Not to let neighbours use parking space for dumping ground?

[mmmflakycrust81]

Neighbours from a street over are having work done and come round to knock to ask if they could use our parking space for dumping ground for building materials while they have an extension built.

We dont use the space as we dont drive, but I am worried about it taking longer than the two weeks they have said it would be needed for, and setting a precedent that it can be used because we do not have a car.

The space is behind our house backing onto the garden. I am worried about rubble, dust, rats and noise as well as constantly being overlooked by builders.

DH says we should let them as we arent using it and consider charging them a fee.

Well you shouldn't get rats if it's building materials and not food waste.

I would charge a fee personally.

Nah, it’ll become ‘their’ parking space. Skips, visitors, second car…

”They don’t mind us using it.”

It’ll turn into a whole thing.

There is only one answer....

No.

You don't need to apologise or explain.

The decent thing to do is let them use your space.

Be a good person.

As true as this may be you will come across as a little unpleasant tbh

Personally I'd say that's not possible as you have visitors who use it.

If they were pleasant and didnt seem grubby, I might let agree to letting them park their own vehicle in the space for two weeks so they can put the building materials in their own parking space. If that didn't work out I wouldn't feel uncomfortable simply saying no.

I would not agree to building materials being stored in my parking space. Just feels like it could end up making a mess or being a bother and I wouldnt want to get into a tangle with the neighbour over it.

Grabby, not grubby!

Maybe for a fee, for a set amount of time so if they go over it’s clear they will need to pay more, and that they can’t just use it again at other times thinking you don’t mind

This is a good idea
Tell them you don’t want them to put building materials there but they should feel free to park there if it’s empty while their own space is inaccessible.

This

I think Popaholic's idea is a good one. That way you dont have to worry about the mess or builders, and there is a time incentive for them to get their own space back, so it doesn't end up dragging on.

It’s for a couple of weeks and then they owe you a favour, just let them use it for free. You might need the favour returned

A word of warning as I once allowed my friendly neighbour to park on my driveway for a short term. Two months later I returned home to three cars crammed in onto it and yes it was my friendly neighbour... Their response when I asked what the hell was he doing was that I never used it and since he had had permission before he didn't see why it was a problem. I went a little mad on him and they were removed and nope he has never been back on it. Sometimes a nice gesture can be stretched to it's limit and the piss taking follows.

Rubble etc can take a very long time to get rid of - even after it's supposed to be cleared bits will likely remain. I'd go for the car only option if they really haven't got anywhere else to put the vehicle.

Yes this is a good idea. That way you can tell them they can park their car in your space on days that you won't have visitors using it.

Personally I think paying for its use for rubble is clearer and less open to mission creep than unpaid use for a car.

It's perfectly reasonable in that situation for you to insist on a written agreement with clear end point and a duty to completely clear the land.

I certainly wouldn't let random neighbours I don't know use it as a dumping ground without such an agreement.

My personal experience of this:

1. Building projects ALWAYS overrun

2. Builders are RARELY tidy nor considerate when storing supplies and OFTEN other rubbish is strewn in with it and this includes food waste, lunch leftovers etc - therefore your rat issue that you fear is likely

3. referring to point 2) above, there might be a risk of damage to your space/fencing/blocked driveway etc

4. you will have no control over when the rubbish will be cleared away and if it will ALL be cleared away entirely as at the end of a build, this is the last thing on the builders minds AND ESPECIALLY if it is out of sight, it will be forgotten about conveniently no doubt

5. there is no upside to you in allowing this - it will go awry and when it does there will be awkwardness between you and your neighbour at best/conflict at worst

6. just say no, you need the space for visitors.

(Their storage problem for their build is not your problem)

If they were pleasant and didnt seem grubby, I might let agree to letting them park their own vehicle in the space for two weeks so they can put the building materials in their own parking space. If that didn't work out I wouldn't feel uncomfortable simply saying no.

I agree with this. Builders always leave mess behind - screws, bits of one thing or another that’s been cut to size etc.

Much better to say the car can be parked there for two weeks, but that you’ll need to end the arrangement after two weeks as you like having the space for your own use.

This. Agree to a car, but not a skip.

I think they’re CFs, they are a street over and wanting to dump rubbish into your space and not their own.

It may well start as building waste but every fucker will start using it as a fly tip spot.

Just say no, they’re not even immediate neighbours, you don’t owe them a thing.

Agreed. Just say no.

I think I'd decline, I'd explain you've had this before and the project over ran and caused problems. Be nice but also clear. Do NOT have a skip, we had one left by a previous tenant - it was two months before collection.

It would be a no from me.

say yea and you risk your next thread along the lines of
did neighbour a favour when they had building works done. Now all times of the day/night their noisy bastard mates are using this space. My other neighbours are moaning at me cos it’s my space so they think the users are my mates.

If a child gets injured playing with the building materials (not unheard of), whose insurance will cover it?

This is a good point - insurance is always a good get out.