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Original poster

PARKING WAR - from Day 1 of moving into new house!

249 replies

BreezyBertha · 04/05/2025 03:12

Diagram attached!

So, moved into new house on Thursday. Our house is one of two houses at the bottom of a cul de sac. We own half the access road to our drive, house next to us owns the other half. Turning into our drive is tight as we have to go round a bend and need to pull out onto neighbours side and also reverse onto it as there are concrete bollards bordering it.

Neighbouring house has been empty for a while I believe and and sold last month so will be empty for a few more probably. Our house was empty for a while before we moved in.

Neighbours who live in the house at the end of the road just before our private road starts. have obviously taken to parking on our access road as both houses have been empty. They have two cars but one car drive. There is very little parking on the public road in front of their house and they have concrete bollards cordoning off their front garden so can’t pull into there. There is parking further up a few minutes walk away.

Anyhow, DH drove the removal van up on Thursday to find their car parked on our private road, blocking him from getting onto it. He asked them to move and politely asked them not to park there. They moved the car after a bit of ‘um we’ve been parking here for a while now, houses were empty so it’s ok’.

Well they’re not empty now! I mean WTF??

The wife then came out while we were unpacking and seemed friendly so we introduced ourselves etc. She then said she parks in our bit of road from 9pm when she finishes work so it’s ok! Also that she has family nearby who come to visit and they need to park. We said they can’t block our road so please don’t park there

Later in the same evening, they parked there again and I couldn’t get out, so DH knocked and said you need to move your car. Husband was not happy but moved it off our bit of road further back opposite his house where the public road starts. It is very tight but we can just about squeeze through.

Today they had the family they mentioned over. One car parked in empty neighbouring house’s drive, another on the private access road. DH couldn’t get into the drive so sat beeping his horn.

About 5 or 6 men came out, one the neighbours father and the others his brothers/BILs, telling us we have room and they don’t need to move! They were also saying they don’t live here so it’s fine to park on our road if visiting! Things got a bit shouty as we said they had no right to park there and should not be on the private access road at all. In the end they conceded that they needed to move from the access road but left the car in the empty neighbours drive! I did say what are you going to do when buyers move in!

They seem to think that as they’ve been parking there for a while, it is now their parking area!

They only moved in in February so have not been here long themselves and just took advantage of the fact ours and neighbouring house were empty.

I just can’t get over the entitlement. They have no business even coming off the public road and over the dropped kerb into our access road. It’s trespass!

Obviously I don’t want an expensive legal battle. Can’t put bollards up as new neighbours would need to agree and they have not moved in yet.

I can tell this is going to carry on though so what can we do? We actually bought this house for the big 3 car drive and had no idea we’d have issues with neighbours who shouldn’t even be entering our bit of road. Getting really stressed about it as just want to live in peace!

Title deed attached with my diagram added. . Our house is bordered in red, empty neighbouring house in blue and CFs house in green.

PARKING WAR - from Day 1 of moving into new house!
OP posts:
CandidHedgehog · 05/05/2025 20:07

laraitopbanana · 05/05/2025 19:55

Yeap.

threaten it will get towed as it is a private road and they block access or take your parking spots.

Show quote history

And look like a fool since this is illegal and would result in the OP being arrested?

It’s not a good idea to make threats to commit a criminal offence.

laraitopbanana · 05/05/2025 20:17

It is a private road 👀
they actually can’t park there.

edit :@candidhedghog

laraitopbanana · 05/05/2025 20:22

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 05/05/2025 20:03

They’re parking on the private access road leading to the driveway. It’s not a parking spot. And you can’t tow a vehicle parked on private land. It’s illegal.

Show quote history

yes you can.

Not yourself indeed even though I wouldn’t have imagine the op doing it…however « private road, no parking » means what it means.

