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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour keeps parking across shared path and partly on my drive

54 replies

Cactuses3580 · 30/12/2022 15:06

Between my drive and my neighbours drive there is a shared path that leads up to a door on my property. The problem is one of my neighbour's visitors keeps parking on it and partly on my drive. See attached diagram. The shared drive is in the centre of the picture over the shared path and partly on my drive. Right next to their car is neighbours front door on the side. Me and neighbour have part ownership of the path.

Am I being unreasonable to expect them not to partly park my drive and across the shared path? I'm concerned that the path could end up getting damaged by them driving a car over it, only I feel petty because they say they are disabled, they can walk but slowly. They also do it when their drive is full of cars due to people visiting them.

I'd appreciate your thoughts, vote I'm being unreasonable if I'm being petty

Neighbour keeps parking across shared path and partly on my drive
OP posts:
SinnerBoy · 30/12/2022 15:07

YANBU.

He shouldn't be parking on your property.

SoupDragon · 30/12/2022 15:09

I'd put plant pots on my drive along the edge of the shared path. That will at least stop part of the problem.

I get that you're worried about damage to the path if it isn't meant to be driven over but, other than that, does it affect you? I try to take a deep breath before getting too worked up about stuff like this and think about how much it matters. Doesn't always work mind you!

Cherrysoup · 30/12/2022 15:09

Tell (don’t ask) him to park elsewhere. That’s pretty outrageous. Tell your neighbour you’re unhappy.

saraclara · 30/12/2022 15:11

Yep. Pots along the edge of the shared path on your side are the answer.

Notagainst · 30/12/2022 15:12

Pots seem like a good call. .I don't understand the diagram though.

Original poster
Cactuses3580 · 30/12/2022 15:14

This is what I mean I think it's ridiculous they park there, but I saw that they're doing that so the front door is right next to their disabled visitor's car.

@SoupDragon you make a good point I probably shouldn't get worked up by it.

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 30/12/2022 15:16

Another thinking pot plants

The only thing you'd need to check is if your side of the shared path is yours their side side theirs iyswim?

Because if it's all considered shared are they actually doing anything wrong - I get it's annoying though.

Vanillalime · 30/12/2022 15:18

Excellent diagram OP. I wouldn’t be happy either & I agree some well placed plant pots should do the trick.

Im curious where your front door is in this pic?

DreamingOfAGreenChristmas · 30/12/2022 15:20

It looks as if they are parking in front of your front door and in front of your house?

If this happens regularly I do not think you are being petty.

Your neighbours could park their own car on the road to allow their disabled visitors to park close to their front door.

WallaceinAnderland · 30/12/2022 15:23

This would annoy me too OP. I would put plant pots or something all down my side of the path.

Original poster
Cactuses3580 · 30/12/2022 15:28

@Vanillalime my front door is inbetween the two parked cars slightly towards the right behind neighbours parked car. It has a small row of steps in front of it to drive.

Path is shared to a side door on my property, but I see it as their car is still partially parked on my drive and this happens on average twice a week.

OP posts:
PicaK · 30/12/2022 15:31

How often do they visit? What time/how long for?
Is their disability life limiting?.
Are they blocking your door?
They're undoubtedly in the wrong but I'd be weighing up how much the inconvenience to you means to them all.
They've not been very nice about it - are they rude idiots or emotionally exhausted?
What part of it annoys you the most?

amicissimma · 30/12/2022 15:32

You could park your car right up to the edge of the path, but with the wheels just on your drive. From the diagram it looks as if there wouldn't be room for a car beside it.

TrentCrimm · 30/12/2022 15:35

I'd either plant pot it off so no one could do it, OR, in the interests of being neighbourly etc, tell them that their disabled visitor can park there as long as they ask you in advance

rwalker · 30/12/2022 15:36

Plant pots

putting a car on path will make it sink

TidyDancer · 30/12/2022 15:40

Yeah plant pots are the best idea to resolve this I think. Big heavy ones with a concrete base!

Excellent diagram btw!

Laiste · 30/12/2022 15:40

It's not just when they have visitors. OP says:

they say they are disabled, they can walk but slowly. They also do it when their drive is full of cars due to people visiting them.

Original poster
Cactuses3580 · 30/12/2022 15:42

@PicaK

How often do they visit? What time/how long for? - twice a week for a couple of hours on average.

Is their disability life limiting?. I know they have a disability which means their immune system doesn't work very well, so I stayed away from them during covid. They have issues walking though at times but also at times my home's blink camera has seen them walk fine from their car partially parked on my property.

Are they blocking your door? - it's not blocked, but their parking means I cannot park in front of it if I want to.

They're undoubtedly in the wrong but I'd be weighing up how much the inconvenience to you means to them all. - I'll consider this.

They've not been very nice about it - are they rude idiots or emotionally exhausted? - They just did it without asking me. The owner of the property (they own it) - I asked politely could you not park on my drive and they started shouting at me saying you don't own the path and I said your visitor is still parked on my drive and she continued to shout at me.

What part of it annoys you the most? The fact that I have a neighbours visitor parking on my property without asking me, potential damage to the path and also partially parking on my drive when they have a drive. Separate to all of this, in the summer I had one visitor also actually park behind my car in the summer, blocking my access to main road and I had to ask them to move it and they did quickly.

OP posts:
UnicornsHaveDadsToo · 30/12/2022 15:45

DON'T allow this to become the norm, otherwise it will continue with other, non-disabled visitors, too, and you'll never be able to stop it. Cars shouldn't be on the shared footpath from construction perspective anyway, it will not have been built to carry the weight of a car and will eventually sink and be damaged.

Check your title deeds (you can get copies from HM Land Registry for £3, and you can get your neighbour's as well as yours) to see the precise ownership and sharing arrangements. If you don't protect your property when others encroach on it, nobody will help you. If this arrangement continues for long enough (20 years), your neighbour can apply for it to become a permanent right.

Willowswood · 30/12/2022 15:47

Just start parking your car bang splat in the middle, so they have no option to park there.

Terven · 30/12/2022 16:30

Agree with others, park your car closer to the path to block them.

SinnerBoy · 30/12/2022 16:41

Yes, they'll soon get the message.

ShakespearesBlister · 30/12/2022 16:59

Bollards or a low wall along your edge of the shared path so they can't overhang your drive. Job done.

SquirrelRed · 30/12/2022 17:07

Agree with others, potted plants or I would park my car right along the side of the shared path so there is no room for the visitor's car

HauntedAbbey · 30/12/2022 17:10

I think your driveway is very dark of an evening. You therefore need to install some solar lights to assist with you putting the bins out etc. I say they'd look PERFECT on your property just alongside the shared path.

www.thesolarcentre.co.uk/products/Mini_London_Solar_Post_Lights_Set_Of_4_Anthracite_Edition-1133-7.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAtbqdBhDvARIsAGYnXBO20Ldzc5FuU3ZhZLVygkvibj8U5JjWsyFgBaDXV7VIeuTcKA_YR0waAu35EALw_wcB