Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New neighbour might be selling cars from their drive.

95 replies

CraftyKit · 04/08/2025 11:37

I am not sure if this is the best place to post but wanting to know if l am mad about nothing and don't really know who to ask.
We got new neighbours just over a week ago (our neighbour of 27 years died and the house was sold). We get on with all our neighbours just so you know we aren't horrible people and have had many in the property joining us over the years.
New neighbours have been a pain in the from the minute they moved in. We live in a semi and our drives are side by side. The drive isn't huge and you can get 3 cars on them maybe 4 - anyway they have now got between 5 and 6 and l think they are selling cars from the driveway. They have two vans, one has been reversed down the side of the house and they get out onto our drive every time he moves and this is at least once or twice a day. Cars are moved and rearranged several times a day/evening. We even had a car arrived last Thursday around 10pm on a trailer and people have been their looking at cars they bring from somewhere else the two weekends they have lived there,
Can you sell cars like this from your home?
Am l just annoyed about nothing?
We have always liked our house but now is it maybe time to move - doubt it will get better if this is how they start. I am also worried about all the people coming out to view these cars and checking out the area - not really making this clear but you just never know if they are really buying.
Oh and when my OH spoke to them a day or so after they moved in they told him they were really pleased to have moved to a nice area. But all these vehicles crammed onto their drive isn't keeping it a nice area. No-one else has this many cars and vans parked anywhere else on the street just us.
I feel like we are living next door to Steptoe and son at the junk yard.

OP posts:
Dolphinosep0tatoes · 04/08/2025 11:39

But all these vehicles crammed onto their drive isn't keeping it a nice area.

Don't be that neighbour.

My neighbours have extra cars on their drive, switch them around a lot, it was part of their job, they repossessed them. All above board.

Daffodilsarefading · 04/08/2025 11:42

Is the neighbour using your drive to get his van out? Have I read that correctly?
It does sound like he is selling cars.
I have no idea about the legalities of this but the amount of cars cluttering up the place would annoy me, do too would someone repeatedly using my drive.
Completely different if they lived in a property which was gated and fenced off from their neighbours, so the neighbours had privacy.

Cedrabbage · 04/08/2025 11:51

Just block off your drive somehow no?

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 04/08/2025 11:53

By all means block your drive so they can't use it as a turning area.

But you can't tell someone how many cars they're allowed on their own property or on a public road.

Moveoverdarlin · 04/08/2025 11:55

This would really piss me off too OP.

Seeline · 04/08/2025 11:59

If they are selling cars from their property report it to teh planning department at your local Council - the enforcement team can come and check. Whilst it is possible to run some businesses from home without planning permission, those that cause a nuisance to neighbours through noise, disturbance increased traffic and parking problems are likely to require PP.

Seeline · 04/08/2025 12:00

And it's an offence to sell them from the public highway - so he can't just move them off his drive.

Silverbirchleaf · 04/08/2025 12:31

Seeline · 04/08/2025 11:59

If they are selling cars from their property report it to teh planning department at your local Council - the enforcement team can come and check. Whilst it is possible to run some businesses from home without planning permission, those that cause a nuisance to neighbours through noise, disturbance increased traffic and parking problems are likely to require PP.

Was about to say something similar.

Original poster
CraftyKit · 04/08/2025 13:31

Daffodilsarefading · 04/08/2025 11:42

Is the neighbour using your drive to get his van out? Have I read that correctly?
It does sound like he is selling cars.
I have no idea about the legalities of this but the amount of cars cluttering up the place would annoy me, do too would someone repeatedly using my drive.
Completely different if they lived in a property which was gated and fenced off from their neighbours, so the neighbours had privacy.

He has parked his van so close to our fence at the side of our house (we haven't got a fence dividing the drives but there is gravel down the middle where a fence would have gone at some point before we moved in maybe.
When he gets out of the van every time he moved it he jumps down onto our side of the drive because he has no room on his drive once the van is in place.
He must have sold the car to the person who came round this morning because it is now gone and so has his other van (he has two transit vans and the partner has a car). I expect another car to appear at any time because he sold one last weekend and two more cars appeared within days.

OP posts:
verycloakanddaggers · 04/08/2025 13:36

I am also worried about all the people coming out to view these cars and checking out the area This is not worth worrying about - people live next to businesses of all types, in all locations.

Just fence your drive and let them get on with things, or move.

Original poster
CraftyKit · 04/08/2025 13:37

Dolphinosep0tatoes · 04/08/2025 11:39

But all these vehicles crammed onto their drive isn't keeping it a nice area.

Don't be that neighbour.

My neighbours have extra cars on their drive, switch them around a lot, it was part of their job, they repossessed them. All above board.

I am trying not to be that neighbour. There are two of them living there and 5/6 vehicles. Two transit vans, her car and then two or three that appear along with people coming to view them. The swap the vehicles around every time they want to go out if the one they are selling is blocking the vehicle they want to use. I am also guessing they aren't taxed because there was a police car stopped opposite the other day and they were waiting to go out in the car that had been dropped off late at night. The road was clear for them to leave but they waited ages for the police car to move on before they left. I was just walking home and saw the police car and them at the top of the drive waiting to get out and there wasn't any traffic. It took me a few minutes to work out what the problem was until l saw them leave just as the police car drove off the other way.