CandidHedgehog · 05/05/2025 20:34

laraitopbanana · 05/05/2025 20:17

It is a private road 👀
they actually can’t park there.

edit :@candidhedghog

Edited

True but equally, the OP can’t have them either towed or clamped so there is no point in threatening to do so.

A solicitor’s letter telling them not to park there is fine but only the police, DVLA or council can tow / clamp and usually they will refuse to get involved since it’s private land.

CandidHedgehog · 05/05/2025 20:37

laraitopbanana · 05/05/2025 20:22

yes you can.

Not yourself indeed even though I wouldn’t have imagine the op doing it…however « private road, no parking » means what it means.

Show quote history

It may well do but the actual law is very clear. The OP cannot tow/clamp and she cannot hire / instruct anyone to tow / clamp someone else’s vehicle even if it is on her private land without her permission.

Therefore while other people cannot park on her private land, she cannot do anything other than call the police / council in response and they will often refuse to get involved since it’s private land and a civil matter.

dementedmummy · 05/05/2025 20:43

daisychain01 · 04/05/2025 03:28

There have been changes in occupancy and vacancies which has meant it has been difficult to establish any rules around parking. People have just made it up as they go along.

Your DH could have been less shouty, how was that going to sort things out.

i would put everything in writing, in a very friendly polite letter (making it clear you hope they can be cooperative. specify what you own, where the boundaries are and how you will be using your parking facilities in future, including indicating where you need some manoeuvre space and drop it through the 'offending ' NDN door.

keep a copy of the correspondence.

give it a reasonable amount of time for them to be clear on your requirements and ownership, if after month from the date of your letter they continue to ignore it, seek advice from a local solicitor who may be able to resend your letter with a reminder of your ownership. Get the solicitor to write it in such a way as to ensure it doesn't constitute a neighbour dispute.

I think you are giving the neighbours too much grace. Private access road. Not on their titles. Not rocket science to know it's not your property to park on 🤷‍♀️

Khayker · 05/05/2025 20:52

Put a collapsable, lockable bollard at the bottom of your drive. If that doesn't work put something between the drives to stop them blocking both or gaining access to yours. May need to put in some low level fencing. Put a sign on the access to your drive stating drive in constant use, please dont park etc. If they ignore it, ask your local council to put double yellows across it unless you have a dropoed kerb at the entrance which it is illegal to block. Both options can be ticketed by parking enforcement/police if they continue blocking your access and violating the law. Last thing, take picture with a date stamp of how they park, even if they're blocking someone elses drive. You need to gather evidence and make sure date/time is correct on your phone if you use it to take picks

Definitelymaybenoyes · 05/05/2025 21:04

My estate agent owning DF has given me some good advice regarding new homes... He especially stresses "NEVER buying a house with a shared driveway". I thought he was being a bit OTT, but I get it now.

Sorry you're having this trouble OP. Remotely
operated bollards.

OnTheBoardwalk · 05/05/2025 21:15

Not private road but I purchased a house that had been empty for a while then I was working and driving away for a few weeks

Took my CF neighbours 3 months from purchase to finally remember they and their visitors couldn’t park on my private drive any more

nip it now in the bud

Farmwifefarmlife · 05/05/2025 21:15

daisychain01 · 04/05/2025 03:28

There have been changes in occupancy and vacancies which has meant it has been difficult to establish any rules around parking. People have just made it up as they go along.

Your DH could have been less shouty, how was that going to sort things out.

i would put everything in writing, in a very friendly polite letter (making it clear you hope they can be cooperative. specify what you own, where the boundaries are and how you will be using your parking facilities in future, including indicating where you need some manoeuvre space and drop it through the 'offending ' NDN door.

keep a copy of the correspondence.

give it a reasonable amount of time for them to be clear on your requirements and ownership, if after month from the date of your letter they continue to ignore it, seek advice from a local solicitor who may be able to resend your letter with a reminder of your ownership. Get the solicitor to write it in such a way as to ensure it doesn't constitute a neighbour dispute.

