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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:
Sunbeam01 · 16/06/2025 15:18

Washing a car at 8am on a Sunday is unreasonable.

GAJLY · 16/06/2025 15:23

You shouldn't be telling guests to park on a share driveway if it means locking access for your neighbour! Having a van temporarily park e g. Tesco/gravel is fine, but not a visitors car!

Melonmango70 · 16/06/2025 15:24

Tarytino · 16/06/2025 12:27

well thanks for all the replies! Jesus neighbour wars really bring out emotion in people! 😂

I went around and told her we were having gravel delivered so the driveway will be blocked. She said she can’t get out anyway as her car is knackered, something to do with her brakes 😬 must be all the coming and going yesterday 😂 so all’s good.

Issues in the past - her husband continually moved a plant pot of ours - we had to get a massive concrete one eventually that he couldn’t lift. Whinging about DH cleaning his car on a Sunday morning (not early, about 8am). Whinging about a party we had a few summers ago. Slagging us off to house 1 (who don’t like her either!). Almost ran our dog over once. The list goes on.

8am IS early on a Sunday morning, for many people. My husband is always up and about early and often wants to do stuff outside but he waits until at least 9 to do so. Well, I have to remind him that that's the courteous thing to do - but that's the courteous thing to do!

Funnywonder · 16/06/2025 15:24

I reckon it’s your neighbour who has a petty neighbour.

IAmTheLogLady · 16/06/2025 15:24

I think you're on a wind up.
You've used all the trigger situations to whip MNers into a froth.
Bravo for the last update BTW, especially the bit about cleaning the car at 08.00.
Are you bored ? A MNHQer getting provoking MN engagement in AIBU or just a common hairy hander in the wild....

cranberryshortcake · 16/06/2025 15:25

YATA
Your guest should also have pointed out that you’re asking them to be an A too. But maybe you’re both As.

FumingTRex · 16/06/2025 15:27

You blocked her driveway, you are totally U! You need to park elsewhere so that your guest, gravel etc can use your spot.

Pipsquiggle · 16/06/2025 15:29

What does YATA mean?

OldFamilyTable · 16/06/2025 15:30

IAmTheLogLady · 16/06/2025 15:24

I think you're on a wind up.
You've used all the trigger situations to whip MNers into a froth.
Bravo for the last update BTW, especially the bit about cleaning the car at 08.00.
Are you bored ? A MNHQer getting provoking MN engagement in AIBU or just a common hairy hander in the wild....

Agree. This has to be a piss-take. To be fair, quite a good one.

Sunshineandrainbows23 · 16/06/2025 15:30

Tarytino · 16/06/2025 08:39

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

Yes, but it would have still been blocking her exit. I used to be "house 3". It was incredibly frustrating having the drive blocked by visitors. We also got accused of going in and out deliberately when cars were parked there just to make a point which was not true. We just went out because we had already planned to!

As you say there is plenty of room on the street so your guest should have parked there. I cannot believe he moved it back to the shared drive - he should have just re-parked on the street.

You are 100% being unreasonable. Not telling them about the gravel delivery is just nasty. I see you did tell her about the gravel in the end. As you say, there are some unavoidable blockages like gravel and Tesco deliveries but these should be communicated. And Tesco aren't parked for long so not really a biggie as long as you aren't ordering at a time you know they need to go out/return home eg to and from work.

IAmTheLogLady · 16/06/2025 15:40

OldFamilyTable · 16/06/2025 15:30

Agree. This has to be a piss-take. To be fair, quite a good one.

Oh it's a good one. I'm actually impressed.
I'm just curious to see why the op does this.

Icebreaker911 · 16/06/2025 15:41

The problem is & allways will be... shared driveways! I wouldn't have a shared driveway for a big clock... These situations rely on goodwill - goodwill only lasts so long 🤔

Heronwatcher · 16/06/2025 15:44

Yikes! I always wondered who these people were.

Your guests should park on the street. If they can’t (disability etc) then you should park on the street yourself and let the guest park in your space, without blocking your neighbour.

thestudio · 16/06/2025 15:49

OP has never read a single MN CF parking thread.

StressedLP1 · 16/06/2025 15:55

Gently, you sound like a massive pain in the arse.

Glad you’re not my neighbour.

handsdownthebest · 16/06/2025 16:00

We also share driveway and YABU

NoCyclingInTheUKforMe · 16/06/2025 16:01

Tarytino · 16/06/2025 08:37

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

No wonder, living next to you! You are completely unreasonable. Your guest should have parked on the road, not the neighbour!

DisapprovingSpaniel · 16/06/2025 16:06

3peassuit · 16/06/2025 13:14

This must be a reverse. Nobody could be this entitled.

I suspect 'neighbour' is mostly grumpy about OP jumping over that shark tbh...

Emmz1510 · 16/06/2025 16:08

You are trying to monopolise the shared driveway. Your visitors should not be parking on it, and nor should your tradespeople. If you want others to park on it, move your own car onto the street. And also your neighbour should not have to knock to get your visitors or vacate THEIR space.

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 16/06/2025 16:15

You are the CF and let this be a lesson for anyone who thinks shared driveways might not be an issue. They WILL be an issue.

Londonrach1 · 16/06/2025 16:17

Yabu and cf here. Certainly don't blame the neighbour for not getting out of his or her car.

Babycakes39 · 16/06/2025 16:23

God YOU sound like the nightmare neighbour here, OP! Your poor neighbours.

Ponderingwindow · 16/06/2025 16:24

You have no right to block neighbors driveway access at any time. Surely you know this. Are you trying to become the most hated person in your neighborhood because this is a good way to earn the title.

a delivery driver pausing for 2 minutes and running up to your door is a bit different. The vehicle is not unattended.

CountryQueen · 16/06/2025 16:26

This is a wind up. Or you, your DH and your friend are complete knobs

lostinthesunshine · 16/06/2025 16:28

Tarytino · 16/06/2025 12:27

well thanks for all the replies! Jesus neighbour wars really bring out emotion in people! 😂

I went around and told her we were having gravel delivered so the driveway will be blocked. She said she can’t get out anyway as her car is knackered, something to do with her brakes 😬 must be all the coming and going yesterday 😂 so all’s good.

Issues in the past - her husband continually moved a plant pot of ours - we had to get a massive concrete one eventually that he couldn’t lift. Whinging about DH cleaning his car on a Sunday morning (not early, about 8am). Whinging about a party we had a few summers ago. Slagging us off to house 1 (who don’t like her either!). Almost ran our dog over once. The list goes on.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict that

1-The plant pot was not on your property and was blocking access.

2-You use a noisy jet wash to clean the car (8am is too early)

3-The party was too loud, went on for too long, you didn’t arrange the parking, and you didn’t give your neighbours notice.

4-Your dog was off the lead and running wild.

Am I wrong? I don’t think you are cut out for suburban life OP!