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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbour claiming our driveway is his!

201 replies

Sofia109 · 22/04/2023 21:49

Hi. I am renting in a fully managed property by an Estate Agent and the neighbour has just knocked on my door and told me i am trespassing by parking on my driveway! He seems to think he owns the land, when his house is on the other side of our house and no where near our driveway. He then said he was going to cordon it off and block access within a week, which is what his solicitor has advised him to do. None of what he said made any sense and he was contradicting himself during the conversation about what land he actually owned. He also produced no deeds or letter from a solicitor as evidence of anything he was saying. I am at a loss as to what to do as most estate agents are pretty useless, even though i did suggest he contact ours, who have already provided their details to him in person and asked him to contact them for any matter relating to this - he said he's spent hundreds on solicitors and does not want to deal with estate agents.
The occupants at this house have been using that driveway for years without issue and i have been parking on it for 6 months, but all of a sudden its a problem? Why now? He then said it was still going through the courts, and admitted nothing had been finalised, but then said he owns the deeds so its up to our landlord to prove that he is wrong. Again this makes no sense to me, as surely if it is still going through the courts then no decision has been made, so the land can continue to be used in the same capacity has it has been.
Please can anyone make sense of this or give any legal advise on what he can or can't do? This situation is really stressing me out and there is not much space to park on the road as the neighbours are very territorial even though the spaces are not allocated.
Thank you!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 22/04/2023 22:28

"It is clearly marked on the deeds, but I am not willing to show you those deeds to quickly and simply prove it" = "My pants are on fire".

Littlebluebellwoods · 22/04/2023 22:30

Just get the deeds, irs 3 quid, you will know either way then.

DarkDarkNight · 22/04/2023 22:35

Pass it on to the EA managing the property that’s what they’re paid for. They should be contacting the Landlord who can act accordingly.

Treesoutsidemywindow · 22/04/2023 22:36

In your shoes OP I think you need to be tough, assuming that the drive is part of your rental agreement (you have checked, right?) then tell him that you've rented the property complete with the driveway, and if he has a problem with that he can take it up with the agents. If he bothers you with it again, just hit repeat, ie, 'I've told you that the drive is part of my rental agreement, if you have a problem with that, then contact the agent, but if you continue to harass me about this, then I shall have no qualms about calling the police, as I believe that you are trying to intimidate me!' Then if he approaches you again, contact the police, and tell them that he is harassing and intimidating you, and you're scared he might damage your car or something.

ChrisPPancake · 22/04/2023 22:38

If you're renting have you had any contact with the owner of the property or is it all through the agent? I guess it's possible that he owns the house and therefore the driveway 🤷

SeatonCarew · 22/04/2023 22:41

Gymnopedie · 22/04/2023 22:21

I agree about the bullying. I think it's not a coincidence that he's raised it late on Saturday night, the estate agents may not be open tomorrow so he thinks you're stuck until Monday causing you more stress.

A very good point. I speak from experience when I say the bullying solicitor's letter so often lands on the mat on a Saturday morning.

(We won).

(Repeatedly).

Minfilia · 22/04/2023 22:42

So he has six cars, nowhere to park them, and is trying to bully his neighbours into stealing their spaces.

Nice. And probably mentally ill

AppallinglyReheated · 22/04/2023 22:48

Land registry, print out copy of the deeds, you'll see he is wrong.

He knows he is, he thinks he can bully and bluster his way into getting what he wants, but clearly has zero idea how any of this actually works.

Tell him you'll only speak to him via his solicitor from now on, ask for their contact details, if they're even real, they will never have heard of him I am sure as no solicitor is advising what he has been told, nor is there any case in court - it all exists only in his head!

Peapodburgundybouquet · 22/04/2023 22:48

he is already using the middle space on our drive

Well put a stop to that for a start.

Contact your EA, and totally and utterly ignite him.

GladAllOver · 22/04/2023 22:55

You could resolve this in five minutes on line at the Land Registry. Any speculation is pointless.

