Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

C.F Neighbour?/parking.... aibu?

81 replies

Dunkling · 25/08/2021 14:21

I don't think iabu, but at the same time am questioning if I'm petty.

Our house shares a private drive with 2 others. This entire area is owned, not just a right of way, by all 3 houses, equal maintenance etc, and not split down the middle in ownership or anything.

The shared drive after a few metres splits to privately owned drives, side by side, with their garages for us and ok neighbours. It then continues in the opposite direction to house of the C.F's in my mind, whereupon it then enters into their privately owned drive area. This area is 2 parking spaces and a turning area, all within their own land, as without this turning area they would have to reverse all the way out, all along the drive, and down a hill before leaving the drive which is a total blind spot even going forwards. This is because the shared drive area is only one car width, so manouvering is not possible in any way for them. They also have their own car entrance directly from the street on another side of their garden.

Ourselves and ok neighbours are able to turn and manouvre using the shared driveway as our drives lead onto a bend, so providing a swing.

As is usual with this set up, no parking except for quick unloading is allowed as this leaves the drive completely blocked. So actually, ok neighbours are not that ok as they frequently park, let their friends park, have put a skip on the bend with no heads up, park overhanging into the shared area leaving it impossible to turn, wood delivery dumped. So pretty sh!tty neighbours actually!

But, the aibu. House 3, have built a decking /bbq/seating area filling their parking area. They have also extended the house into their turning area, and with an already virtually non existent garden, now have next to no space. They have also built a shed in the gate from the other side of the house, so that is totally blocked.

So, C.Fs have taken to parking on the shared drive outside their boundary as they have run out of space. This doesn't block us as it only leads to them, but due to the hill and length, drive in forwards. Then, they utilize our drive to turn around when leaving. They have also built a storage shed (garden equipment type size) on the shared drive alongside where they park. They are also planning, as their garden is now no longer able to house their car, to build a wall at the end of the drive with just a pedestrian access for them.

We have told them we are not in agreement as this is shared ownership with costs to all.

Day to day it doesn't affect us, but I can't help thinking... "CFs have bought a house with tiny garden made even tinier by more building so decided to remove their parking and turning, claiming the end of the shared land to use as their own personal parking, along with storage shed, and using our personal land to turn instead.

Are they CFs? Am I being petty and need to get a life? And if/when they build a wall making it a dead end, seeing as they park there, and as it will definitely not block any other cars, wibu to park there also on a 1st come basis to p!ss them off and reclaim what is also still ours, something they seem to have forgotten?

C.F Neighbour?/parking.... aibu?
OP posts:
myBumJuiceSmellsLikeRoses · 25/08/2021 14:36

Well they can build what they like on their own property. However, if they've built the shed on a shared drive you could insist it's removed.

Is there any way you can stop them turning on your drive?

It may seem a bit "petty" now, but how much more land will they claim? This could cause problems when any of the 3 of you try to sell, so it's in your interest too.

Can you seek legal advice (does your home insurance offer anything like that?, some do).

twelvefiftynine · 25/08/2021 14:38

Wow they're really taking over by stealth. What are the rules about ownership and maintenance? Surely they can't just chuck a shed there.

10/10 diagram

PinkyAndALurkyPerky · 25/08/2021 14:42

No, I don't think you are. I think you need to challenge this.

gabsdot45 · 25/08/2021 14:45

That is an amazing diagram.
I'd suggest that they buy the bit of the drive they need from you and the other neighbours

viques · 25/08/2021 14:45

The first thing you need to do is to penguin bollard your area they are
using to turn their cars around . Then you and not so nice but OK neighbour need to form an alliance and stop the wall. Thirdly you need to burn the shed down. Finally give yourself a gold star for an excellent diagram given without prompting.

I am thinking of setting up a Neighbours Mediation Service, no unreasonable situation refused.

WhoaBettyWhite · 25/08/2021 14:45

C'mon, you know the rules.... diagram required..!!!

KatherineOfGaunt · 25/08/2021 14:45

Yeah, I would get a lawyer to have a look or something. They can't lay claim to any part of the driveway that is owned by everyone, including putting stuff on it like a shed! You need to get this sorted sooner rather than later. And a penguin bollard for your drive!

