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…

What would wind me up is that they haven’t got the manners to ask you if it’s okay, but as annoying as it is, this could really escalate into a horrible situation, so I would probably let sleeping dogs lie.

Bollards and chain all the way down the driveway which takes up minor space and that will improve your property and stop them using it. No discussions required, if they park their van across your drive you call the police. Good luck

I imagine the place the 2 drives meet is a weak point. Which is why is needed to be repaired as a van has been driving over it repeatedly.
OP is paying out for the way wants to park.

The first thing I would have done when I moved in was put a fence all the way along. If you can afford it I still would.

our house is similar and when we moved in ND wanted to remove the fence so they could park their enormous car more easily. Our car wouldn’t have fit as well. We said no. They were pissy about it for quite a while.

They won’t park it across her drive though, they’ll park it the other side so her window overlooks it. Not out of spite, but there is nowhere else for them to put it.

I had a neighbour doing this. They would park a car in front of theirs and use my parking space to get the back car out. I solved it by purchasing a lockable post. When I wasn't using the space I'd put the post up and that soon stopped them as they would have hit their car on post. It's just rude. They need to organise their vehicles better.

Good! Did they ever say anything to you?

This. Plant pots down the middle.

Yes you’re being petty. You will be a happier person if you choose to enjoy making your neighbours life easier. You might need a favour from them one day, after all. Enjoy the sunshine and quit worrying about this, it’s much better fif your well being

OP has already said there isn’t enough space for plant pots as the driveway is narrow.

It isn’t being petty. The neighbours are causing wear and tear to her driveway which the OP will ultimately have to bear the cost of.

It genuinely wouldn't bother me. Driveways last years and years, they are built for driving on. I think it's petty really to be bothered by something so trivial. But I know people do really care about this type of thing, children walking on their garden walls is another one that winds people up that I couldn't get bothered about. Life is too short. I know there'll be loads of replies citing property rights and cheeky buggers and so on. I still feel it's not worth getting wound up about something so minor.

It really is the prevailing view - most posters seem to think OP 'petty' and would be happy for neighbours to use their property (but God forbid a tradesman should use a toilet, however fleetingly)

TBF - most posts on Mumsnet probably are 'first world problems' (a dismissive term). But then we live in the first world

Something like this may help

They never said a word. I imagine it massively inconvenienced them.

I have a similar issue with neighbours who have 2 cars while I only have 1. They drive or reverse onto my driveway to get passed their second car numerous times a day. A bit of the kerb that separates our driveways has broken. They also walk on my driveway because they park their cars closer to me than to their own house and when they get work done at their house or garden, which they have done recently, they tramp mud the full length of my driveway. When they had a trailer load of stones delivered some of them migrated onto my driveway, and when they powerhosed I found 8 stone chips on the side of my car as a result of the force along with blades of grass. So this is not a petty concern in my opinion. This evening I had to check there was enough space for him to manoeuvre his car without hitting mine. I could have moved mine so he couldn't use my drive, but I'm afraid to start a war between us. I already asked them not to use my driveway when I first discovered it was happening and they said they would desist from doing so, but haven't. The only solution is to put up a barrier such as a fence.

As mentioned above, allowing others to use your area does tend to creep into a sense of entitlement on their part, possibly even become a legal right of way for them in the future. I had this when the house I bought was having its back yard used for neighbour's parking while the house stood empty. The neighbour TOOK OFFENCE when asked not to park there. I think the best way forward is to point out the driveway wear problem to the neighbour, and ask them if they would agree to share repair costs if needed (get the agreement in writing). Diplomatic skills (which I don't have) are needed to avoid situations like this escalating (people don't like to be put in the wrong when it's clear they ARE in the wrong) so tread very carefully or perhaps get advice from your local council's neighbour disputes/mediation advisor.

Terrible advice to ask the neighbour to share repair costs. Imagine their sense of entitlement escalating if they agreed. That would make an already bad situation , intolerable. @LookAfterNumberOne they are doing exactly what suits them and are disrespecting your request to stay off your driveway. Put a permanent barrier between both properties. If they take offence or challenge, just ignore them. You asked politely and have been very tolerant.

Could you put a simple chain fence across the entrance to your driveway?

If you think they would be cheeky enough to unlink it, you will have to padlock it.

Has anyone mentioned penguin bollards yet? 🤣