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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:
MajesticWhine · 02/07/2021 23:00

Note on the car windscreen?

Whitchurch · 02/07/2021 23:02

@beigebrownblue

I would put up a large sign along the following lines:

THIS IS MY SECOND HOME. I DONT LIVE HERE I LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

HOWEVER I SPENT MY EVENINGS WORRYING ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE USING MY PARKING SPACE

(OF A HOME I DON'T LIVE IN)

Good luck with the neighbours if you are in Wales. or Cornwall

This is my second home, it's empty so feel free to break in any time you like.
PinkPetalPrimula · 02/07/2021 23:10

@eurochick

Put a chain or gates across the drive to stop it.
This. If you move in or sell, it will be hell for you or the next person, with randoms parking on the drive. Block them in now, if you catch them
queennotififi · 02/07/2021 23:11

I wouldn't mind somebody doing this if they put a polite note through the door saying they hoped I didn't mind and giving their contact details.

If someone just did it, I'd probably leave a note on the car saying it has been reported as abandoned and will be towed away within 48 hours.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 02/07/2021 23:14

I allow my neighbours to use mine when I go on holiday etc. It benefits them and makes my property look occupied so it's a win win. They don't use it at any other time though, nor without permission. I'd start making it clear you will be moving in soon if you see any of them

ThickAndTired · 02/07/2021 23:31

Get bollards. leave them down until someone parks there, then put them up so they can't get off the drive, and leave.

QueenBee52 · 02/07/2021 23:49

@Hankunamatata

Mumsnet classic answer - penguin bollard Grin

YIP YIP YIP 🎉

BashfulClam · 03/07/2021 00:30

@moomin11did you manage to deter them?

KatherineOfGaunt · 03/07/2021 00:36

You need an Olaf, is what you need!

IHTC · 03/07/2021 01:09

This would drive me insane! So so cheeky and entitled. It's bad enough when people park across our drive let alone on the drive Angry I'm sorry your having this issue as I know first hand how bloody frustrating and consuming it can be.

I can't believe the lack of respect people seem to have for others on stuff like this.

Anyway, I would probably try to piss them off in anyway I could by leaving notes or blocking them in for a few days. Imagine that conversation when they have to call you/knock your door to ask you to move so they can exit YOUR drive Grin.

Redglitter · 03/07/2021 01:10

They'll probably stop when you move in. My neighbours house has been empty for a year. I've been using their driveway because it's so much closer to the house than mine 🙈

Someone got the keys a few weeks ago & is doing work to it. I haven't used it since they got the keys though.

80Days · 03/07/2021 01:35

I don’t think I’d be too bothered about this while I hadn’t moved in yet, but I would be concerned that they’ll continue doing it after the move.

avenueaspirr · 03/07/2021 01:40

@Redglitter

They'll probably stop when you move in. My neighbours house has been empty for a year. I've been using their driveway because it's so much closer to the house than mine 🙈

Someone got the keys a few weeks ago & is doing work to it. I haven't used it since they got the keys though.

Why do you assume this is ok? Did you even ask permission from the person who’s private property it is?
QueenBee52 · 03/07/2021 02:51

@KatherineOfGaunt

You need an Olaf, is what you need!

🤣😂🤣😂🎉

moomin11 · 03/07/2021 07:13

@BashfulClam nope, once when I arrived home and she was parked there she said oh you don't mind if I park here do you, its never for that long and saves us shuffling cars around on our drive. I said yeah I do mind actually, this is our property and that's yours. She still carried on doing it but less often, thankfully she's moved house now. So rude and entitled!

Redglitter · 03/07/2021 17:16

Why do you assume this is ok? Did you even ask permission from the person who’s private property it is

It was an empty council property. The previous tenant died and the keys were returned to the council last June. Noone so much as set foot in the house from June until April so yes to be honest I felt no guilt using the driveway, especially since I've been cutting their grass all that time

OnTheBoardwalk · 03/07/2021 17:24

@DixonD

I think you need to stop the parking now or it will carry on when you are living there, on occasions when the driveway is vacant. You don’t want this issue hanging over you when you move in.

You need to block anyone else parking with a bollard or similar.

This!

You need to stop the cheeky feckers now

My house and drive were empty for a few weeks before I moved in and it become visitor and neighbour parking

Even when it was clear I’d moved in people we’re still parking on it. I collared one neighbour and all I got was a shrug and 'habit'

There was also damage to the wall of the drive that wasn’t there when I viewed the property so must have been caused by one of the CFs

rwalker · 03/07/2021 17:27

A car on the drive makes the house look occupied I wouldn't say anything .
Obviously need to stop when you live there

Whatonearth07957 · 03/07/2021 17:29

You need one of those boltable upright bars. Easy to lay flat when you come to park. I live in city centre and neighbours have these. If there's a space you'll get cfs parking all the time.

thenewduchessofhastings · 03/07/2021 17:31

Even if you're currently not living there it's causing issues as went your visiting YOUR property there's someone parked there.

I'd nip this in the bud immediately because it'll be 'I hadn't realised you'd moved in yet','Oh I thought you were at work during the day' etc

Most of all,it's just not polite,a vacate property is not a free for all.

Angel2702 · 03/07/2021 17:35

I would only mention it when it is going to be occupied again. We always say to the neighbours to use our drive when we are away so the house doesn’t look empty.

avenueaspirr · 03/07/2021 17:40

@Angel2702

I would only mention it when it is going to be occupied again. We always say to the neighbours to use our drive when we are away so the house doesn’t look empty.
Difference is that you ask them to do that. They are parking there to help you out.
MarianneUnfaithful · 03/07/2021 17:56

Completely unreasonable for your tradespeople and you not to be able to use your drive when you arrive to do stuff.

I would say nicely to the one you spoke to that you do need it during your renovation, and put up a cheap chain or just put a road cone on the entrance.

I am sure they will stop once they realise it is in use.

mumwon · 03/07/2021 17:57

re mn advice - you should block their car in & claim you couldn't move it because you had a drink or 3 (so I have read on numerous threads!)

AngelDelightUk · 03/07/2021 17:57

I’d block the cars in. It’s just so entitled. What if your builder or removals or whoever came and couldn’t park there.

Id be putting up gates ASAP as it would really pee me off