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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to get neighbours to stop parking on my drive

176 replies

changednameforthiswon · 24/09/2023 20:41

I own the house and it has a driveway. There is a rental next to me. New people moved in maybe 2 or 3 months ago. Seems to be a mom and 4 of her male kids that look to be in their early 20s.

They have been repeatedly parking their cars on my driveway and they have been told multiple times to stop. They work on the cars in my driveway and I'm pretty certain my insurance wouldn't cover if they got injured doing that on my property.

Today I had it out with one of the adult males. Told him to get his car off my driveway. He just stood their and argued with me. Then the others came out and started arguing with me. 100% if I had been a man, they wouldn't have stood there and argued with me.

The mom finally came out and apologised for them and said to give them an hour to change the tyre and they'd move it.

The car is still there.

I did say I would have it towed or let the air out of their tyres. I guess they don't think I will.

Should I ring and have them towed now or ring and have them towed after they've gone to bed or just let the air out of their tyres or something else?

OP posts:
Throwncrumbs · 24/09/2023 20:43

Get it towed , call the police when they get argumentative, or aggressive!

Summerbay23 · 24/09/2023 20:45

Call the police, if they are on your property I imagine it’s trespassing and possession damage to property (if oil etc on drive).

Houseplantmad · 24/09/2023 20:45

Before you get it towed, write a note reiterating what you said to them and then put one on each window stuck to with Vaseline.

category12 · 24/09/2023 20:46

Contact their landlord/letting agent.

hotcandle · 24/09/2023 20:46

Get it towed. That sound settle this once and for all.

Aquamarine1029 · 24/09/2023 20:46

Why in the fuck have you not called the police? They are trespassing. Call the police and call for a tow truck to get their vehicles off of your property. It is absolute madness that you have allowed this to continue for so long.

smallshinybutton · 24/09/2023 20:47

Can you get one of those bollards you need a key for?

smallshinybutton · 24/09/2023 20:48

He just stood their and argued with me. Then the others came out and started arguing with me I find this sort of behaviour bizarre. What possible argument can they have had that they were justified! I'm so sorry OP. It's entitled dickhead behaviour.

BrawnWild · 24/09/2023 20:50

I would have phoned the police during the arguement and asked for assistance as I felt threatened.

I wouldnt pay to get it towed.

FloralDerangement · 24/09/2023 20:52

Get it towed
Contact the letting agents
Put up a fence or a penguin bollard to prevent them parking there in the future

irisretic · 24/09/2023 20:52

I would call the police, the anti social behaviour department at your council and their landlord. I would then get support from some burly male friends to go round and politely but firmly tell them to get their car off your drive and keep it off. Hopefully one of those things will work.

Berthatydfil · 24/09/2023 20:53

Im going to say it ….. lockable bollard/s

They are immense CFs .

How did they try to justify it?

londonrach · 24/09/2023 20:53

Report them to the police, get the car towed and put a removable barrier up. .I'd also inform the landlord.

FawltyTower · 24/09/2023 20:54

He just stood their and argued with me. Then the others came out and started arguing with me

But...about what? What could they possibly say?

Is there any ambiguity about the driveway? Is it shared and they're parking on your side?

MrTiddlesTheCat · 24/09/2023 20:54

Aquamarine1029 · 24/09/2023 20:46

Why in the fuck have you not called the police? They are trespassing. Call the police and call for a tow truck to get their vehicles off of your property. It is absolute madness that you have allowed this to continue for so long.

Trespassing is not a police matter. It's a civil one.

Needanewnamebeingwatched · 24/09/2023 20:54

It's going to be a civil matter, not really a police matter. However, I would speak with the police incase it escalates and they start getting aggressive.

Definitely tell them to move and get a bollards installed and speak to their landlord.

SleepyRich · 24/09/2023 20:54

Unfortunately trespass is not a criminal matter, it's perfectly legal to park on someone elses drive.
In order to tow I believe you'd need to have clear signage up warning about the possibility of being towed.

That said I'd be very tempted to do something otherwise, especially given their response to you!!!

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 24/09/2023 20:55

Are you in England? If so you can't get it towed without a court order - it's illegal.

I think you need to stop them getting on there in the first place. Get one of those fold down bollards or string a chain across with a padlock and install it once they bugger off.

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 24/09/2023 20:56

They’re on your property. I wouldn’t take too kindly to that.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 24/09/2023 20:57

Or do you know someone with those wheely jack things? Jack it up and wheel it off and park it on the road outside, then secure the driveway.

Beautiful3 · 24/09/2023 20:57

I'd get a penguin bollard fitted ASAP, even if the cars on it. They'll have to come see you to get their car off. Or you can just have it towed the same day the bollards fitted.

Freezingcoldinseptember · 24/09/2023 20:58

Next confrontation ring the police.

HewasH2O · 24/09/2023 20:59

Why has nobody asked for a diagram yet?

Can you block them in?

Deathbyfluffy · 24/09/2023 20:59

Park over the drive blocking them in, they'll ask you to move - the perfect time to have it out, illustrate how annoying it is and then refuse to move the car blocking them in until tomorrow.
If the police turn up, say you've had a drink so can't move it - but then explain the situation, how it's escalated and that you'll move in the morning.

We used to have similar with a shared driveway; when they missed a hospital appointment they'd been waiting months for it finally got the message across.
I didn't apologise, just said it's a situation of their own doing and I hope the wait isn't too long for the next appointment - they didn't do it again!

24HoursFromTulseHillEstate · 24/09/2023 21:00

It will cost you a load to get it towed off your drive. A tow company might not even agree to tie a car for which you can’t prove ownership.

The police will not be interested.

Ring their bell, demand they move the car and say if it happens once more you will complain to their landlord. Take pics of their cars on your property.