WhoaBettyWhite · 25/08/2021 14:46

Oops, my bad Smile

HotPenguin · 25/08/2021 14:46

YANBU! Surely though they can't build a wall, how would a fire engine get on to the property? Or a truck if they ever wanted building work done? They sound bonkers. I would stop them turning on your drive for sure, or they will claim a right of access over it.

FreeBritnee · 25/08/2021 14:47

And this is why one stipulation of our house move is NO SHARED DRIVEWAYS. Honestly this scenario is completely notorious for this set up. YANBU but it’s what you signed up for sadly.

viques · 25/08/2021 14:48

Ps if that is your dog who I note is about the size of a family car, I would smear chicken livers on the wheels and wing mirrors of nasty neighbours cars parked on the road, and let the pup loose.

MyOtherProfile · 25/08/2021 14:49

@WhoaBettyWhite

C'mon, you know the rules.... diagram required..!!!
Op has done a superb diagram!

CF for sure. I would keep explaining to them that it's shared land not theirs.

Piffle11 · 25/08/2021 14:50

If you let them get away with it, if this is going to be a nightmare to sort out should you ever need to sell your property.

SisterBeaverhausen · 25/08/2021 14:52

Is that an accurate diagram of your dog? If so I'm going to need pictures.

Also yanbu. Unless you don't show me your dog.

WitchBaby · 25/08/2021 14:52

Yes it needs sorting asap before they take over the whole driveway, CFs.

Fabulous diagram 👏

bravotango · 25/08/2021 14:52

Came here to view/congratulate you on your 1st class diagram

AngelPrint · 25/08/2021 14:52

Based on your quite excellent diagram… I’d get together with OK ish neighbours and offer to sell the end section of the drive to the CF neighbours.

That land won’t affect you but can make some money and ensure that they understand it’s on condition that they don’t then park on the shared drive.

WitchBaby · 25/08/2021 14:52

@SisterBeaverhausen

Is that an accurate diagram of your dog? If so I'm going to need pictures.

Also yanbu. Unless you don't show me your dog.

Ha, I've just noticed the dog 😂

Waspsarearseholes · 25/08/2021 14:53

Wow, that diagram is one of the best!
They are definitely CFers and are probably banking on the boiling frog scenario, where they just take a little bit here and there until they've got themselves a nice plot of land. I agree with a PP suggesting you approach them about buying that bit of land from you and other neighbour. Just the suggestion of it will highlight their CFery at using the shared land for sheds, etc. Mention that their adjustments must make it very difficult for them to get in and out as there is nowhere for them to turn their cars round as they obviously can't use your or your neighbour's drive to do so. Get some advice from a solicitor first so you know you've got the law on your side.

arootintootingoodtime · 25/08/2021 14:54

Firstly, amazing diagram.

Secondly, I do think you do need to put your foot down now or they'll probably start even worse CF-ery. I'd definitely get a bollard for your private driveway too.

Still1nLove · 25/08/2021 14:55

Wow, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible. They cannot out a shed in the shared drive and definitely can’t build a wall. What would stop them claiming the land at a later date?

BlackShadowCat · 25/08/2021 14:57

It’s a land grab. You do need to challenge them using the shared driveway as their own personal land. How about inviting everyone over for drinks and reiterating that the deeds state clearly no parking in the shared driveway? I guess it won’t go down well. I’d definitely block off my parking so they can’t use it for turning though.

TheWoleb · 25/08/2021 14:57

So the shed is on the shared land, owned by you all?

That needs to go and the wall cannot be put up. It doesn't belong to them. But these disputes become very expensive very quickly so that's something you need to think about if you go the legal route.

You need to put bollards at the end of your driveway and see if you're okish neighbour will do the same so the 3rd neighbour cannot use your drives to turn.

Daleksatemyshed · 25/08/2021 14:57

I don't drive so parking is not a worry, but just wanted to say really nice diagram @Dunkling, love the little details. Watch out for the CF's, they seem to be taking the area over by stealth. Tine for a word with the Council and/or a bollard on your druve?

Daleksatemyshed · 25/08/2021 14:58

Sorry can't type, meant drive