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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:
NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 15/01/2020 13:47

Hate people like this!
It is not YOUR problem. Go knocking every time they do it, complain to estate management, don't let it become a given that they can park there.

notangelinajolie · 15/01/2020 13:48

Don't keep asking them not to park there, you will just sound whiny. Instead, make a point of knocking each and every time you go out or need to park on you drive. Ask nicely with a friendly smile on your face. It will have more impact and they will soon get fed up of having to go outside and move it.

Whatever you do, don't be arsey about it as that will give them ammunition to get arsey back and you may end up falling out. If this happens they will never move their car.

stophuggingme · 15/01/2020 13:53

Park one of your cars on their drive.
They will have to ask you to move it

Unless they are smart and just park one car towards the street end of their drive they will pretty sheepish start using their drive for both cars.

Or just say park so that they can’t get off their drive.

Or alternate until they get completely fed up
Or you could always nab their spot with whichever of yours cars is back first

You have to play these people at their own CF game

Original poster
starrain · 15/01/2020 13:56

Thanks guys u have made it even more clearer that actually they are acting like they are entilted. And actually not sorry at all, not once have they apologised

OP posts:
billy1966 · 15/01/2020 14:07

If you don't insist on this NOT being your problem. Then they will think this is ok.

You need to put on paper that this is not acceptable.
Take photos and attach them to the letter.
Send the letter to the management company and neighbours.

Check the position with the LA.
You need to be on top of this or the annoyance will be here to stay.

They think they can dismiss you and get away with it.

Do not get into a big conversation or argument with them.

"This is not our problem to solve"

Oh and they are not going to be your friends or good neighbours. Accept that now too.

Glittercandle · 15/01/2020 14:10

I agree with everyone saying that you shouldn’t park on the road. Instead just ask them to move when you need to get out - as frequently as possible even if you just drive around the block!

TheresTheFlyingFuckIDontGive · 15/01/2020 14:10

Not that's it for you to suggest a solution, but we used to have a long skinny drive and we just both got insured on both cars and put a child seat in each. Whoever leaves first gets the front car.

Of course, we always tried to make it so that the favourite car was parked in our favour, so we ended up selling the non-favourite car and now have two the same.

2020BetterBeBetter · 15/01/2020 14:12

If they won’t do anything and the housing company won’t, get a cease and desist letter from a solicitor. Ultimately if that doesn’t work you’ll probably end up either having to accept it, or moving house.

Lockshunkugel · 15/01/2020 14:16

I agree with pp who say you ask them to move every single time. It’s worth taking an extra trip or two at midnight or 6am for an ‘emergency’ to make your point.

wink1970 · 15/01/2020 14:19

You will have a 5-year covenant, use it to your advantage.

the builders will help, they don't want a new site looking scruffy whilst they are still trying to sell.

NB that covenant probably means you can't convert your garage either, or at least not 'outward-looking'.

PPopsicle · 15/01/2020 14:19

Suddenly find yourself going out at really really really ridiculously inconvenient times again, and then forget something from the shop, so have to go out again.

My neighbours have exactly this sort of setup, and we have never had an issue, I regularly see the husband swapping to cars around at nighttime so they are in order of who is going to leave in the morning

donquixotedelamancha · 15/01/2020 14:20

Ultimately if that doesn’t work you’ll probably end up either having to accept it, or moving house.

Nah. Keep asking nicely but firmly a few more times, then start parking across their drive. Just accepting it would be pathetic.

onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 15/01/2020 14:22

We have their problem - people working different hours and cars getting blocked in by other household members on our driveway. This is simply resolved by having a spare set of keys and swapping the cars around when one or the other leaves for work.

Car A off the drive - park on road, Car B off the drive - park on road, return Car A to the drive, lock it up and return key indoors. Drive Car B to work. Bit of a pain but only takes 5 mins and prevents falling out with our neighbours. Maybe you could suggest that to them.

Curiosity101 · 15/01/2020 14:23

Definitely speak to your housing company and see if they can sort it out. If not then the only things I can think of have already been suggested (asking them to move their car every time or parking in that spot yourself).

If it were me I'd see what the housing company have to say. If they are no help (and because you have already spoken to the neighbours), I'd just start parking in that spot rather than them parking there and see what they do. If they come around be honest and say you struggle to get out of the drive when they're parked there so you've had to move where you park so that your car is always accessible.

5zeds · 15/01/2020 14:33

Park protruding into their dropped curb and leaving a big space to get round into yours. When they ask you to move repeat the drivel back they gave you.

LordOfTheWhys · 15/01/2020 14:39

Presumably you don't the road so there's nothing you can do. It looks as though it was always going to be an issue because as a PP said, if there are visitors, it's the obvious place for them to park too.

If you park one of your cars part-way out of your drive (either moving into the space where your neighbour is parked in the diagram or pulling out on to the curve on the opposite side) does that leave enough room to manoeuvre so you're not blocked in?

Stifledlife · 15/01/2020 14:42

Big decorative rocks, strategically placed.

Lulualla · 15/01/2020 14:44

If the management team wont do anything about them parking on the pavement then it means they wont do anything when you park on the pavement.

Start parking the car which they block in on that part of the pavement instead. Tell them they've left you with no other option because if you park on your drive, they block you in and they have refused to stop.

Drabarni · 15/01/2020 14:44

Put up a fence, it's the only way to keep them on their side.
But keep knocking everytime they do it.
Sometimes, ask them to move it and then go back onto your drive. Grin

WaxOnFeckOff · 15/01/2020 14:44

My friend has this - her drive is the long narrow one - they just insure both cars for them both and just take whichever car is at the back. her DH works night shifts and it's a hit and a miss at to whether he is back before she leaves or not.

Dont allow then to get into the habit. it's their issue to sort.

Neighbours of ours have similar so one of them uses a visitors space when required.

Drabarni · 15/01/2020 14:46

There's no law says you can't park on a pavement as long as a pram and pedestrians can get past.

Lulualla · 15/01/2020 14:46

@Drabarni
Put up a fence where? In the middle of the street?

The neighbous are parking on the street infront of their drive, blocking them in. What's a fence going to do to fix that?

Lulualla · 15/01/2020 14:48

@Drabarni
There is a law against blocking a car on a drive. Whether you park parallel to the dropped kerb or face to face with it, you cant block a car in.
They are blocking a car in.

howabout · 15/01/2020 14:49

.... And this is why I am a thoroughly rude standoffish individual to all new neighbours. Any other approach just marks you out as a pushover ime.

Wouldn't even bother knocking their door just sit with my hand on the horn till they move their car. Wouldn't wait till I needed to use my car before telling them to move either.

I have a tandem drive. DH and I just do the hokey cokey. No need to impose on others at all.

Equanimitas · 15/01/2020 14:50

Of course it’s a neighbour dispute. What covenants? Have you seen them?

It's correct that it depends on the wording of the covenants. However, if the freeholders/developers have covenanted something along the lines of an agreement to give free unhindered access, and if house buyers have covenanted not to obstruct the roads and other people on the development, then it is very much the developers' concern and not a neighbour dispute.