this will never end!

Mumdiva99 · 15/01/2020 13:03

I would start going out and in on a regular basis every time they are parked there.......especially as they have space on their drive for 2 cars.

If they only had space on the drive for one car I would have more sympathy for them.

Original poster
starrain · 15/01/2020 13:04

@TorkTorkBam

Man i need to learn these phrases. I started off as being nice and friendly but i think it may get to the point of being more assertive and no nonsense.

To make it worse he told my husband when their 15 year old will start drving in a couple of years they will have the same issue.

Again not our problem!!

OP posts:
GabsAlot · 15/01/2020 13:04

Id also just park where they are blocking you in-they dont seem to want to resoolve it so take the iniitative get there first

custardbear · 15/01/2020 13:06

Is there parking further along g the road?

I'd be getting them out of their beds at 5am to move their car -every day

Cohle · 15/01/2020 13:06

Like others have suggested I would knock and ask them to move every time they do it.

They think parking to block you in is easier than blocking one of their own cars - if you make it inconvenient enough for them they'll probably stop.

If they complain about their situation I'd go for "I understand that, but unfortunately blocking one of our cars in isn't an acceptable solution. You'll have to find an alternative."

Original poster
starrain · 15/01/2020 13:06

problem is, we havent fully moved in yet as getting work done to the house.
Im going to go over with my husband and have it out with them. My husband is even nicer than me so il have to do all the talking:(

OP posts:
PrimalLass · 15/01/2020 13:08

Start parking your car there instead. On the road in front of your dropped kerb.

NuggetsAhoy · 15/01/2020 13:08

Go round. Every single time. You have to address this now.

They must understand. They are blocking your drive. Their parking issues are their problem not yours.

StatisticallyChallenged · 15/01/2020 13:08

I'd park your banger there, if possible far enough forward that you can get out but not so far that they can squeeze in behind it. Or just park your second car on the road in front of your drive, again taking their space.

Bootikin · 15/01/2020 13:08

Give the customer care manager a kick in the arse. It is NOT a neighbour dispute, the CF are breaking the rules of the covenant. This needs to be dealt with.

Don’t engage with the CF in terms of suggesting solutions to the issue - they can sort it themselves, they bought the house knowing it was like this, tough shit if they have to move a car.

You may also be able to get your local authority parking enforcement people to ticket them for blocking the pavement (we had this issue and it was only when people were fined by the LA that they stopped).

Good luck, these situations are really horrible, you have my sympathy.

ProfessorSlocombe · 15/01/2020 13:08

Before anything else, look very very carefully at your deeds and any covenants. It may be what you think is "yours" is actually shared.

TriangleBingoBongo · 15/01/2020 13:09

Park the Toyota there for sure.

vivacian · 15/01/2020 13:09

I would passive-aggressively and oh so apologetically knock on their door every. Single. Time. I needed my car. And sometimes when I didn’t.

NuggetsAhoy · 15/01/2020 13:10

We have an old banger toyota which we were just using for bulding work until we get a new car. Might leave that parked there....

Do that. They will then have to arrange themselves better.

Junie70 · 15/01/2020 13:10

You need to stop worrying about being friendly.

They are CFers and you don't want to be friends.

You just want to park your cars.

You could always use your old car and "accidentally" reverse into them.......... can guarantee they'd stop parking there if they think you are an awful driver!

Original poster
starrain · 15/01/2020 13:12

I have a feeling he is going to suggest that she will park right on the pavement, tyres upto the pavement. then realistically shes not blocking us much and we will have to manuevre more

OP posts:
Gillian1980 · 15/01/2020 13:13

Surely if the neighbour who gets home second knows that their other car will be needed first in the morning, they can just quickly swap the cats around when they get home? That’s what I would (and have) do.

It’s not hard for them! Stop car two, pull car one off the drive, put car two on drive then car one. All ready for the morning, no problem.

It wouldn’t bother me too much if it was just occasionally. But constantly doing it would drive me mad!