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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Driveway wars - awkward petty neighbour

472 replies

Tarytino · 16/06/2025 08:32

We live on a shared drive way (shared with 3 houses). We’re in the middle. Yesterday we had a friend over and I told him to park just outside of our house (on the shared driveway) as house 3 was out. An hour or so later house 3 arrives home - instead of simply asking him to move the car they sat there honking on the horn. It’s a short driveway, they could have parked at the end and walked down to their house (plenty of parking on street at end of driveway) but no. Friend went out and moved his car - no thanks, no acknowledgment. Once they had got passed friend moved his car back where it was.

10 mins later - horn honking outside. House 3 had decided to go out again. Friend goes out to move car. 20 minutes later more honking outside. I went out and approached neighbour asking why she is honking her horn rather than using her words. She said “I need to get to my house and there is a car in the way” 🙄 I said “yes, but you don’t need to honk the horn, just knock”. She said “can’t be arsed getting in and out of car”. I left her to it and friend moved car. Needless to say, 20 mins later, more honking outside.

now it was very obvious that neighbour was deliberately going in and out of driveway to make some kind of point. So we played her game and this went on for about 2 hours before she eventually got bored.

Today, we are having gravel delivered and they will be parking on the shared driveway. Normally I’d warn neighbour to let her know to get her car out of driveway so she doesn’t get stuck but because of yesterdays performance - I’m not going to bother. This isn’t the first time we have had issues with this neighbour btw. AIBU to let her get her car stuck? Chances are she won’t be going out anyway but no doubt as soon as she sees someone parked there she’ll suddenly develop an urgent need to go out 🙄

OP posts:
ElfAndSafetyBored · 16/06/2025 08:34

We need a diagram.

And I think you’re being childish. Your neighbour should be able to come and go as they wish.

QuantumLevelActions · 16/06/2025 08:35

I don't blame the neighbour for honking rather than getting out of her car.

YABU to use her space or block her or whatever you or your friend did.

2chocolateoranges · 16/06/2025 08:35

Your neighbour should always have access to park where they normally park .

personally I’d never buy a house with a shared driveway due to these issues but I’d always ask visitors to not park in certain speakers of the shared driveway way too.

Yesterday, you were being petty too.

MzHz · 16/06/2025 08:35

YATA, sorry, but you are.

who the fuck blocks a shared driveway repeatedly

block yourself in before your neighbours.

Lemonbiscuitpls · 16/06/2025 08:35

Is this a new neighbour?

Pollqueen · 16/06/2025 08:36

If I am reading this correctly, you are so unreasonable, I don't know where to start.

Why didn't your guest park on the roadway, why did you inconvenience your neighbour throughout the day? It's none of your business how many times they go out in a day and why, can't you see that?

Notsuchafattynow · 16/06/2025 08:36

From what you've written (and lack of diagram) you are 100% in the wrong.

Tarytino · 16/06/2025 08:37

Lemonbiscuitpls · 16/06/2025 08:35

Is this a new neighbour?

Nope, we and they have been here years. It’s only recently that the woman has started this. Her husband is just bad but he prefers a passive aggressive approach

OP posts:
CRbear · 16/06/2025 08:37

It’s not okay to use or block your neighbours driveway when they’re not using it. Same goes for your gravel delivery. You are the problem!

Brefugee · 16/06/2025 08:37

You are in the wrong (i like her reaction, it is hugely petty and i thoroughly approve of that)

If there is plenty of space your friend parks in the space that isn't a neighbours parking spot. Give your head a massive wobble and grow up.

Whaleandsnail6 · 16/06/2025 08:37

Its not petty to expect your neighbours visitors to not prevent you from accessing your own drive.

You should have told your friend to park in a way that did not block neighbours access, sounds like you purposely try to be annoying

If anyone is an petty, bad neighbour its you.

ButterBites · 16/06/2025 08:37

No, you started it yday. YABU and I suspect your neighbour is the one who is fed up of your behaviour.

If there is plenty of on street parking why didn’t your friend use it?

GabriellaMontez · 16/06/2025 08:37

Can I clarify? You block your neighbours driveway repeatedly?

If so, you are rude, lazy and totally unreasonable.

Tarytino · 16/06/2025 08:39

He didn’t park on her driveway, he parked outside of our house

OP posts:
4forksache · 16/06/2025 08:39

You shouldn’t have instructed your visitor to park there in the first place. You have no idea when people are coming back and they should never have to ask to get in or out of their own parking space. You are totally bu.

FortyElephants · 16/06/2025 08:39

You're being ridiculous.

Olika · 16/06/2025 08:39

So your friend parked on their (neighbour’s) spot? If so I would be annoyed too and not getting out of my car.

Itisjustmyopinion · 16/06/2025 08:39

Either this is a real and therefore you are an unreasonable CF or this is a reverse which also makes you unreasonable

So regardless you are not painting yourself in a good light

MumChp · 16/06/2025 08:40

Tarytino · 16/06/2025 08:39

He didn’t park on her driveway, he parked outside of our house

But he blocked your neighbour's driveway?

SummerInSun · 16/06/2025 08:40

You are the CF in this situation. You say there is parking on the street. That’s where your friend should have parked. I can sort of see why if your neighbour was out and you thought she’d be out longer than your friend would be around you might have let your friend park there the first time, but why when your friend moved the car didn’t your friend put it somewhere that wasn’t blocking the driveway?!?! And why should your neighbour have to keep getting out of her car, knocking on your door, wait for an answer, wait for your friend to get her keys, come out and move the car, etc?

Frankly, you are already in the wrong here, and if you don’t give a heads up about the gravel, you are being an absolute jerk.

lostinthesunshine · 16/06/2025 08:40

I’m looking forward to the update to say this is a reverse.

Longingforspringtime · 16/06/2025 08:40

You and your visitors can only use your designated spaces in the middle of the shared driveway. If you use your neighbours’ spaces it’s the height of rudeness. Your neighbours must seriously dislike you for your thoughtlessness.

PuppyMonkey · 16/06/2025 08:42

Just get the diagram on OP, you’re clearly blocking access to a neighbour so if there’s a reason why you’re not or something, the diagram will save you.

2chocolateoranges · 16/06/2025 08:42

Can you draw a diagram and post it so we can understand the shared driveway and the parking situation better?

Idontjetwashthefucker · 16/06/2025 08:43

If you friend was parked in such a way that stopped your neighbour accessing where they usually park, then yes, you and friend were sooooo unreasonable. Your friend is a visitor, he shouldn't be parking anywhere that inconveniences your neighbour

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