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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

A shared access one...

15 replies

kelly742 · 20/11/2023 12:42

I live in an end terrace. I own my driveway however 4 other houses have access up the driveway through a gate to the back of their gardens.

No issue and I get along with my neighbours well, I knew they had access when I bought the house of course.

One of the neighbours had been having building work done for the past 4 months (place has been gutted), so their builders have been coming up and down the drive continuously every day, as they are allowed to. I always say hello and I'm in no way trying to make things difficult for them.

My issue is they are leaving trails of dirt, dust and other bits up my drive from their boots and wheelbarrows I guess? It's like concrete dust or something? Even when it rains it hasn't got rid of all the dirt. I've tried sweeping but it doesn't come off.

I've asked neighbour to clean and he says yes but this was 2 months ago and it's all still there?

Today they are dragging those yellow tonne bags full of rubble across my patio and drive, which I think it's quite rude in a way to drag heavy things across?

My drive isn't in amazing condition (it's that imprinted concrete type thing), but it's still my property and I'm trying to take care of it?

Am I just being pedantic? I haven't said anything again about cleaning up after themselves but WIBU to? Or is this kind of thing just expected with shared access?

I've also had to pick up/sweep bits of debris off my driveway, like nails and bits of metal/wood. I've had two flat tyres since all this work started going on and I feel it may be related.

I just don't want to be "that" neighbour.

I'm going to try and attach some photos!

OP posts:

Original poster

kelly742 · 20/11/2023 12:42

Photo

OP posts:

44PumpLane · 20/11/2023 12:46

YANBU OP, they have a right if access not a right to damage willy nilly.

You may have more traction actually talking to the builder rather than your neighbour though (perhaps mention to the neighbour you'll be having a word with the builder), and let them know you will be expecting the damage to be rectified and that they need to put something down to protect your drive if they intend to continue to ruin it.

Original poster

kelly742 · 20/11/2023 12:47

I have more photos but for some reason it's not letting me attached, the one above is one of the better areas.

OP posts:

Notwhatyouwanttohear · 20/11/2023 12:49

I think that looks worse as the drive is dirty unless that is dried concrete they are leaving there

That would most likely come off with a pressure washer which they may do when the building work is finished?.

No harm in asking the neighbour this

Original poster

kelly742 · 20/11/2023 12:54

@Notwhatyouwanttohear I do pressure wash the drive at the beginning of summer usually and it comes up nicely, because of the damp weather we've had recently it's starting to look mucky again I agree.

I haven't tried pressure washing it because I'm pregnant and I'm not that well. I've tried sweeping it when it's wet with an outdoor brush and it doesn't come off, it's always there.

I get what you're saying that maybe they'll clean it off at the end of the building work, but it's been going on 4 months and I don't think the building work is finishing any time soon.

Am I supposed to just look at it like that until they are done? I'm not sure what the etiquette is with these things?

It goes all the wall up the drive and across my patio to the gate. My kitchen and dining room windows face this so it's not the nicest to look at.

OP posts:

Ktime · 20/11/2023 13:03

They need to keep it clean. Speak to the owners, they should be directing their builders.

Original poster

kelly742 · 20/11/2023 16:13

I've asked my neighbour again this afternoon about cleaning it and he said "I've swept it twice today" and shrugged.

This is what it looks like now.

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margotrose · 20/11/2023 16:16

I don't think there's much point in them cleaning it only for it to get filthy again the next day. I understand it's your property but it's not really damaged, just mucky, which would surely happen in winter anyway?

I'm sure they'll clean it up once they're done.

MikeRafone · 20/11/2023 16:17

Tbh it looks like the entire drive could do with a wash/clean. When was the last time you had the drive professional cleaned and when was the last time you had the drive sealed?

wokbun · 20/11/2023 16:18

Ask them to hose it down at the end of every 2 weeks?

Keepinmovin · 20/11/2023 16:19

V hard to say as we don't know what it was like before. I think you cam make a suggestion of a proper pressure wash every xx weeks and also make the point about debris and nails.

caramac04 · 20/11/2023 16:23

It should be swept daily and washed down at end of work on Fridays.

Original poster

kelly742 · 20/11/2023 16:28

I pressure washed it all down at the start of summer, it does come up nicely. Drive does need resealing tbh as well but it's not in my budget right now.

It's the white trail I'm talking about, not the overall condition of my drive. The white trail seems very obvious to me? It doesn't come off with a sweep. I think it's cement residue.

I get what you are all saying that it would just get filthy every day if they are walking through.

I just wouldn't dream of leaving such a mess over someone else's property, I'd feel awful.

Just because my drive isn't in pristine condition doesn't mean it's okay surely?

OP posts:

CaroleSinger · 20/11/2023 16:31

The whole driveway is really dirty. I wouldn't be too worried until the work is finished. There is only going to be more mess bade every day so it's a but of a waste of time for them to keep cleaning it every day. Unfortunately this is one of the downsides when other people have a right of access. They need to be able to do the work somehow. You can't honestly have thought people with a right of access were only going to walk up it occasionally. Maybe ask them to put some sort of membrane down.

Original poster

kelly742 · 20/11/2023 17:16

@CaroleSinger I know it's "dirty". It's old, it needs probably professional cleaning and resealing, but I'm a single parent and I can't afford that, not everyone can.

All I am able to do is pressure wash it at the moment.

My thinking is that my friends invite me to their houses and they all have different standards of cleanliness, if someone's place isn't up to my standards or isn't very clean, it doesn't mean it's okay for me to just add extra mess to it or not clean up after myself? I'd still clean up after myself, and leave things as I found them.

I'm in no way trying to stop anyone doing any work or trying to be "that neighbour". The work is 4 doors down so I hear nothing, all I get is the workers walking through. I work full-time so I'm not home anyway most of the time, even if I was, they are allowed to walk through!

The part pictured is actually over my patio (drive joins up).

The work has been going on for 4 months and the only time they've swept it is today, and one other time.

I think maybe it wouldn't have bothered me so much if I could have seen they were treating my property a bit more respectfully, the example of asking them to hose it down on a Friday before leaving is a good one, so I think ask them to do that.

Thanks all for the advice, I definitely don't want to fall out with my neighbours which is why I asked :)

OP posts:

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