OP posts:
PissedOffNeighbour22 · 04/08/2025 14:15

I had a neighbour selling cars from outside my house (he didn’t have his own drive) and the council didn’t give a crap.

His clientele left something to be desired. They came all hours of the day and night, spitting all over the street, shouting and just generally pissing me off. I was glad when he moved out (because someone on drugs threatened to knife him and his family 🤯)

PInkyStarfish · 04/08/2025 16:48

Look on Facebook marketplace to see if you can spot the cars for sale.

Original poster
CraftyKit · 04/08/2025 19:20

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 04/08/2025 14:15

I had a neighbour selling cars from outside my house (he didn’t have his own drive) and the council didn’t give a crap.

His clientele left something to be desired. They came all hours of the day and night, spitting all over the street, shouting and just generally pissing me off. I was glad when he moved out (because someone on drugs threatened to knife him and his family 🤯)

That is awful. Sadly they bought the house so don't think they are going anywhere soon.

OP posts:
Original poster
CraftyKit · 04/08/2025 19:24

So just a little update.
Checked my CCTV and he did have someone come to look at a car and they used my drive to talk about car take photos, almost sitting on my parked car that was parked off the drive in an area of our front garden that we have gravel on so we can park our 2nd vehicle so we have room for any people visiting.
So, yes they think they can use my drive too by the looks of things.

OP posts:
Vitrolinsanity · 04/08/2025 19:30

Time for that fence OP. Makes good neighbours.

Original poster
CraftyKit · 04/08/2025 19:55

Vitrolinsanity · 04/08/2025 19:30

Time for that fence OP. Makes good neighbours.

Think you might be right because they have just brought another one home. Guess they will be selling that later or tomorrow.

OP posts:
cyvguhb · 04/08/2025 20:08

Vitrolinsanity · 04/08/2025 19:30

Time for that fence OP. Makes good neighbours.

Definitely worth the cost for the stress it will remove from your life. Make sure it's one that's sturdy so the neighbour can't knock it down when he gets out of his van.

Would it be possible to build a wall?

Original poster
CraftyKit · 04/08/2025 20:38

cyvguhb · 04/08/2025 20:08

Definitely worth the cost for the stress it will remove from your life. Make sure it's one that's sturdy so the neighbour can't knock it down when he gets out of his van.

Would it be possible to build a wall?

Show quote history

Might have to go down the fence route. Such a shame as we never needed one before.
Today was bin day so when l brought my bin in l left it outside my side gate right next to his van door, did leave a little room but l could have put further over as it was still on my property and there was no way he would get into the van without moving my property. Will do this every bin day for a while.

OP posts:
toomanydicksonthedancefloor1 · 04/08/2025 20:47

So I can tell you from experience they can do this but they do require planning permission. Me and DH used to do this (above board) but after a few months we realised it was not fair on our neighbours and we had to buy a business premises. No matter how hard we tried to minimise disruption it was inevitable. They should also be registered as a second hand trader and should be VAT registered (as soon as you’ve sold about 10-20 cars you’re over the turnover threshold so legitimate motor traders are all VAT registered). As they’re operating a business they should also abide by the laws and consumer rights for selling hand goods but I can also tell you from Experience, most driveway traders will be advertising on Autotrader as private sellers so they can sell the cars with no comeback and no warranty. Do a search on Autotrader for your postcode and all vehicles within a mile and I would bet there are some on there you recognise and listed as a ‘private seller’, in all honesty apart from contacting the council planning department to ask if they have planning permission (which they will take very seriously) I don’t know what else you can do. It may be that they have planning permission but that’s very doubtful.

BlueMum16 · 04/08/2025 21:01

CraftyKit · 04/08/2025 20:38

Might have to go down the fence route. Such a shame as we never needed one before.
Today was bin day so when l brought my bin in l left it outside my side gate right next to his van door, did leave a little room but l could have put further over as it was still on my property and there was no way he would get into the van without moving my property. Will do this every bin day for a while.

Show quote history

Just buy a fence. It's not worth the stress and worrying if he's stepping on your drive.

My neighbour exits his car into my lawn. I hate it but we're not allowed fences on the front gardens

Menopants · 04/08/2025 21:06

BlueMum16 · 04/08/2025 21:01

Just buy a fence. It's not worth the stress and worrying if he's stepping on your drive.

My neighbour exits his car into my lawn. I hate it but we're not allowed fences on the front gardens

Show quote history

Maybe some spikes in your lawn?

Thanksman · 04/08/2025 21:22

Menopants · 04/08/2025 21:06

Maybe some spikes in your lawn?

Show quote history

Or decorative boulders. Maybe heavy pots with shrubs such as red robins.

dmboot1 · 04/08/2025 23:25

No, they can't sell cars from their drive. I'm a Local Government Officer. Report to Council and they should send out an Enforcement Officer. Good luck OP, no one wants or deserves this next door to their home

MathNotMathing · 04/08/2025 23:30

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.