To not want their car on my driveway?

[Parkingmoan1]

I live in a city in a ground floor flat, no garden but I have a driveway that comes with my flat.

I don't have a car so this Is why I don't know if I'm being unreasonable..

My doorway / driveway gets alot of direct sun so I like to dry my washing out there on racks when the weather is nice. I also like to sit out there on a chair with a cold drink and a book sometimes.

A few months ago a family moved into the flat above me and have taken to parking their big people carrier on my drive. They didn't ask my permission, just assumed they were entitled to because I don't have a car.

My frustration is when their car is there I can't put my washing out, it also blocks alot of the sun. They park it diagonally aswell which is a PITA for me getting my pram in and out.

They are out there at the minute cleaning and hoovering the car about 3ft away from my doorstep so I can't sit out and enjoy the sun / a bit of peace and quiet.

AIBU to be unhappy about them using my drive in this way? The poll results will determine what, if anything, I say to them.

[Parkingmoan1]

@Therealpink

Put up a sign saying ‘privately owned, no parking’. If they ignore that you’ll need to speak to them.

Do you own your flat or renting?

It's a private rent

[Aquamarine1029]

You should have said something the very first time, but you definitely need to address this now. You pay for that space, it's yours. Tell them nicely yet firmly not to park there, and don't enter into a discussion about it. It's not up for debate.

[GCHeretic]

Not unreasonable at all. I’d suggest just politely asking them not to do it, and then gettin an inexpensive folding bollard installed to stop it happening again.

They quite likely don’t réalisé that they shouldn’t do it, but it’s yours, and you should not feel bad about keeping it just for you.

[billy1966]

Why on earth are you putting up with this.

Tell them to move and if you get attitude, call 101 for advice.

They are ignoring you to intimidate you.

[girlmom21]

Is your landlord their landlord?

If you speak to them, don't call it a driveway, call it your garden so they don't argue about you not having a car.

[Plantstrees]

Make it look more like a garden, maybe put planters on the entrance to stop them using it. If they are not too heavy, you could move them if you have a visitor that needs to park.

[Snowflakes1122]

Thats so cheeky and very entitled of them. Of course you are not being unreasonable, it is still your parking space. What about when you want to have visitors over who do drive? They have no right taking it, and I would be wary (if you own the flat) that they will gain rights over the parking space if you allow it to continue.

[Mumsnut]

Get some pots and plant them up; turn it into a ‘proper’ garden. The pots will block the drive to any hopeful Parker, and make your space much prettier for hanging out in

[BMW6]

Tell them it's your drive and that you use it as a garden - and then install planted big tubs so they can't park on it.

[Parkingmoan1]

Thank you for the replies

I wasn't sure how people would see it given that I don't have a car myself, I thought perhaps some might think I'm being petty and entitled when I don't actually need it for its intended purposes.

I've just sent an email to my landlord, he isn't their landlord but has liased with the property manager a few times who oversees all of the flats.

[OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow]

Can I be the first to say
Penguin Bollards!

[Parkingmoan1]

Good idea about planters and flowers. I have a planter with some flowers in on my door step but could definitely expand and get some bigger ones for the drive way.

I'm not familiar with penguin bollards I'll have a look.

[custardbear]

Was about to say planters too, make it like your own patio area to enjoy. These entitled chancers need to FO as it's your space to enjoy however you like

[womaninatightspot]

I'd drop a note through to explain it's privately owned then block it. Large flowerpot/ couple of big rocks/ planter from somewhere else in the garden. Or even a chain and padlock across that you can unlock for guests/ deliveries.

[2bazookas]

YABU because you haven't politely told them its your space and they can't use it.

[JudithHarper]

Get a few heavy planters and put them at the end of your drive.

[Quia]

Make the driveway into part of your garden - if it's paved or tarmacked, ideally get that taken up so you can grass that area over. Alternatively go with the plant pots as suggested.

[ApolloandDaphne]

I agree that you need to either speak to them or make your space more like a little yard with planters so they cannot park there.

[nothingfound]

FFS just go out and make it clear to them that it's your drive.

[ColdCottage]

I agree with previous posters popping out and mentioning it's your private patio is a good idea however if the man makes you feel uncomfortable then no need to approach.

Just pop up a polite sign saying private property, no parking and put some planters out to make it clear.

Good luck.

[PepeSilviaDoesNotExist]

One of my friends had this issue and they put planters at the end of her drive and a seating area and made it into a patio. It’s lovely we had a bbq out there last weekend. It’s round the back of her flat so it feels like a natural space to have a patio.

[nothingfound]

This would have been so much easier if the first time they'd parked there you had just gone out and told them it's yours, move. Waved your arms, pointed, jumped up and down - whatever you needed to do to break the language barrier.

[Johnnysgirl]

Fence it off and use it for whatever you want. Put a deckchair out there!
Cheeky buggers.

[carefullycourageous]

You rent. Your landlord is the owner of the space. Pass the problem to your landlord - tell them these people are using the space without permission. The owner should enforce their ownership rights.

You can't attach anything permanent to your drive without your landlord's permission, but definitely get planters and treat it as your garden. Youa re paying for the space and it is yours under the terms of your tenancy agreement.

[Savingpeoplehuntingthings]

Yanbu, but yabu not to have spoken to them. They probably don't realise it's private.
It doesn't need to be awquard just go out and say hi, not sure if you know but this is my private driveway, please stop parking on it