Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To park on my drive out of pettiness?

227 replies

BadClown · 03/02/2023 21:51

Next door neighbour has recently started getting large amounts of parcels delivered. They have their own drive, and there’s loads of on street parking, but they’ve started parking on my drive to unload their van. I don’t usually park on my drive during the day, but it’s really bugging me that they haven’t asked, and keep parking on my drive, blocking my garage, without asking for permission. Last week I tried to pull onto the drive after the school run and they were there unloading the van. They smiled and said they’d only be a few more minutes, and then got back to work. It was obvious I wasn’t pleased, but I was blocking the road so had to drive around the block and by the time I returned they’d gone again. I’m not comfortable with confrontation, so I’ve started parking on my own drive, literally just to block them from doing it. Am I just being petty? Should I let them park there since I don’t really need to use it during the day?

OP posts:
Keepyourmummysboys · 04/02/2023 08:45

It amazes me how much people struggle in real life. Op you don’t like confrontation and want to ask people if it’s ok to park on your own drive. And to justify your own behaviour you are saying your neighbours shout at people who park on their own drive.?

OoooohMatron · 04/02/2023 08:48

I'd get bollards. Cheeky sods

CrapBucket · 04/02/2023 08:48

Park wherever is most convenient for you. If they are on your drive and want to be, block them in and then move when they ask, but slowly.

My neighbours and I have a whatsapp group where we happily lend each other our driveways (say if someone is having a tradespeople round in a van or whatever). Its a good system but all the people involved are nice which helps!

Gunpowder · 04/02/2023 08:52

I would definitely start parking on your own drive all the time - even if it’s slightly more inconvenient. Of course YANBU.

custardbear · 04/02/2023 08:57

Yep, park on your drive, and so it so they can't squeeze on if it's a long drive too

Wonnle · 04/02/2023 08:57

Post doesn't make any sense to me
Are they delivering their own parcels by unloading their van ?

OhClunge · 04/02/2023 08:57

Sit there indicating to pull into your drive until they move . I've done it before when someone blocked my drive. It held up the traffic behind me. They've not done it since
It was pure laziness on their part
Prats

Wonnle · 04/02/2023 08:59

You can let your driveway out as parking , maybe send them a false invoice for using it

ReneBumsWombats · 04/02/2023 09:18

I'm tempted to say you're unreasonable just because I can't believe you require permission to park on your own drive for any reason you choose.

I almost feel like you actually deserve to have these people using your property as an unloading bay if you can't answer this yourself.

CiderJolly · 04/02/2023 09:22

You are not being petty. They are taking the piss. From now on park on your drive.

Also, can you fit one of those little bollard things to stop them using your drive when you’re not in?

StillWantingADog · 04/02/2023 09:23

This is trespassing isn’t it?

remind them of this fact.

and park your car there all the time for now

maddy68 · 04/02/2023 09:23

I would politely say. "please don't use my drive again "

And park there myself. Why aren't you parking there anyway? You are part of the problem if you are parking in the road so there is nowhere to unload their parcels

Patineur · 04/02/2023 09:30

How could it possibly be unreasonable to park on your own property?

Have you worked out why they have suddenly started getting so many parcels? It does sound like they're running a business and your problems might well be solved by council action if they're breaching planning rules.

KangarooKenny · 04/02/2023 09:31

Take control of your drive now, I’ve seen far too many of these things escalate.

RealBecca · 04/02/2023 09:31

I think you're making it worse by parking on your drive out of spite. It's way more confrontational than having a quick word and saying either its fine on the odd occasion by prior arrangement or not at all.

RainyReadingDay · 04/02/2023 09:33

Of course you're not being petty. It's your driveway and not his.

Years ago I had a huge row with our old neighbour when he randomly decided to have his midlife crisis fancy motorbike serviced on our driveway. It ended with him telling me, childishly, that everyone hated me and he wanted me to die. Charming. Police were involved in a later incident, but that's not for here. So glad we managed to move away. He did similar things to other neighbours and the family who bought our house from us.

Mothership4two · 04/02/2023 09:33

Yes it would be petty if it's easier to park at the back ie if OP is making life more difficult for herself. However it would make a point. I can understand how annoying this must be. I would have said something immediately when this started happening and wouldn't give two hoots that they may react aggressively unless they have form for actual violence which is doubtful. The time that OP came back and they were on the drive would have been a perfect opportunity to tell them to stop for the completely reasonable reason that she doesn't to want to hang around waiting for her drive to be clear.

OP is also assuming they 'know' how she feels which may not be the case. They may feel that she's given tacit permission as she hasn't said anything different. People can have very different opinions on a situation especially when it benefits them.

Celinia · 04/02/2023 09:35

They’re out of order and haven’t bothered to ask if it’s ok. It’s your drive and you can park on it if you want. Have you considered fitting one or two folding bollards so they can’t use your drive?

ReneBumsWombats · 04/02/2023 09:36

RealBecca · 04/02/2023 09:31

I think you're making it worse by parking on your drive out of spite. It's way more confrontational than having a quick word and saying either its fine on the odd occasion by prior arrangement or not at all.

It's confrontational to park on your own driveway?

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 04/02/2023 09:36

How is parking on your OWN DRIVE being petty?

Grow up and talk to them. Do you want them to start storing parcels in your living room too?

PointersPlease · 04/02/2023 09:38

This is the one parking thread where we don't need a diagram! Just park on your own drive.

Twiglets1 · 04/02/2023 09:38

It is slightly petty but I would 100% do the same thing. They are cheeky fuckers.

Hoedowndom · 04/02/2023 09:41

I know exactly what it's like to have aggressive neighbours, so I understand why you'd want to avoid confrontation.
I would start parking on the drive all the time, and if they mention it I'd say that I had changed insurance and the policy now says it must always be on the drive.
No doubt they'll just start blocking the road to unload their pallets, but that's not your problem.

RealBecca · 04/02/2023 09:41

ReneBumsWombats · 04/02/2023 09:36

It's confrontational to park on your own driveway?

Show quote history

OP hates confrontation and is taking an action she wouldnt normally take because to make a point, so yes it is confrontational. It wouldnt be confrontational if she was parking there out of genuine convenience. hope that helps clarify.

FortheBeautyoftheEarth · 04/02/2023 09:45

Why don't you normally park on your drive?? For what reason? My neighbours opposite and to our left do this and it causes massive issues for us as we are the only ones using our own drive (cause that's what it's for?!) and means whenever people come over there is nowhere obvious for them to park.

It's not petty using your own drive, for goodness sake, that's what it's for!!! I'm not condoning what they've done, it's completely unreasonable to use it without asking. But I have a hunch that maybe if you start using your own drive, they'd turn around and say, Thanks for freeing up the road pace finally by using your own blooming drive!!!