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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why does neighbour keep blocking driveway?

141 replies

time2tork · 02/01/2022 08:31

We bought a new house a year ago. It's along a road with a few other houses and driveways but a couple of houses have been made into 4 flats.

We made a driveway at the back of our house and turned what was parking at the front into a garden, installed gates on driveway..

Our gates aren't automatic, so we sometimes park in front of them blocking our own driveway if we can't be bothered to swing them open.

A neighbour parked there once, we came home and couldn't get in so asked him politely to move.

Same neighbour has parked there when we needed access to it, again asked to move.

Same neighbour parked there and I mentioned I'm pregnant and ambulance access to our property is essential as I'm high risk pregnancy...

Same neighbour, parked there again, we also have builders in and out, carrying heavy things and they need the use the driveway.

He's the only neighbour who does it, what is the mental reasoning for it?

He and his wife are really nice people and
I genuinely like my neighbours.. but what is with this? they are the only ones who keep doing this? We've only been nice to them.

We paid a lot of money for our house and the luxury of having our own parking. Lots of tourists come and park around our houses, not even they park in front of our driveway and block us in..

OP posts:
BruceAndNosh · 02/01/2022 08:58

I suspect he thinks since he is happy to move if required, it means that YOU are happy to let him park there until you ask him to move.
Politely tell him you are tired of having to ask him to move and need him to stop parking there

Mypathtriedtokillme · 02/01/2022 09:01

Tell him you will have him towed if he parks in front if your drive blocking your gates again.
Then do it.

trumpisagit · 02/01/2022 09:02

You need to make it more difficult for him.
Years ago the son of our neighbour (and landlord) kept blocking us in, to make parking easier for him.
DH woke him at 4:30 a.m. to move his car (he could have taken my car, but did genuinely need to leave for work at this time).
He never parked there again.
Your neighbour is lazy and you need to up the ante.

ApolloandDaphne · 02/01/2022 09:05

@Nix2020

In the grand scheme of things does it matter? If your not using the space as a drive way because you've built a new one, what's the issue. If you've got builders in ok ask him to move. I honestly don't see the issue of parking spaces. Of you need to walk further to your home then walk.
They are using this space as a driveway. Why should the OP park further away and walk to her house when she has a driveway she can use? I honestly despair of people on MN sometimes!
PriamFarrl · 02/01/2022 09:06

@Nix2020

In the grand scheme of things does it matter? If your not using the space as a drive way because you've built a new one, what's the issue. If you've got builders in ok ask him to move. I honestly don't see the issue of parking spaces. Of you need to walk further to your home then walk.
He’s blocking the new driveway. Op is getting home and can’t park. It matters.
LostForIdeas · 02/01/2022 09:06

Send your DH and tell him to be to the point.
I suspect said neighbour won’t be doing it again….

Unfortunately some people don’t listen to women. Sad but true

KatherineJaneway · 02/01/2022 09:06

How close is another parking space from him?

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 02/01/2022 09:07

You don't want to be 'an old hag' by telling him to stop it?
Can you hear yourself?
Just go and tell him not to do it again.

LostForIdeas · 02/01/2022 09:08

@KatherineJaneway

How close is another parking space from him?
Does it matter? If someone is struggling to find a space to park, are the entitled to park in front of a dropped kerb and/or block someone’s driveway??
2kankhunt42 · 02/01/2022 09:09

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

EnjoyingTheSilence · 02/01/2022 09:11

When you ask him to move, do you also ask him not to park there? Yes it should be obvious but it isn’t to him so you need to spell it out for him

Tanfastic · 02/01/2022 09:15

You just need to be really assertive next time and let it be known you are pissed off. Ok he may be a nice man but he's obviously not that nice is he or just fucking stupid.

I'd be saying please move your car, I've asked you a thousand times now so please don't do it again I'm seriously getting annoyed about it now. Does your husband or partner tell him?

GoodnightGrandma · 02/01/2022 09:18

Priam Farrell - my DM did not call the police out, they came out because she asked them not to drive on the pavement. They took offence to this and contacted the local police.
They are mounting the pavement at her dropped curb and driving along to their house, which is 4 houses along.

maudmoon · 02/01/2022 09:19

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. We've removed this because it quotes a previously deleted comment.

LonglegsMumtheBlacksmith · 02/01/2022 09:20

What's with people suggesting that DH should speak to the neighbour? Like he will only listen to another man?!
OP I agree with others, next time you speak to him about this please be sure to say that he shouldn't park there again. Maybe refer to the fact that you get on well and you can't understand why this is a reoccurring issue but it is unacceptable and you would appreciate it if he stops. Also, put up a polite notice. IF he keeps doing it then keep a log and start putting your requests in writing just in case things escalate.

LostForIdeas · 02/01/2022 09:22

@LonglegsMumtheBlacksmith actually yes.
Some people are like this. They will NOT listen to a woman :(

Is it acceptable? Nope
Wouod it make the OP’s life easier if her DH was going? Maybe so why not seing that he is as affected as she is ?

lechatnoir · 02/01/2022 09:26

Next time he parks there I would go round at a really anti-social time of day and ask him to move his car immediately and very directly ask why he keeps parking there when it is quite clearly blocking your driveway. Time for polite requests is over as he is a cheeky entitled fucker doesn't think you're that bothered.

ivegotamillionkids · 02/01/2022 09:34

No one else concerned about the incorrect spelling of 'curb?'

KERB. It's a KERB!!!

As you were... Grin

Original poster
time2tork · 02/01/2022 09:38

@ivegotamillionkids

😂😂😂😂😂😂

OP posts:
IamGusFring · 02/01/2022 09:39

@Nix2020

In the grand scheme of things does it matter? If your not using the space as a drive way because you've built a new one, what's the issue. If you've got builders in ok ask him to move. I honestly don't see the issue of parking spaces. Of you need to walk further to your home then walk.
Don't be ridiculous ! It's her access to her property !
HavfrueDenizKisi · 02/01/2022 09:42

@GoodnightGrandma

I believe it’s not an offence to park across a dropped curb, it’s only an offence if the owner can’t get in/out. But I’m happy to be corrected. My DM had a problem with neighbours mounting the pavement at her dropped curb, then driving along to their house. Police came out but weren’t interested, had a very ‘live and let live’ attitude.
It is a parking offence actually.

Has been in London for ever and is now country wide.

It's irrelevant whether the driveway is in use or not. You can even be booked for parking slightly over the dropped kerb.

Now whether the police/traffic warden will be there at any time he has parked there is another thing.

OP you just have to tell him to stop doing it. Explain that it really is not appropriate for you to have to find him every time he has parked over your driveway and blocked your access.

Or option 2 - ask him to move it at incredibly inconvenient times for him eg 5.30 in the morning. Middle of the night. He will soon stop then! Grin

maddy68 · 02/01/2022 09:44

Park in your drive so it's visible that you need access call the police If you can't get in. Leave your gates open for ease of access

Guineapigssweak · 02/01/2022 09:47

Put some traffic cones In front of your drive. He will eventually get the message then.

HomeTheatreSystem · 02/01/2022 09:49

He sees nothing wrong in it, rationalizing to himself that you are happy to ask him to move as and when and in the interim he can enjoy the use of the space. He doesn't realise that he is being a very tiresome cheeky fucker.

godmum56 · 02/01/2022 09:52

@Nix2020

In the grand scheme of things does it matter? If your not using the space as a drive way because you've built a new one, what's the issue. If you've got builders in ok ask him to move. I honestly don't see the issue of parking spaces. Of you need to walk further to your home then walk.
and here we are, the first parking CF enabler of 2022