The driveway drama continues. Neighbours are still driving me insane. What should I do now?

[9champions]

I’m not sure if anyone remembers my last thread, but to save me from explaining the background, I’ll link it here - https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5482826-neighbour-using-my-drive-landlord-wont-help-what-can-i-do?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

I’m not really looking for opinions on that since we’ve already discussed it. However, I’d like to hear your thoughts on what’s happened since then and what I should do next.

After chatting with the neighbour and her outright refusing to stop, I decided to put up my own fence for some privacy and to stop her from using my driveway. I considered putting down planters, boulders, etc. (which I’ll get to in a minute), but I figured a fence would be a better option since it’s sturdier. It’s not ideal because my driveway is pretty narrow, and the extra cost is frustrating, but their fence is right on the boundary line anyway, so hopefully, it won’t make a big difference, and I’ll still have enough space to get in and out of my car.

I’ve been trying to get someone to come over and give me a quote for the last few weeks, but I’ve been let down a couple of times. Finally, someone is coming this week to have a look. Now, about the planters. I’ve been parking my car there as usual, but somehow she’s still managed to squeeze past. I wanted to put something there while I was away this weekend until the fence was up, so I placed 2 long thin planters there (on my land, not hers). I got home yesterday, and there was a knock on the door. It was her saying she ran over the planters and broke them, offering to pay for a new one, etc. I said no (they were £2.50, so I’m not going to bother asking for that), but isn’t this just ridiculous? The planters were on my drive, so the only reason she hit them was because she drove over my property. She tried to claim she clipped them with her back wheel, but that wouldn’t have happened if she wasn’t cutting across the drive in the first place. It was honestly like something out of a comedy sketch.

I’d be more sympathetic if this was their only choice, but it’s not. They could:

Take down their fence so he can park the van there instead and put the car on the street to create more space.

Talk to the landlord again about the fence.

Talk to their neighbours and ask them to leave more room on the road for the van.

Move the van when she needs to go out or come back home.

They’re opting for the easiest, most convenient solution, even if it means damaging someone else's property. It just reaches a point where it becomes bone idle.

So what should I do now? Continue with the fence and hope she doesn’t crash into it or damage it? I can let the planter go, but not a fence. I’ve already asked her nicely, and she made excuses. I’ve put obstacles in her way, and she’s just driven over them. So what else can I do? Should I really have to go through all this trouble to stop someone from using my property?

What’s even more confusing is that she says she can’t get out of her car on the side of the fence because there isn’t enough space, so she has to pull onto the driveway instead of reversing and driving off in a straight line. But her partner was in the passenger seat yesterday and got out on that side just fine, so there’s clearly enough room. I think she’s just a bad / lazy driver and doesn’t want to reverse on.

Before anyone says it’s not causing any damage, I don’t care. It’s my property, and I don’t want them using it. If it was now and again, that would be different, but not every day, multiple times a day. They've been dicks and unhelpful in the past, so no, I don't feel like helping them out either.

I feel for you, but stand strong. This is THEIR problem of not being able to manoeuvre a car, not your problem! You can do whatever you like within your boundary!!
If you don’t want to speak to them, I’d put a note back through their door with a receipt for the planters stating you are expecting the money. State also that you will continue to put things on your property in the same location & they will expect to pay for any more damage. (Try to find something WIDE & tall!!) State that you will be getting a fence put in within the month & you suggest they improve their parking skills otherwise the CONCRETE fence posts will cause a nasty repair job that will NOT be your fault as you are giving them plenty of notice about what is to happen within YOUR boundary! Put all this in writing, photograph putting it through their door, job done. Get fence put up asap, definitely concrete posts! Then you never have to worry again.
I’m shocked they are so completely incapable of driving!!
If you want, get a tall male family member/friend to do the posting through the door. I agree that they are potentially taking the piss as you are a single female. That infuriates me even more!!
Keep us updated, don’t give up, you are totally in the right here!

Message her ‘thank you for the note. Here are my bank details, please transfer x. I should let you know I have a fence being put up shortly on my boundary to protect my planters.’

and get cameras now before the fence goes up.

This is the perfect response!
Wait til they've gone out OP and pop the note in the house.

"It's unfortunate that you've somehow driven on my property twice and destroyed my new planters. Here's my bank details for £X replacement cost.
Just as an FYI, I will have a new fence erected next month"

excellent response 👌 best of luck to you ✊❤️

I’m also worried because someone mentioned that if I put up a fence on my side and she hits it, she could claim damages from me.
No. It's on your property and you have refused her access so she would have to be trespassing. And her car insurance wouldn't accept her hitting stationary objects either.

Put your bank details on a note and request a lot for the planters, soil, plants, say £100. Consider it compensation for your time and efforts, and a fine for her twattery. It's her OP, not you, and if you don't make a stand now she will make your life even more miserable. Good luck

Do you have legal cover included in your household or buildings insurance cover - if so, ring them and get some free advice. I've found them very useful on the one occasion I rang them.

OP the neighbour is a CF.

Build the wall/fence but 100% get a ring door bell or security camera to prove liability when
the dumb neighbour knocks into it.

You don’t deserve this, you can tell your a genuine nice person who has reached the end of their patience.

I don't see how she could claim damages from you if she hits a fence that is within your boundary. Firstly she shouldn't be driving in a place where she can hit the fence - she hasn't been given permission to drive over your land. Secondly, it is a stationary object - she should be able to avoid a stationary object - whether it be a fence, car, person or flower pot.

If she can't park on her drive with the fence there, she needs to think of an alternative parking option.
Do you have any friends/family that you can invite over after the fence is put in.

