Not to let neighbour use drive

[illsendansostotheworld]

Live in a road where parking is a pita. Not for me because l have a big driveway but l would not have bought a house in the road without one as it is near the town centre so a lot of people park here.

Neighbour has no parking and constantly asks if she can use my drive - aibu to say no? Don't really need all the space unless l have visitors which tends to just be at weekends but also don't want it to become a thing!

This. Make money from it.
Your generosity would quickly be forgotten and become an entitlement.
Not worth the risk.

Tbh if you say yes once it will get to the point where srandard is her there and you having to ask if you have guests over.

Id say no

I would say no-it'll become an expectation.

My mum let the height park in her driveway and their crappy car leaked oil! They did not care, apologise or do anything about it.

Sorry but I think anyone who asks a neighbour to share their drive has the potential to be a CF. What would the next request be? I would like to think I am quite neighbourly but you never know when you are going to have friends or family pop in. It has the potential to cause unnecessary problems and I believe it to be quite a cheeky request.

If tour drive is absolutely huge for ten cars then maybe. But if its enough for two to four cars and you have more than one car then no.
Also, when does it stop and start, it sounds like a minefield and potential to turn into a messy situation. I would say no.

absolutely this

If there was some time frame and a good reason (my kid broke his leg, while he's on crutches could I please park here) then yes, I would be nice.

Just because they can't be bothered to find a parking space, then absolutely not.

YOU paid a premium to have a private drive, they didn't, it's nothing but cheeky to want it for free, or next to free.

YANBU to say no.

However, as others have suggested, if you wanted to make money, you could let them park there Monday to Friday only, must be in the same space, and charge £50-£100 per month. Get a written agreement printed and signed. Include things like any oil leaks from her car will be liable for charges, no parking there after 10pm Friday night etc. must be on agreed spot.

But if you're not desperate for the money, then it's less hassle to just say no.

Neighbour will likely not agree to pay anyway!

Does her house have the potential for OSP ?

Absolutely not.

"Sorry neighbour but I really need the freedom of the driveway for myself and my guests and it won't work if I let anyone else use it."

It'll be their car today, then their family members car who is visiting tomorrow - then the other neighbour etc etc.

Don't do it!

No. It will turn into an expectation rather than a favour and become a big inconvenience.

No not at all. She said she wants to move because of it.

Thanks all.
I'm not going to let her and definitely not offering to let her pay to use it as then it would be really awkward to ask her to move it as she would be even more entitled.
She is definitely a CF as she has been in the past with other things but in general is a nice neighbour - have had much worse in the past!

Belting idea!!

Get a contract written up and charge her X to park on the drive at Y times.

No, because tradesmen/visitors etc.

I booked a mobile mechanic for a new 2nd hand car which needed lots of work, so we needed our drive available for his transit and our car. Bloody scaffolders for next door started piling up poles and planks on our drive! I was furious. They didn’t need to put anything on our drive. I made them remove the lot asap.

if you don't want it to happen, I'd say no. My neighbours have very occasionally asked to use part of my parking spaces for something particular....builder in for a day, wedding reception....odd non recurring stuff and I have said yes but I have known my neighbours for years, I'd say we are colleagues rather than friends but I know they are not piss takers. If they are asking to use it regularly "because you don't need it all" I'd say no without a second thought.

And that's your choice 🤷‍♂️

Not all of my neighbours own their homes, and as I say, none of us in the street mind them or their families using our drives.

Each to their own.

If you had agreed, you’re essentially allowing her use of your land for a specific purpose which can create an easement which is a legal right to use your land. I know it’s a bit of a stretch but I would never agree to allow a neighbour to use any part of my land for that reason. It could put you in a pickle when coming to sell as well.

Easements don’t need to be in writing or agreement. They can be acquired over a period of time. Just say no.

NOPE!

People are cheeky piss takers, and your neighbour will, without question, push her luck.

This

NO !

I did this in a previous house - had 2 parallel drives only needed 1. Neighbour started parking on it now and again while waiting for ‘her’ space to become available (hours). Then it was overnight because she ‘forgot’. Then it was all the time. Then it’s like she actually thought it was hers and seemed annoyed when my mum parked there while visiting and jumped in the spot as soon as mum left.
Came home one day and a trailer tent was there ! Asked her to move it which she huffed and puffed over. Asked her to stop parking there because I didn’t like her attitude. She stopped, but then blanked me forever more and it created a bad atmosphere.

So to summarise - NO !

No good deed goes unpunished

Christ, absolutely not. I can't believe she would even ask. If you want a drive, buy a house with one.

That would annoy me so no I wouldn’t let her as it will be an expectation.

100% as PP have said, if you agreed as a very kind favour, it would soon become an entitlement.

She would never accept her place in the hierarchy - every time you have family, friends or trades/delivery people needing to park there, she might grudgingly 'allow' them to use 'her' space; but she would never cheerfully acknowledge that you graciously let her use it when it's free, but it obviously isn't free now, so she will need to move pronto.

And even if she did acknowledge that you needed your drive and cheerfully moved, that's still not much use if your guest has to knock and ask and wait on the road for her to move, rather than the space being available instantly at all times.

Try asking her if you can use her garden, or kitchen, or living room - as you suspect they might be bigger or better than your own. After all, how could it hurt if you know when she and her family tend to use them, so you only treat them as fair game at all other times?! Just because your drive is outside of the building, it's still an exclusive, private part of YOUR property.