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

[Dunkling]

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?

Actually, looking at the diagram again is it just the shed that stops them turning? It needs to go either way but if that fixes the problem it needs to go even more urgently.

What do they do if your drive is full? Do they reverse the whole way?

Lovely diagram. I would get a solicitor to have a look. This may be covered on your home insurance. Good luck OP.

Can't remember all the questions so here goes...

Dogs name is don't be silly that would be so outing lol, but it does look like her, damn, him!

The wall will sit at the end of the shared bit edging their garden, so replacing their current vehicle gate. Shown on the diagram as open.

They already know the legal ownership as on their application they lied (oh yes!) that they had served us with the relevant certificate of shared ownership of some of the land involved.

We've seen the original planning documents and yes, they do remove permitted development rights, and also state that everyones spaces must only be used for parking vehicles to keep them off the road.

They never applied to change the parking (lawfulness planning application)

They drew the wall on the application, but made no reference to it I assume deeming it permitted development. We commented but it was considered not material but civil and disregarded.

I subsequently pointed out to planning the covenant. Nothing!

Yep, when our drives are full, they reverse the whole way. So dangerous.

The shed on the drive doesn't stop them turning. They've squeezed it in next to where they like to park.

Neighbours ok'ish would not be willing to draw the battle lines with us as due to kids ages and friendships made when newly moved in, they are rather buddy.

Yes, the liability! Our conveyance documents state that we all own the drive and are all liable for upkeep. So I'm guessing we now have 1/3rd of the bill for damaged tarmac caused by shed. Skips. Oh, and their "private but not actually" parking spot!

I have been so so tempted to also dump some storage on that area seeing as they think of it as fair game, to lay claim so to speak, but I would hate to lose the moral high ground.

I suppose if I got a penguin bollard but didn't fit it just sat him in situ, they would get the message, but only if MNers lol.

Cool name! Catchy

You definitely need to tackle it before it gets worse.

We have a similar issue on our 3 way shared driveway. However, our neighbours absolutely DO have the space in their garden and large driveway/massive garage to turn around, they just don't want to. They instead back into our gateway to turn around (several large vehicles and it happens multiple times a day. It's quite funny watching them realise we're in the garden as they're reversing towards our drive and instead trying to do an 8 point turn .

I think what pisses me off most is that they're knackering up the drive in front of my gate - which I'm paying to upkeep. Never mind the state of the shared driveway due to them flying up and down with their massive cars and vans.

Your neighbours are massively taking the piss by putting storage on the driveway. You absolutely should not have to pay to maintain the area they are (possibly) damaging. Whether you can get out of that I don't know as I haven't had to go through a driveway shared cost yet - although from the state of it, it's not far off

I I've on a similar shared driveway but I am lucky to have lovely reasonable neighbours.
It is possible that removing their parking spaces contravenes planning. I would check with council and they may be made to remove decking. We extended our house under permitted development, but we are not allowed to ever convert our garage and so reduce the allocated parking of the house.

Definitely get legal advice. You don't want your house being devalued by their actions.

We have the opposite yet similar problem. We're the end house, with no other access. The driveway is split but we have right of access over the sections owned by the others. Owner of middle house thinks he can use our section for turning (not necessary) and parking (more necessary but still not on). DP thinks we should let him, I think he's a CF who knows he is, and wish we could fence our land in.

Great diagram.

I'd put one of those metal lockable bollards on your drive.

Bit of a ball ache driving off, getting out and locking it up but it'll stop them using your space to turn, which is a piss take.

I can't believe they lied on the planning app as well, that's pretty shocking. I would agree, legal advice from a property lawyer and a stern letter sharpish. I think you'll have to go it alone as your ok-(not really)-ish neighbours aren't bothered. Good luck

They clearly think that the shared road area past your garages is really theirs since nobody else technically uses it for access. Another vote here for making them purchase it from you and OK-ish neighbours :)

I would be contacting a solicitor

That is insane! And the council did nothing when you pointed out that they lied on application??

Building anything on the shared area would definitely cause problems if you or OK ish neighbours wanted to sell. I think planning permission would be required for the wall, so ring the council.

We are lucky that what could be shared areas have been designated to individual properties with just a right of way over them. It's a pity that you don't have this sensible solution.

I'm just here to praise your diagram.

YANBU though. Lawyer might be a good idea.

@myBumJuiceSmellsLikeRoses

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).

This is good advice. I'd start by looking at your property deeds.

Take those fuckers down.

Excellent diagram.

Right, thank you you lovely lot.

This has put my mind at rest that they are indeed stealth stealing land grabbing CFs, and I will indeed start to take the fuckers down lol!

Yeah, actually pretty shocking that when I contacted the council, they did nothing (as far as I am aware so far... works still in action) and were happy for them to remove all parking, regardless of our input being deemed a civil case, that our objection to their marked new parking made it clear what they were proposing.

PissedOffNeighbour22
I do do similar and if I’m in the garden and here their approach I suddenly find myself very very busy on our drive, and it is rather funny to see the struggle. But makes it all the more annoying as that shows they know it is out of order.

Rather funny though was the night I was in our open garage, light off, up and over open, to quickly grab dog food, when huge engine noise and lights blinded me full on in the garage entrance. Thought my husband was home. Nope! Vicky Pollard had nothing on that death stare!

They are CFs, you are an artist!

I surprised they let them. I'm having an extension built and have to have extra parking added to our drive even though we only have one car. They called it future proofing.

So, it’s me. Dunkling . New username after I deleted my old account (major mental health crisis). Hunky and dory now.

Until, this early evening.

My car was parked in the entrance to the shed/they think it’s theirs/it’s not theirs, area. Hands up… I now and again do this in a PA reminder it does not belong to them solely.

Since last posting in this thread, I sent a text reminding them to clear their stuff, their shed, and why. Non commital response, excuses, but a vague answer it would be done by spring. It’s June… so I parked there this afternoon.

Knock on the door, neighbour asks me to move my car, I asked why. Neighbour asks again and that I can put my car back once she’s in. I said that was very kind of her 🤷‍♀️, and I’d do it in 5 minutes as I’m was busy cooking.I was given a look that intimated I had 3 heads. So I reiterated 5 minutes. I was then told it’s all about being a considerate neighbour! Lots of flabbergasted, “ I’m sorry, but WHAT!? “ Coming from me. But very proud for me…. No swearing 🤣

So for anyone that invested in this earlier, my car is still there. It will be way way more than 5 minutes. I shut the door, and I’m drinking wine.

Cheeky gits!

Are you leaving your car at the bottom of your drive to stop them using it?

And why aren’t bollards an option?

Good to hear from you again. Shame you have drunk wine, no way you can move your car now…….

Hope the dog is still with you.

They need to install one of those fancy car turntables on what's left of their plot. Or possibly at their end of the shared drive after they've bought it from you!

That diagram is a classic.

Sorry you have been unwell.

Yeah, fuck em! Keep drinking the wine!

They are CF's - and that diagram deserves and award