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.

This if they wanted a drive to park on included they should have checked before moving in. Not just assume they can because it's there.

Maybe get a pic outside and measure how close they are parking to your front door. They probably just don't understand the British rules of outside boundaries in a building that's split into flats.

I would set up a little table a d chairs with a few flower pots

A landlord wouldn't go out of they're way to do that. If the lady move's out other renter's might be put off the ground floor flat if they can't access the drive.

I understand you feeling that you shouldn't make a fuss since you don't have a car for the space. However, you are paying for it. If you had two bedrooms and only used one - would you feel obliged to share your spare one with a neighbour's larger family?

Get a parking pole lock installed on the parking bay. They are not expensive. Tell them you are installing it as it your land, and you are not insured for others to park there. Find out who owns the flat for a few quid via the Land Registry. Write to them (if its not your present neighbour) reminding them this is your land. Do not let this drag out.

Don't let this go on, OP. It will cause all sorts of issues with them claiming the space as theirs and if either of you moves, it will no longer be treated as 'your' space. You could do a polite and friendly note through the door as a step one. Step two, get some planters (or make your own out of pallets), make them as heavy as possible (fill a bag with postcrete and put in the bottom) and claim your space very definitively. Put a rotary washing line in a heavy planter too. You need to resolve this now, 99% of people say say so ;)

If they are out just put a note through - say the driveway out the front belong to number x - please do not park your car there as it is for the residents of this flat use and it is causing an inconvenience. Many thanks for your understanding.

I’d rephrase it and say on the note

dear number x

the driveway outside is for the sole use of number x please ensure you don’t park on it or block it and please let any visitor you have know. Thanks

Hope the letter makes a difference op but agree with PP get some planters or actual boundary markers out ASAP to make it clear. I think a private parking sign wouldn't go a miss too.

Put some planters on the drive.

Hopefully the LL will sort it out. It’s in his interests to do so.

Put some large, heavy planters on it so they can't get on!

I don't have a car, but part of my rent/service charges is for my parking space. So when anyone uses it, I make it clear it is not visitor parking. I am determined that no one feels they have a right to use my space.

I've been CC'd into an email from my landlord to the property manager asking for the issue to be addressed with the landlord(s) of the above flats.

I don't actually know what number their flat is as there's a communal door with stairs leading to 3 different flats. It shouldn't be an issue finding out though as the property manager will know who it is.

Landlord has also said he'll pop down and see what can be done so I'm able to "enjoy" the space more. I don't think a fence is possible but I'm sure he would be happy to install a post etc.

Huh?

That might be a reference to the suggestion of cementing planters in place.

Please don’t presume people can’t speak English just because you haven’t heard them doing so.

Please don’t presume it’s only neurodiverse people who find confrontation and difficult conversations unappealing.

Please just talk to your neighbours and ask them nicely whether they were aware it’s actually your space before you run to your landlord or property manager.

Ffs! What’s the point of you if you can’t actually tell another adult that they aren’t entitled to use your drive?

what are you hoping to gain from posting on mumsnet?

that the woman sits down, amazingly stumbles upon the threat, is emotionally developed enough to work out it’s a thread about her, questions her own behaviour and tells the not so pleasant bloke out there that perhaps he ought to move the car and stick to his own allocated spot?

of course if said woman HAD any degree of emotional intelligence at all, she’d not have assumed they could park there in the first place.

are you hoping one of us is going to pop round and tell him for you?

come on! You’re adult enough to live in your own home, you need to say that your drive is for your express use only and they need to move their car. Now. Please.

I can't believe so many people think the OP should spend money to prevent people from parking on her drive. The neighbour just needs to be told to stop.

OP - Pleased to see your landlord is getting this sorted for you.

The point is that she was advised to contact her landlord - which she has done, and her landlord is sorting it out for her.

www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/uninsured-vehicles#:~:text=You%20do%20not%20need%20to,called%20'continuous%20insurance%20enforcement'.

You do not need to insure your vehicle if it is kept off the road and declared as off the road (SORN).

I'm not presuming she can't speak English. I know the woman of the family can't speak English her husband/partner translates for her.

I'm not presuming that only neurodiverse people find confrontation difficult, merely making it clear that I am neurodiverse and find confrontation difficult.

I misread this as "my neighbour's CAT". That would be pretty unreasonable. Their car - no YANBU.

I would put a note through the door

I hope you are settling in to your new home.

in case you aren't aware, the drive where you park your people carrier is private property, it legally belongs to me as part of my flat. I'd appreciate if you can park it elsewhere as I like to use my drive for different purposes and can't do so because you are occupying it with your vehicle.

please can you move it from now on.

many thanks
@Parkingmoan1