Neighbour passing through my driveway to get on and off theirs

[parkingcars]

I bought my house October last year and had the driveway fixed a couple of months later. Recently, I’ve seen that my next door neighbours, who are not attached, pass through (couple of times a day) the upper half of my drive to access theirs. They run side by side with a fence (in red) on the boundary line, but it’s not a shared drive. Additionally, their garage was built up to the boundary line.

I only have the 1 car, but they have 2 - a van parked on the road and a car on the drive. They are unable to drive immediately on and off since the van slightly overhangs their drive. They’re unable to drive the van forward to create extra space because their neighbour parks his car close to it to avoid blocking his own drive, which has another car parked on it (also a 2 vehicle household)

I understand it’s not my neighbours fault / intention to cause any issues, however it is frustrating that they are using my drive, which will lead to faster wear and tear without any contribution to maintenance costs. Ultimately, I think it’s up to them and their neighbour to find a resolution instead of using my drive.

My drive extends along the full length of my house, and I typically park towards the end. However, I’ve considered parking at the top of my drive to prevent this issue from happening. My concern is that they might bump my car while moving in and out.

AIBU? Am I being petty? Diagram attached…

Can you extend the fence or would it really cause issues for you getting on or off?

if you can’t then I would park at that bit but take photos of the side of your car every time you leave it there just in case. Or can you get a camera that covers the driveway just in case?

Tbh it sounds like their van needs to be parked elsewhere but I’m guessing there isn’t anywhere close that would work for them unless their front garden was paved over to extend the drive.

Or is that something you could do then you could put a longer fence or some plant pots/whatever down the edge?

@Tarkan it wouldn’t make a difference to me as I reverse on anyway but they drive straight on most the time, hence why they cross over mine slighty. The fence technically belongs to them (on their property but right by the boundary line) so I don’t think I can touch it without permission. As far as I’m aware the property is also rented and I have no idea who the LL is.

@Tarkan and yes I will definitely take photos if I do park at the top of the drive moving forward. Thanks!

That shouldn’t prevent you from up putting your own fence though. Maybe a 1 metre high one.

But I’d just park at the top of the drive, as you suggest.

I really couldn’t get worked up about this

@parkingcars when you said that you've repaired your driveway, just curious, was the damage around the area where they drive over?

Sorry OP, but this is the definition of being petty. It doesn't really get pettier than this.

Why don't they park their van on their drive? It doesn't matter if it's a bit on the grass? Then their car o the street.

@medlobath yes the top half of my drive was repaired, including the bit they drive over.

If I was the neighbour I would definitely acknowledge what I was doing, and express gratitude - in person with you.

I think you need a video bell to record everything.
I think you need to look at putting something by the fence to extend it, like a plant with trellis so the gap is blocked.
I would not be happy with this either.
Very presumptuous.

Exactly. They could just move their own van and drive directly into their own drive, cheeky fuckers.

That’s cos it’s not your drive, it’s a stranger’s.

This is death by 1000 cuts. It may not bother intially but after months it will get to you. You are just going to have to park at the bottom of your drive until they get the message.

I'd just start parking at the bottom of your drive op.

If you want it to appear more 'genuine' (not that you should have to, but I would 😂) then start 'using' the top part of your drive for a few days, even if it looks a bit messy. Spread out all your garden stuff or dc outdoor toys or something, like you're having a sort out, meaning you must park at the end.

I wouldn't like this either. I wouldn't really be bothered about wear and tear but I have children and pets and I simply don't want to have random cars driving over my property regularly.

"The neighbour can remedy the partial blocking of their drive by... park[ing] the van on the drive and park[ing] the, presumably smaller car on the street"

This ^

I think you're being petty tbh.

I'd ignore for the sake of good neighbourly relations.

The OP has to pay money to repair her drive. They don't as it isn't a shared drive.

Them driving over it adds to the drive's wear and tear.

Anyway all the OP has to do is put an obstacle on her drive.

I live in an area where people who don't have a car at all or a car that doesn't fill their drive put planters in the space to block people driving over their drives.

We used to have a similar set up with the driveways side by side, but with a grass strip in the middle. The house next door had 3 cars parked on the driveway. They would use our driveway to get into the gaps if there was a car at the bottom of their driveway - so pretty much all our driveway. I can't say it ever bothered me.

It clearly bothers you though, so I'd probably just start parking at the end of your driveway so they can't do it. Then they'll have to find another solution.

If you deliberately make it awkward for the neighbours to park their van outside their own house then I wouldn't be surprised if they park it outside yours instead. Would you prefer that?

Perhaps you could speak to them along the lines of 'I can see it's difficult for you to get on to your drive without crossing mine but I'm not happy for that to continue now I've had mine repaired. Can we work out a solution that suits us both?'

Can you not put a double gate on?

You think you’ve got problems? Saw this on RM.

I think you are being petty.

Extend the fence with a trellis and put in a climber.

Alternatively, have some white posts sunk at the dividing line, or tree stumps, etc. Have a narrow bed, no more than 6 to 8 inches sunk and plant it with geraniums in summer, cyclamen and daffs for winter/spring.

Yes that’s petty too. It’s all so miserable and pagg agg. When everyone has car it makes
roads tight, sometimes people have to use the edge of your drive to turn around etc.

i Just don’t understand the misery of it as someone who owns a car, you know what it’s like. Why be nasty about it.