Neighbour using my drive, landlord won’t help. What can I do?

[9champions]

I’ve lived in my house for almost 4 years now, and I had a new drive put in last year, which cost a fair bit. Parking on my street isn’t great anyway, but I’ve recently noticed that my neighbour is using my drive to get to hers. I’m not sure if she’s always done this as I’ve only just noticed. Last week, I caught her in the act while I was outside sorting the bins, and I think she was surprised to see me. I talked to her on Sunday and politely asked if she could stop, but she said it’s difficult for her because her neighbours car sticks out into the space in front of her house, which makes her partners van hang over their drive, so she can’t get in and out without driving over mine.

They can’t park the van on the drive and the car on the street because there’s a fence between our driveways, and the van is too big to fit with the fence there. It’s their fence, on their boundary line btw. I suggested they take it down, but they’re tenants and don’t want to pay for it, which is understandable. Apparently, they asked the landlord a few months back if he would remove it, and he said he was fine with it being taken down, but he wouldn’t cover the cost.

I was thinking about putting up my own fence to stop them, but my drive is already pretty narrow, and then there's the cost involved. I know I could just pay to have theirs taken down, but should I really have to fork out money just to make them stop using my drive? I know it’s a hassle for them, but they should either talk to their neighbours to see if they can leave them more space on the road or have another chat with the landlord about the fence. They’re making this my problem, and I don’t think it’s fair for them to just assume they can use my drive forever. It’s not a shared drive btw. They’re just next to each other, similar to new build estates.

Am I being unreasonable / petty, or are they taking the piss? I’ve attached a diagram. The black squiggles are cars, and the red one is my neighbours car crossing over my drive to get to hers.

I just cannot understand your point of view. We live in a semi and our next door neighbour often drives partially over our drive to get to her drive because it makes the turning circle easier. Honestly I couldn’t care less. She isn’t parking on our drive. Just driving over it a bit. I’d be annoyed if loads of people did it outside my window, but my neighbour doing it a couple of times a day is no big deal.

Our neighbours ( well their visitors and deliveries) do this to our drive. Tbh we aren't bothered as they are so lovely. If someone started parking there that might be a different matter

Piss on it. Whilst maintaining eye contact. So she'll know its yours.

Exactly. Presumably the neighbour has to drive across your area at an angle at some point. This over time and regular use will create friction and damage to the surface. Those replying who think it won't cause damage could maybe explain how road surfaces are eroded or pot holes occur?

She doesn't really care does she as she has more or less ignored your request. There is of course the added possibility of creating a right of way.

It’s your property.

End of.

Planters all along to the end of your drive, running down the boundary line 👍 If it’s questioned you tell them it’s your property and boundary and you won’t be moving them, they need to sort out the issue with the van

We have a drive but there’s a shared bit we go over as does our neighbour. The shared bit is significantly more worn than our own bit. In a year it’s nothing, in 5 years it’s not insurmountable.

I agree with PP. Can’t you just put some big plant pots down the edge @9champions? That would stop it.

Otherwise it’s a fence. You know what they say, “good fences make good neighbours”

Driveway edges aren't designed for frequent load bearing. Over time they are at risk of cracking and crumbling if driven over on a daily basis. As @9champions the neighbours won't pay to fix it if that happens.

@9champions I'd block the route with a fence. Your neighbour needs to take it up with the person causing them issues, not just drive over your driveway.

I can't imagine caring about this. And I get annoyed at pretty much anything. Providing it's not a monster truck, I really don't think it's going to noticeably shorten the life of the drive.

They haven't always been the best neighbours. We’ve never had a falling out or anything, but she was awkward when I got the drive fixed. For a few weeks, I had to park on the street outside my house, and she kept taking the spot while her drive just sat empty. Yes, it’s a public road and she has every right to park there, which is why I didn’t say anything, but I had no other place to park except further down the road. Meanwhile, both of their cars were on the street while her drive was just sitting there unused. It was really strange, especially since she only started parking there after I did. Then once my drive was finished and I was parking there, she stopped. So, I know it might look like I’m being a bit odd and unfriendly, but honestly, they haven’t been helpful or accommodating either

Her issue is with the other neighbours but instead she's using you to solve it. And possibly damaging your drive edge in the process.

We've had terrible issues at work with people using our parking spaces and we got some metal bollards and chains to put a stop to it. To be fair, in your case, I would get some nice new planters for spring and line them from your fence to the bottom of your driveway. Just half fill them with cement so they're not easy to move!

Jesus wept! Some of the replies on this thread🙄. Leaving aside the wear and tear issue, there is the possibility of other damage to the OP property. But the biggest concern is that eventually she can establish a legal right to cross the land by prescription. Such a burden on the servient tenement can affect its value negatively. Absolutely put an end to it now.

I’m going to try this, will pop to the shops over the weekend and get some. The rubbish bin is due to be collected tomorrow so I’m going to put it at the top of the drive tonight and see if she moves it.

I’m genuinely astonished by the number of people who wouldn’t care.

It will become a problem if she uses the drive for access for long enough to claim right of way over it.

The driveway wasn’t installed with a design allowing it to be repeatedly driven over at that edge- if there’s any variation in levels, the driveway is more likely to crack from that edge.

Neighbour has turned her problem into your problem. I would install fences.

@9champions Just extend the fence (green line in your diagram) to the boundary.

I completely get that it drives you nuts. My neighbour does this to me.

In the great cosmic oneness, it is not really important, but by the same token, why should I maintain something because my neighbours can't use the steering wheel?

ETA my neighbours are actually lovely, so I am learning to get over my unreasonable attitude.

So you think this might have been going on for 4 years but only now you’ve noticed?

I absolutely would not be putting up with this. Not your issue your neighbours are living in a house that doesn’t have a drive big enough to fit their vehicles. Not your issue your neighbour chooses to block their own driveway. One of my neighbours illegally sublets rents their garage to a gardening company and the damage the constant back and forwards has done to the shared drive is disgusting. Obviously the company aren’t going to pay and the neighbour won’t either, so I’m left with a crumbling driveway that is getting worse every day!

I would ask them politely again to stop doing it and if they don’t install a concrete post on the corner.

Planters

So she briefly drives over the corner of your drive to get to hers.

No blocking in, no overhanging, no actual inconvenience to you. Your drive isn't going to wear away or be damaged by this. It's a car driving on a drive not a tank or a hgv.

Gosh I think you're completely mental 🤣 if you've paved your drive with something that can't be driven on, that's insane and if you are worrying about normal use of a drive by a car, presumably once or twice a day, I don't think that should damage anything. Get a grip and find something else to worry about 🤣

It absolutely will get damaged if there is a difference in levels - ie one is lower than the other, because the corners will become a weak spot.

What about the drive getting damaged where she is crossing it? And why should someone cross someone else’s land when there is a answer to the problem they just won’t pay for it!

Op can park your car further down your drive so she can’t cut across. That’s what I would on

They probably didn't ask because you don't sound very neighbourly and they also thought driving over your drive for 2 seconds wouldn't bother you.
I can't see why it bothers you. They haven't caused any damage and it is not going to add any noticeable wear and tear. Of course you can put a fence or whatever but it sounds a load of pointless drama.

Ohhhhhh. I do that. At my in laws house. I drive over the neighbours driveway to get into theirs. I’ve never thought about it being an issue - I don’t think I could get into the driveway if I didn’t. They haven’t said anything. But maybe I should say something??