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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
maddening · 22/04/2023 23:51

Can you do a diagram?

AdoraBell · 23/04/2023 00:08

Definitely contact your landlord about this.

marmaladeone · 23/04/2023 01:37

I don't understand who he is using the middle of a driveway.

AGovernmentOfLawsAndNotMen · 23/04/2023 01:42

Log on to the Landregistry website
For £3 you can get a copy of the title plan
Another £3 gets you the deeds too.

( Obviously asking the estate agent who have rented to you would be easier, but personally I’d go straight to the facts on LR )

If he’s bought the land recently
or it’s not yet a registered piece of separate land
then it won’t be online

So he needs to show you evidence.

Jimmyneutronsforehead · 23/04/2023 02:14

I'm so nosey for a good parking thread, diagram please and let us know if you get the land registry info ☕

wombat1a · 23/04/2023 03:42

This is not your battle, it's the EA/Landlords one. Contact them (both if possible), check if the drive is included in your rental agreement. If it is then continue parking there. If neighbour complains about that tell him you are renting the drive from the owners and for him to take it up with them after your lease has ended.

Guavafish1 · 23/04/2023 04:01

He doesn't have a court order. If he starts building call the police to stop damage to your property. This can only ve resolve in court with an order.

Tell your estate agent asap.

Whodunitme · 23/04/2023 04:17

This reply has been deleted

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ApolloandDaphne · 23/04/2023 04:18

I reckon he is just a horrible bully. Get the deeds as PP have suggested and see where your boundary is. Then you can plan your next step.

Somersetgirl1 · 23/04/2023 04:54

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!

Ha ha, I like your thinking.......up the ante further, when you 'injuries' do not heal as expected, by getting some blokes dressed up in 'Silent Witness' attire to 'take samples of the land for suspected land contamination..........

Fraaahnces · 23/04/2023 05:06

Call the police and say that you are being intimidated and harassed by your neighbour.

lljkk · 23/04/2023 05:18

Diagram please, with neighbour's 6 cars on it ideally.

Fraaahnces · 23/04/2023 05:37

Also the usual get a ring doorbell to record his behaviour. What a moon. He’s not going to go away just because you want him to. He’s bonkers

EsmeSusanOgg · 23/04/2023 05:37

Comefromaway · 22/04/2023 21:52

Or you could pay the land registry fee and get a copy yourself.

This. It costs about £6 for the deeds and the map. And will be quicker than getting your estate agent/ landlord to do it.

Then, ask your estate agent to send a cease and desist letter to him. If he tries to block your driveway, you will not have use of an amenity you are paying for. Which means your rent should be reduced (quite substantially). Make this clear to the estate agent and they'll likely take speedier action.

Mummyoflittledragon · 23/04/2023 05:49

You definitely need to get the landlord, preferably via the estate agent on the case. He’s encroaching on your home by parking on the drive already. Now this. He is a bully, spoiling quiet enjoyment of your home.

I am a landlord and I’ve had issues a couple of times over parking. One time people were most insistent even when the agent showed them a copy of the deeds. I then wrote to them myself and the problem went away. Some people enjoy bullying tenants unfortunately.

@Whodunitme
We are supposed to query a thread with MNHQ, not put a message up questioning the authentication of a poster.

custardbear · 23/04/2023 05:55

Sounds bizarre! Definitely need a diagram, plus look up the deeds too

ImSweetEnoughDarlin · 23/04/2023 06:01

Stop him parking there now. Block it with plant pots or something. He might be going for precedent usage or whatever its called.

MRex · 23/04/2023 07:07

Continue as you are and say he needs to go through the landlord. It is up to your landlord to confirm the boundary of the property. If your landlord is wrong and it's his drive, then you will have to stop using it, but it should only take a day or two to work that out. Inform him next time that you now consider this harassment, will be keeping a lot and will contact police if it continues. As others said, it should be pretty clear on Land Registry if your landlord is slow to respond. Possibly his land has the extra middle section, so he can see on the deeds that his land stretches beyond his main drive and incorrectly thinks it must go across yours.

MRex · 23/04/2023 07:08

*keeping a LOG!

londonrach · 23/04/2023 07:09

Report this to estate agent and landlord...let them deal with it

RocketIceLollie · 23/04/2023 07:18

Sounds a bizarre claim. He really needs to show the legals to back up his proof, otherwise it's the responsibility of your landlord to provide you with proof to counter his claim.

EverythingAllatOnceAllTheTime · 23/04/2023 07:25

Speak to the managing agent in the first instance - that’s what they are paid for. Refer to your AST.

ItsAHardKn0ckLife1 · 23/04/2023 07:28

Yes we need a diagram please?

Beautiful3 · 23/04/2023 07:40

Get a search done on the land registry. Come back and update us. I do hope he's wrong.

rileynexttime · 23/04/2023 07:45

Why would it be going through the courts (whatever that means) if it's all on is deeds?