Driveway

[Edamcheese]

Our neighbours of twelve years had their drive and pathway done ,two yrs ago. But they have now decided that because their bins have to be dragged up some steps on their property ,it is now inconvenient ,and are now using our driveway. They have never asked us if we mind,but it’s our private property . We have always been friends and they must assume we don’t mind.But it’s winding me up, but we don’t want a confrontation as this would finish our friendship,and why should we be made to feel that we are petty. We have given many hints ,that we have parked our cars in a way that it’s difficult for them to walk up our drive. But it’s inconvenient for us to keep moving our cars. She has told us that she choose to live there as there was no issues with shared driveways when she purchased her house,as she is adamant that it would not suit her but she is cheekily sharing our driveway, but we don’t our driveway used as a shared driveway either as we don’t want our cars damaged.

YANBU but we need a diagram!

Yabu if you won’t jyst say

stop storing your bins on out drive

end of

Is it a shared driveway or are they just using your driveway?

You need a diagram

I'm not sure this would bother me!

I am disappointed no diagram..

But it doesn't have to be an issue. Just a simple statement.

Why do you mind so much? It's not like they're going to wear it out. And why do you think they'll damage your cars?

No it’s not a shared driveway they are detached houses. .They have a large driveway for three cars ,which was created two yrs ago with a path with steps in. They have a lawn between their driveway and ours. They don’t like using the steps or
going over their lawn. They keep the bins in their side gate which is parallel to our drive.so they should use their own path to put out the bins ,nobody in our cul de sac have shared driveways. It all open plan but no room if we built an hedge as it’s a single drive. They have never used our drive before only since they had a new drive .But you can’t just take over someones else private property.

they have a huge driveway and when they use ours they have to pass our cars and we don’t want our car scratched accidentally it’s private property after all. It’s the principle of it. Maybe if they had asked if we would mind I might have been ok.

So when they put their bins out they wheel them up your drive? Technically you’re correct but I’m not sure I could be too bothered by it?

I can’t work out if they’re using your drive for their cars or their bins or to walk to and from their house. Or all three?

I voted yanbu but I thought you meant they were keeping their bins on your drive. Do you mean they are just moving their bins down your drive to put them out for the bin lorry and then using your drive to get them back up? If so and they are your friends I don't see the problem.

You need to tell them to stop. It's that simple!
If they don't then put in a fence or hedge. It's a good time to buy hedging plants as bare root right now. But do put in 'temporary' spikes and netting to stop the cheeky buggers trampling through the new plants.

I think this is a rich people's problem. Those of us without driveways and detached houses can't see why you'd care, given that they are your friends

You're being a bit precious IMO OP.
And I still don't understand why you're so worried about them scratching your cars.

We really need that diagramme.

They just use our drive to take the bins out.but they only need to go across their own lawn or up the steps, which we have to do ourselves so why can’t they .

It's the principle of the thing, and the lack of respect to even mention it. Surely a "hi there hope you don't mind us wheeling the bin out and back once a fortnight/month whatever using your drive, the steps on our side are a bugger etc."

But they didn't. I wouldn't have a problem either, but would be rightly pissed off at their assumption that it would be ok.

You could ask them not to. Or ask them to take yours out at the same time as a reward or something. Or you could advise them that they can actually buy, yes spend money lol, on a fold up ramp for bin day use.

So they take them down their own drive.
Leave them out.
Pull them up your drive
Store them on their drive/property.

If im right, i think you are overreacting. Once a week, your friend wheels a bin up your drive, i can't say i would get annoyed or be bothered at all to be honest.

YABU for not telling them to stop if that's what you want

Why shouldn’t I be worried about our cars being scratched as they go pretty close to them.Mine is twenty yrs old but I still wouldn’t appreciate it being scratched.

Jesus if all you have to worry about is your next door neighbour who you are friendly with walking up and down your drive once a week what a privileged life you must lead.

I'm not quite getting the lay out. A diagram would be very handy!

but YANBU to not want them dragging their bins past your cars.

you need to just go round and say "Hey neighbour, we've noticed you've started bringing your bins out over our driveway instead of yours. Could you not please? We don't want you pulling bins past our cars in case they're scratched but even when our cars aren't there it feels a bit uncomfortable you using our driveway."

YANBU obviously you can't just use someone else's property because it's more convenient.

Just ask them politely to stop. You say the friendship would end if you confront them. Really? They’re that sensitive?

Just tell them to stop. It's your driveway. They have their own way to get their bins out. They are being very rude. It's a slippery slope (not literally). Just wait until they're doing a big back garden patio and they start wheeling barrows of soil etc down your drive.

I've only got a narrow drive at this bungalow, and have to take my bin down the drive alongside my car. Twice - I know! - I've banged the wing mirror flat by mistake.

Knock at their door and say 'please stop taking your bins down our drive, I'm worried you might knock our car'. Don't stay for any further conversation, just state your case calmly and clearly.