May be good to have someone there for moral support if the neighbour isn't happy about the fence appearing.
I did read the other thread and some of this one - I can't remember if you have any form of camera on your driveway but may be worth having one so there is evidence of neighbours behaviour. ( or if a friendly neighbour has a camera and will let you view the footage when needed).

You need to stop being nice. 100% she wouldn't still be doing it if you were a chavvy aggro type of person that would kick off. Not saying that's the type of person to aspire to being but she clearly isn't worried about ignoring your requests.

Ive seen a few of these kinds of discussions on landlord forums. Most of them are not going to get entangled in petty neighbour complaints unless the dispute is serious enough to involve official bodies such as police or the local authority. Or there is a likelihood of damage to HIS property and therefore HIS pocket. You are not his neighbour and he doesnt have to live with whats going on. He might make the right noises to shut you up and then just kick it into the long grass, After all the tenant is paying HIS mortgage so he wont want to piss her off. In my experience, LLs will only become involved if they want rid of the tenant for some other reason and neighbour complaints add weight to the case.

I so want too be in court when she explains why it’s your fault that she can’t avoid stationary objects in her car. Truly.

I fear a fence is simply going to upscale the amount of money she’s going to be paying for repairs. You need something that’s going to cause some serious damage to her car and not be damaged itself. I recommend a couple of concrete bollards, maybe with a chain between them.

Buy a concrete column former (which is just a big cardboard tube), about 8” in diameter and six feet long. Get your builder to dig a hole 3’ deep and back fill. Then fill the tube with cement. Three or four bags will do it. Put some reinforcing bar down the bore too. Two days later the cardboard tube will peel off. Job done, very cheap.

Perhaps paint it canary yellow, because the neighbour obviously has eyesight problems.

I guarantee you she won’t hit it a second time.

I’m also worried because someone mentioned that if I put up a fence on my side and she hits it, she could claim damages from me.

Ive only read your posts, but thats fucking bullshit. If your fence is obvious and clear, you should be able to claim if she damages your fence

Brilliant

I do hope the OP does this !

She won't be able to claim damages. It's on your side and it's your fence. It's the same if you hit a bollard or a neighbors front wall
I can't believe she's broke another bloody planter!!!! I'm so frustrated for you but don't let it keep getting to you, the fence will be a massive deterrent
Perhaps you could complain now to her landlord? I think that would be my next step. Keep the notes etc as proof she's breaking stuff on your side.
I also would send her your bank details over in a note and charge say £20-£50 and thank her for letting you know about the second planter to be damaged..
And mention that going forward you reiterate your private driveway is not to be used in any way and you will be getting a fence or posts put up shortly.

Try not to let it stress you too much, it's almost amusing and at the end of the day they rent and you own so you have some recourse. You are also simply in the right and the fence should help. If she's thick enough to crash into the fence then they have to pay, its really simple
Perhaps now is a good time for a ring doorbell or a small unobtrusive camera too.

At the front of my driveway/front garden I have wooden posts and a chain connecting them. Would something like that be useful for the time being? She can't drive through a chain. Lol

Look at getting a 'gabion cage' wall. They are those metal cages you fill with rocks to create a wall. They are relatively cheap and come in all shapes and sizes. Can order online and fill with rocks yourself.

I imagine would be very sturdy and impossible to drive over!

YANBU.

Had a similar prob with a neighbour years ago. I spoke to them many times. I blocked one car in whilst I went home and dropped stuff off before going out again, he was pissed but whatever. He didn't park on my drive again, but others did. It was relentless.

I put a concrete fence between our drives. Didn't cause me probs at all. Their drive was narrow so obvs their prob. I sold the house and vowed to only buy a detached house in future.

After breaking another planter, part of me thinks she's done it on purpose. She wasn't charged last time she did it and she's probably hoping to break you down to the point it feels "easier" for you to just give in to what she wants. She wants to drive over your private property despite being told not to. She is a CF and beyond unreasonable.

I echo all the previous posters who've advised getting a Ring doorbell or similar. Do this ASAP. Photograph her notes. Establish and collect evidence. Reply with your bank details and tack on the cost of the previous one, too. Charge for soil and plants, too:

"Thank you for your note. Here are my bank details, please transfer £50 to cover the damage you caused. Just so you know, a fence is being put up shortly to prevent this happening again and to ensure my driveway and property are completely off limits. There will also be cameras to monitor everything."

She'll have to change her ways when the inconvenience and costs become hers. They're yours right now, so she's not bothered. Put the blame, the stress, and the financial demands back on her. Charge the CF for every little thing. She'll soon learn how to park perfectly.

Sorry you're going through this, it's really unfair. You're right though - don't let her break you!

To be frank, if the neighbour has difficulty accessing her drive, unfortunately that’s her problem, not yours.

You are doing the right thing to prevent her disrespecting you and your property by installing a sturdy fence.

This with bells on. I’d also be asking her to come and clear up the stones and mess she made. It was very nice of you not to charge her the first time round, but if I’d done it I’d certainly have gone round and cleared up the mess.

OP, copying another thread about simple large rocks that did the trick for another poster. In her case she didn't bother with a conversation, she strategically placed some large rocks on her property (on or near her drive) and it seems it worked... Simple rocks might do the trick it seems...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/amibeingunreasonable/5488795-neighbour-damaged-his-car-on-my-drive

Ignore the unpleasant posts OP.

Id not like this either. A PP recommended laying sleepers down on the border. They are heavy and bulky. Maybe lay one on top of an another.

Yes

That's an excellent response!

I might be minded to add that, should she damage your new fence, you will expect the costs of any repair/replacement to it caused by her negligence to be covered by her car insurance, as it is likely to be considerably more expensive than the cost of replacing planters.

Bloody hell what a useless driver and CF she is!