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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Parking on my driveway?

93 replies

sierraveronica · 02/07/2021 20:36

I don’t currently live at my property - bought 3 months ago and was doing renovations.

Drove there last week and someone was parked on my driveway. Turns out to by my next door neighbour (they have no drive) as she likes parking there because my drive has no tree hanging over it so it’s less likely for a bird to poo on her car (the street is lined with trees).

Drove there today and a new person had decided to park there. No idea who.

Am I being unreasonable that I should be neighbourly and let people park there because the house is vacant? Because I’m getting pretty pissed off now. A driveway was high up on my needs list when buying the house as I couldn’t be bothered with the stress of finding a space every day, and now this seems worse.

OP posts:
Leftphalange · 02/07/2021 20:38

To be honest I'd let them while the house is vacant as it benefits you in that it appears lived in rather than sitting empty. However I would nip it in the bud as soon as you plan to move in.

VettiyaIruken · 02/07/2021 20:39

Can you get gates or put a note on the car?

Hopefully it's just because the house is empty and once you tell them to stop, they will.

TokenGinger · 02/07/2021 20:40

Whilst the house is empty, it really wouldn't bother me. It gives the illusion that somebody is home so reduces the likelihood of a burglary, and it doesn't inconvenience you whilst you're not there, and benefits somebody else.

In fact, I had this before I moved into my house. The next door neighbour and his wife both had cars but the type of driveway where one had to block the other in, so whilst my house was empty, one would park on my driveway.

eurochick · 02/07/2021 20:40

Put a chain or gates across the drive to stop it.

Imapotato · 02/07/2021 20:40

It wouldn’t worry me while the house was vacant. But obviously once you’re living there you’ll have to make it clear they cannot park ok your drive.

TokenGinger · 02/07/2021 20:40

Oh wait. I missed that a new person is parked there!

That would piss me off.

BarberQueue · 02/07/2021 20:40

Agree with PP. It's to your benefit whilst the property is empty. I'm sure once you've moved in they'll stop.

PinkCast · 02/07/2021 20:41

I'd put gates up asap

BasinHaircut · 02/07/2021 20:43

I’d make her start moving it when I arrive TBH, if it means that you can’t park on it.

I think they are taking the piss. Vacant or not you can’t just park on someone else’s drive!

gamerchick · 02/07/2021 20:43

People probably know it's empty. It'll change once you've moved in hopefully

MaMelon · 02/07/2021 20:43

That’s a bit cheeky - where do you park when you’re renovating it?

Original poster
sierraveronica · 02/07/2021 20:46

Yes sorry if I didn’t make it clear but at least 2 different people have been using it.

It has become frustrating when I’m driven out to move more items in and not been able to park at close to my front door.

I think because it’s something I would never do i find it extremely cheeky other people assume it’s ok to park on private property - without so much as checking by leaving a note.

OP posts:
bakingdemon · 02/07/2021 20:46

Don't the builders doing your renovations need to park there while they're doing the work? It would annoy me too but I suppose there's not much you can do about it until you move in. Then you really can go apeshit on anyone that dares park on your driveway.

Original poster
sierraveronica · 02/07/2021 20:47

@BasinHaircut

I’d make her start moving it when I arrive TBH, if it means that you can’t park on it.

I think they are taking the piss. Vacant or not you can’t just park on someone else’s drive!

Unfortunately it’s not just her though. I haven’t caught her doing it again but it was clear that she had been doing a few times before by what her partner said to me.
OP posts:
AnotherKrampus · 02/07/2021 20:57

Sorry to hear that you accidentally splashed paint over on whatever is on your drive but accidents can happen...

Hankunamatata · 02/07/2021 20:58

Mumsnet classic answer - penguin bollard Grin

girlmom21 · 02/07/2021 20:58

I'd find out who the second person is and just have the discussion with them that you don't mind them parking there when you're not around but when you are the driveway needs to be vacant.

paniniswapx3 · 02/07/2021 20:59

Can you not just block in whoever is parked there when you need to use the drive?

I wouldn't worry whilst the property is vacant but obviously when you move in, it's totally unacceptable.

newnortherner111 · 02/07/2021 21:00

Agreeing to let someone park there if they ask is one thing, just doing without asking is wrong.

Gardenwalldilema · 02/07/2021 21:05

Just block them in for now of you need access, I'm sure they'll stop when you move in.

MaMelon · 02/07/2021 21:27

I would just have a word with your NDN and say that now that you’re working on the house on a regular basis you need the driveway kept clear - and if she knows the other person can she please pass on the same message or tell you where they live and you can speak to them.

Really cheeky of them not to ask you, esp as they’ve seen you working on the house. You now own the whole package, not just the house!

Onairjunkie · 02/07/2021 21:33

Nah they can fuck off. They want a drive? Buy a house with a drive. I have no tolerance for entitled shit like this.

Onairjunkie · 02/07/2021 21:36

On a practical level, I’d block in and pop a firm but polite-ish note on the windscreen. It happens again I block them in, leave a sharp note and leave my car there for a few hours. Third time? I hire as many skips as I need to surround the car.

RogueMnerHidesUnderABigHat · 02/07/2021 21:43

When are you moving in?

I'm sure once your neighbours realize the driveway isn't available any more, they'll just stop

tallduckandhandsome · 02/07/2021 21:48

I’m not sure how to vote as it’s nor clear, but you’re right to be annoyed.

Put bin and recycling bins or other things in the middle of drive, that will deter them.