Sounds like a good idea to me

BangersAndGnash · 05/05/2025 22:07

Definitelymaybenoyes · 05/05/2025 21:04

My estate agent owning DF has given me some good advice regarding new homes... He especially stresses "NEVER buying a house with a shared driveway". I thought he was being a bit OTT, but I get it now.

Sorry you're having this trouble OP. Remotely
operated bollards.

It isn’t a shared driveway here that is causing issues.

And remotely operated bollards cost £2k + the cost of installation.

And (which develop as a shared drive issue) the new owners of the house next door to the OP’s might object

beAsensible1 · 05/05/2025 22:13

Why are people so averse to parking 2 mins away in the public road and then just walking up to visit.

or even to get home. This desire to park in someone’s drive just so you don’t have to walk 2 minutes

don’t back down OP, blocking access to your house and arguing about is not the behaviour of a sane person

Helen483 · 05/05/2025 22:49

EsmeSusanOgg · 04/05/2025 06:27

I would get a collapsible bollard installed and make sure your new neighbours have a key when they move in. You can always take it down if they are not fans - but I suspect they'll agree with the reasoning.

This.
Get a lockable bollard installed (or two depending on the space) and when new neighbours arrive give them the key.
I did this for my private space in a shared garage and it's a huge relief to know I can reliably get to my space.

Edit: cost me £50 for the bollard and £50 for installation

cryinginthechapel · 06/05/2025 00:17

I agree you need to “train” them. Just ask them to move every single time. Block them in if they are in your drive. Make life very uncomfortable so they realise it’s not worth the effort any more

chaosmaker · 06/05/2025 00:19

I reported a dumped vehicle to the council and fair play, 2 days letter a notice for the owners to remove it or it's being towed was fixed to it. Doesn't help OP but I'm glad stuff sometimes gets done when necessary.

laraitopbanana · 06/05/2025 05:37

CandidHedgehog · 05/05/2025 20:37

It may well do but the actual law is very clear. The OP cannot tow/clamp and she cannot hire / instruct anyone to tow / clamp someone else’s vehicle even if it is on her private land without her permission.

Therefore while other people cannot park on her private land, she cannot do anything other than call the police / council in response and they will often refuse to get involved since it’s private land and a civil matter.

Show quote history

Yes I said it. The op can’t but she can absolutely call on to do it as it is a private road and that they have no right of access…

put a sign and then act on it.

i would avoid the police so it doesn’t turn into a dispute that will be registered onto your property.

laraitopbanana · 06/05/2025 05:43

CandidHedgehog · 05/05/2025 20:37

It may well do but the actual law is very clear. The OP cannot tow/clamp and she cannot hire / instruct anyone to tow / clamp someone else’s vehicle even if it is on her private land without her permission.

Therefore while other people cannot park on her private land, she cannot do anything other than call the police / council in response and they will often refuse to get involved since it’s private land and a civil matter.

Show quote history

Not if they are obstructing her way in (or out) that would be a safety concern for her.

laraitopbanana · 06/05/2025 05:44

Helen483 · 05/05/2025 22:49

This.
Get a lockable bollard installed (or two depending on the space) and when new neighbours arrive give them the key.
I did this for my private space in a shared garage and it's a huge relief to know I can reliably get to my space.

Edit: cost me £50 for the bollard and £50 for installation

Edited
Show quote history

That seems perfect honestly

Seamond · 06/05/2025 06:06

Yes, the bollards are probably the best solution and the cheapest, we thought about getting one as more security for our caravan.

FlyMeSomewhere · 06/05/2025 07:44

laraitopbanana · 05/05/2025 19:55

Yeap.

threaten it will get towed as it is a private road and they block access or take your parking spots.

Show quote history

There is no such thing as a towing company that you can call to tow a neighbour away! A car park can be controlled by a parking and towing company but not residential driveways! The neighbours know there's no such thing! The sooner you and the other poster stop repetitively posting about towing and fines the better because it's not a realistic and legal thing and the neighbours know it!

