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AIBU?

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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:
Original poster
time2tork · 02/01/2022 09:53

@HomeTheatreSystem

It is incredibly bizarre.

I thought it was just a standard "that's someone's driveway we can't park there"... that's how I've lived life anyway.

OP posts:
Greenqueen40 · 02/01/2022 09:54

Start asking for him to move the car at wildly unsociable hours, 5am, 1am etc, he will soon stop

PepeSilviaDoesNotExist · 02/01/2022 09:55

You’ve already told them you need ambulance access all the time and they have ignored you. They are doing this for their convenience, knowing its a pain to you.

Next time they park there you need to go round and tell them it has to stop.

godmum56 · 02/01/2022 09:57

its simple, you say that it seems that there has been a communication misunderstanding and you want to make clear that he is not to park there. Ever.

IncompleteSenten · 02/01/2022 09:58

You need to say to him please stop parking blocking my driveway. I want to be able to use it without having to come and ask you.

Silvershroud · 02/01/2022 09:58

@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.
I agree. If OP isn't actually using the driveway they are just being dog in the manger.
Mellowyellow222 · 02/01/2022 09:58

When I moved into my house the access lane had been used by a neighbour to park his van for years. He seemed to think this arrangement could continue when two new houses were built - we both owned the lane - I’ve had no access rights.

I was polite and friendly and kept asking him to move it - highlighting how inconvenient it was.

My neighbour then moved in - lost her rag with him and called him very name under the sun. She was spectacular- the van was never parked in our lane again.

It’s sad you sometimes have to be aggressive to get people to behave.

BruceAndNosh · 02/01/2022 09:59

You need to put your foot down before your baby arrives and you are schlepping down your road with a buggy, shopping and a baby in need of a nappy change

Mellowyellow222 · 02/01/2022 09:59

He had no access rights that should have been!

maudmoon · 02/01/2022 09:59

@Silvershroud they are using the driveway! It is their only drive!!! Have you read any of the OP's posts? Including the first one!?

IncompleteSenten · 02/01/2022 10:00

And see if the council will put lines across

Tbh I don't know why it's not part of putting a dropped kerb in. Drop the kerb, put double yellows the length of the kerb.

I would have thought councils would be jumping for joy at the thought of all the parking tickets they could give out to parking CFs 😁

IWentAwayIStayedAway · 02/01/2022 10:00

Sound your horn constantly. Dont even get out of car. You need to tell them its unacceptable or totally lose your rag.

godmum56 · 02/01/2022 10:01

@Silvershroud

"I agree. If OP isn't actually using the driveway they are just being dog in the manger."

and now we have two enablers......any advance on two?
Shall I come and use your bathroom because if you aren't using it you are being a dog in the manger? Sit in your garden?

OH PS OP, you don't need to know or understand why he's doing it. Doesn't matter.

IamGusFring · 02/01/2022 10:01

[quote maudmoon]@Silvershroud they are using the driveway! It is their only drive!!! Have you read any of the OP's posts? Including the first one!? [/quote]
I am guessing there are a few people on here who would do this kind of thing or they don't own any property so have no concept of how irritating this would be .

Mellowyellow222 · 02/01/2022 10:02

@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.
I am Confused - I thought this was OP’s new driveway - she uses it?
Anoisagusaris · 02/01/2022 10:03

@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.
Wtf? Your mother wasted police time because someone was on her dropped kerb for 2 seconds? It’s normal to drive up onto a dropped kerb and then along to the space after it to park.
Miracle29 · 02/01/2022 10:04

OP next time I would be blunt. Whether they are nice or not it doesn't give them the right to block your drive. Remind them it's your drive and they can't just park there whenever they want. You need the space when baby comes. I think they know they shouldn't be parking there but as you may have been laid back with them they think it's OK.

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/01/2022 10:06

He’s jealous you’ve got gates? People are funny fuckers like that.

When dh worked for a luxury car company we had a new car every 9-12 months, each time the neighbour over the road with a massive house bigger than ours would ignore dh for a month.

Tanfastic · 02/01/2022 10:06

@LonglegsMumtheBlacksmith

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.

Because some people will only take it from another man, unfortunately that's just the way it is.

Larchneedles · 02/01/2022 10:11

Nix2020 You haven't read the OP's posts properly.

As for the dog in a manger comment - must be to stir surely.
OP wants to come home and drive onto her own drive to park her car. Should be obvious.

IncompleteSenten · 02/01/2022 10:12

If she's not using it 😂

It's there in black and white that she is. Well. Black and green. Highlighted in green to make the OPs posts easy to identify.

She turned the old parking at the front into a garden and reinstated the original driveway at the back, adding new gates. The only time she doesn't is when he's parked there and she can't access it or she wants to park across it rather than on it. It's all right there. Confused

In the 'grand scheme of things' very few things actually matter. In reality, they matter.

user1493494961 · 02/01/2022 10:16

@ivegotamillionkids - I was going to say the same thing but it seems no one else is bothered!

Brigante9 · 02/01/2022 10:18

Tell him one last time not to park there and say to him that you shouldn’t have to ask, he must not park there again and you should not have to ask. Ask him why he keeps doing it when you asked him not to.

BoodleBug51 · 02/01/2022 10:19

You need a H bar (access protection marking) painting on the road, you'll have to pay the council to do it.

We installed a drop kerb at work...... what a fecking nightmare it's been because delivery drivers think it's a parking area. Our customers get regularly blocked in and it drives me mad. We've now applied for the H on the road. You apply to your local council and it's around £200 to £250.

You can also report someone blocking a dropped kerb to your local council. Send in an email with a photo every time he does it.

EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 02/01/2022 10:20

@CloseYourEyesAndSee

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.
I’m so glad it’s not just me who winced at ‘old hag’.
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