DogInATent · 22/04/2023 22:56

Is he the full picnic?

PaigeMatthews · 22/04/2023 22:58

Littlebluebellwoods · 22/04/2023 22:30

Just get the deeds, irs 3 quid, you will know either way then.

This.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 22/04/2023 23:03

He knows he is, he thinks he can bully and bluster his way into getting what he wants, but clearly has zero idea how any of this actually works.

Yes, you can always tell the sort. The Land Registry will have made 'a mistake' and then the solicitors 'won't understand the historical agreement' and, and, and.... you'll end up finding that the only person who can be trusted to provide the accurate truth is him.... because he tells you so.

billy1966 · 22/04/2023 23:04

Treesoutsidemywindow · 22/04/2023 22:36

In your shoes OP I think you need to be tough, assuming that the drive is part of your rental agreement (you have checked, right?) then tell him that you've rented the property complete with the driveway, and if he has a problem with that he can take it up with the agents. If he bothers you with it again, just hit repeat, ie, 'I've told you that the drive is part of my rental agreement, if you have a problem with that, then contact the agent, but if you continue to harass me about this, then I shall have no qualms about calling the police, as I believe that you are trying to intimidate me!' Then if he approaches you again, contact the police, and tell them that he is harassing and intimidating you, and you're scared he might damage your car or something.

This.

Get a video bell asap to record everything.

I would email the EA that the neighbour is harassing you about parking.

Don't hesitate to ring the police and plead fear.

Tell him that your conversation is being recorded.

Bullying twat.

Schnooze · 22/04/2023 23:05

I’d be parking over as far as I can so that he can’t use a middle space anymore. CF indeed.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 22/04/2023 23:06

If you wanted to put the cat among the pigeons, you could always stage a 'serious injury' whilst passing over 'his' uneven drive surface (what with it being right next to your own house and all) - and then demand to know the details of his solicitor, as he has already confirmed that it is his land, and so obviously his liability to pay you considerable compensation!

Mojo777 · 22/04/2023 23:08

I really need a diagram to understand the logistics of this.. pleassse? 🙃

Willyoujustbequiet · 22/04/2023 23:14

Just pay £3 for the plan on the Land Registry site and check.

You could have done that in the time it took to post this thread.

PocketBattleship · 22/04/2023 23:16

Peapodburgundybouquet · 22/04/2023 22:48

he is already using the middle space on our drive

Well put a stop to that for a start.

Contact your EA, and totally and utterly ignite him.

I suspect that should have said "ignore him", but part of me really hopes not 😁

angelikacpickles · 22/04/2023 23:18

This is a thread that is calling out for a diagram.

Daffodilsandtuplips · 22/04/2023 23:19

Pixiedust1234 · 22/04/2023 22:02

Contact your landlord and the estate agents and tell them the neighbour is doing a land grab. Then leave it with them. Its not your battle but continue using the drive until either your landlord says stop or you have a judge stamped court paper saying stop. Tell neighbour to leave you alone otherwise you will contact the police regarding harassment.

What a horrible situation for you.

I was coming on to say exactly this.
Keep using the drive until he produces irrefutable proof he owns it.
I can’t see how he can own it if it’s the other side of his and your houses. I’m picturing it as two drives with two semi detached houses separating them, or a double width drive separating two houses?

Jellybebe · 22/04/2023 23:20

Diagram please

mommatoone · 22/04/2023 23:22

Id just call his bluff and act like you know where you stand with this. He sounds like a bully, ask him for a copy of the deeds which stipulates this and tell him you dont want to discuss it , but he wll need to put everything in written form. He will soon get pissed off😂

Daffodilsandtuplips · 22/04/2023 23:26

Were the previous occupants owners and you’re now renting the property?
He sounds like he thinks he can claim it as his because you’re renting. Ive come across this before.

LakeTiticaca · 22/04/2023 23:30

Get the copy of the deeds and if it transpires that he is talking out of his arse, pay him a visit and politely tell him to keep off your property, preferably bringing a couple of male relatives/friends along with you

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