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 06/05/2025 08:06

laraitopbanana · 06/05/2025 05:43

Not if they are obstructing her way in (or out) that would be a safety concern for her.

Show quote history

Please will you stop filling up the thread with your nonsense. Several people have responded to your posts, and several, including myself, have linked to the law that specifically covers private land. If someone parks on your private land the most you can do is issue a parking charge notice which would be legally enforceable only if you use a company who are lawfully authorised to do so. There would have to be clear signage displayed and you would still have to comply with the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, which prohibits the clamping, blocking or towing of vehicles parked on private land.

FlyMeSomewhere · 06/05/2025 08:07

OP, this is how I suggest you deal with this! You construct a letter and make sure you keep a copy. Within this letter you detail the fact that if there's an emergency in the middle of the night and you need to get to another family member elsewhere, they are costing valuable time by blocking you in.
Then make the very important point that even more critically, if an emergency happend within your own home especially during the middle of night, their vehicle is causing delays to ambulances and fire engines which could cost a life or could cost your home.

You tell them that you will keep a copy of the letter and if they continue doing this and if they continue doing it and something does go wrong, they cannot deny knowledge of realising they are parking on your property and causing a danger and this letter will be shown to the police and courts to aid in any criminal investigation as it will be a very serious offence to deliberately block emergency services from accessing your property and it result in a preventable loss. You would additionally sue them as well as the police taking criminal action against them.

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 06/05/2025 08:17

laraitopbanana · 06/05/2025 05:37

Yes I said it. The op can’t but she can absolutely call on to do it as it is a private road and that they have no right of access…

put a sign and then act on it.

i would avoid the police so it doesn’t turn into a dispute that will be registered onto your property.

Show quote history

No, she can’t. You can’t simply put a sign up and act on it yourself. The most OP can do is put up a parking charge notice, and then she would have to use a lawfully authorised company to enforce it. The company would have to follow the law which still means they would be unable to clamp, block or tow the vehicle. You’re talking nonsense.

godmum56 · 06/05/2025 08:48

FlyMeSomewhere · 06/05/2025 08:07

OP, this is how I suggest you deal with this! You construct a letter and make sure you keep a copy. Within this letter you detail the fact that if there's an emergency in the middle of the night and you need to get to another family member elsewhere, they are costing valuable time by blocking you in.
Then make the very important point that even more critically, if an emergency happend within your own home especially during the middle of night, their vehicle is causing delays to ambulances and fire engines which could cost a life or could cost your home.

You tell them that you will keep a copy of the letter and if they continue doing this and if they continue doing it and something does go wrong, they cannot deny knowledge of realising they are parking on your property and causing a danger and this letter will be shown to the police and courts to aid in any criminal investigation as it will be a very serious offence to deliberately block emergency services from accessing your property and it result in a preventable loss. You would additionally sue them as well as the police taking criminal action against them.

nope. as I said, any giving of reasons opens the door to discussion....oh you wen't there so wouldn't have needed an ambulance and so on. They have no entitlement to know about medical needs and the only reason they should be told is that's my land and you can't park on it.

FlyMeSomewhere · 06/05/2025 09:04

Your post is confusing and irrelevant! It's not about giving your neighbours your medical records, it's If a member of the household has an unexpected cardiac arrest or something in the night or a house fire breaks out and the neighbours have parked on their property knowing they are in that house at night and are blocking the access of emergency services, it's not allowable, that letter makes it clear that they live in that house, they sleep there at night and should not be blocked in. That letter makes excuses invalid! You cannot just park on someone's driveway and make the excuse that you didn't know your neighbours slept in their house at night! My solution would likely end the problem but your solution is to let the neighbours keep doing it and accept laughable excuses! How many of us have homes we've never slept in at night!