Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to ask neighbours' builders to stop using our driveway?

26 replies

ThisBrickPombear · 17/08/2026 23:35

We have a slightly odd driveway arrangement where our driveway and our neighbours’ driveway meet/cross at the bottom, but there are still clearly parts that belong to us and parts that belong to them.

Our neighbours are having a new patio put in. This morning, with no warning or conversation with us beforehand, a large van from the landscaping company arrived and parked on the end section of the driveway. They then set up their cement mixer at the end of our driveway and have also been using an angle grinder there to cut the slabs.

It’s obviously extremely noisy, but it’s also sending dust everywhere and everything now seems to have a fine film of dust over it.

What’s particularly irritating me is that they could have used their own driveway for all of this. they have cars parked on it which they could have moved, but instead our bit seems to have become the convenient place for the landscapers to park and work. Nobody asked us if this was okay or even gave us a heads-up that the work was happening. I only found out this morning when the angle grinder started while I was on a work call!

To complicate matters, our house is currently on the market and we have a viewing tomorrow. I went over and asked whether the landscapers would be there tomorrow and was told yes, although they said they’d stop working while the viewing was actually taking place.

In fairness they have swept up the sand tonight and I appreciate that people are perfectly entitled to have work done to their own homes and that some noise and disruption from neighbours is just part of life. I’m not objecting to them having a patio built.

But AIBU to think that they’re being CFs by using our section of the driveway for the van, cement mixer and slab cutting without even asking us? Isnt that pretty inconsiderate? Especially when they have their own driveway they could use?

AIBU to ask them to use their own driveway tomorrow?

OP posts:
LordEmsworth · 17/08/2026 23:39

Why would you be unreasonable? Why on earth did you not tell them today, get off my driveway?

OnTheBoardwalk · 17/08/2026 23:43

I voted wrong at first as didn’t understand the question then changed it

move them and everything they do from your driveway

Hadalifeonce · 17/08/2026 23:43

Just tell the workmen that you don't want them using your driveway. If they need to do this work off the road, they should ask their clients to move their cars.

Solaire18381 · 17/08/2026 23:53

You're not being unreasonable, I've had similar happen,on more than one occasion . Some builders are a law unto themselves. Ask them to move, politely.

DecisionTime123 · 17/08/2026 23:57

They can't use any part of your driveway, at all, for any reason. Why on earth did you let them crack on with it today?

CormorantIsland · 18/08/2026 00:15

It would put w off from buying it, seeing how your neighbours uses your drive. No way wold I buy a house with such a neighbour.

OtterlyMad · 18/08/2026 07:56

Bloody hell, some people just have no shame.

We had our driveway done last year so I knocked on all my closest neighbours the week before to warn them and apologise in advance - and we live in a detached house!

You are much more patient than me as I would have told the labourers to shift their vehicles and cement mixer immediately.

saveforthat · 18/08/2026 08:00

OtterlyMad · 18/08/2026 07:56

Bloody hell, some people just have no shame.

We had our driveway done last year so I knocked on all my closest neighbours the week before to warn them and apologise in advance - and we live in a detached house!

You are much more patient than me as I would have told the labourers to shift their vehicles and cement mixer immediately.

And some people have no backbone. Why wouldn't you just tell them to move as soon as you saw what they are doing?

WonderingWanda · 18/08/2026 08:02

Did you tell the workmen they were actually on your driveway?

OtterlyMad · 18/08/2026 08:11

saveforthat · 18/08/2026 08:00

And some people have no backbone. Why wouldn't you just tell them to move as soon as you saw what they are doing?

Think you’ve responded to the wrong person, I am not the OP.

heartsinvisiblefury · 18/08/2026 08:12

You are being unreasonable for asking if you're being unreasonable !

Thecomedyclub · 18/08/2026 08:15

You forgot the diagram OP! You should have told them yesterday to move. Your potential buyer will be concerned about the shared driveway being an issue and all you’re doing is confirming their worries. Hope you are out there telling them now!

Inventorofthetoasterstreudel · 18/08/2026 08:21

CormorantIsland · 18/08/2026 00:15

It would put w off from buying it, seeing how your neighbours uses your drive. No way wold I buy a house with such a neighbour.

This. If I came to view the house and saw the neighbours taking the piss with the driveway it would be a huge red flag to me and make me wonder what other issues I’d potentially be dealing with. Tell them to get it moved.

saveforthat · 18/08/2026 08:24

OtterlyMad · 18/08/2026 08:11

Think you’ve responded to the wrong person, I am not the OP.

Yes I know that, I just jumped on the some people have no shame. It wasn't a response to you.

OneBiccieTwoBiccie · 18/08/2026 08:27

There's a good chance the landscapers asked if they were alright working there and the neighbours have said yes.
Speak to the landscaper directly and point out the boundary, just politely say I appreciate it can be misleading but your working on my driveway/property and I haven't agreed to it, plus your disturbing me.
A decent company will apologise and shift their bums! Don't ask the neighbour about it, they'll possibly lie and blame the landscaper or say they'll ask and then won't. Only you know what kind of neighbours you have but just ask the landscapers to move.
They will sweep and clean up after everyday so it doesn't indicate they know whose drive is whose.

LejlaKapovic · 18/08/2026 08:41

ThisBrickPombear · 17/08/2026 23:35

We have a slightly odd driveway arrangement where our driveway and our neighbours’ driveway meet/cross at the bottom, but there are still clearly parts that belong to us and parts that belong to them.

Our neighbours are having a new patio put in. This morning, with no warning or conversation with us beforehand, a large van from the landscaping company arrived and parked on the end section of the driveway. They then set up their cement mixer at the end of our driveway and have also been using an angle grinder there to cut the slabs.

It’s obviously extremely noisy, but it’s also sending dust everywhere and everything now seems to have a fine film of dust over it.

What’s particularly irritating me is that they could have used their own driveway for all of this. they have cars parked on it which they could have moved, but instead our bit seems to have become the convenient place for the landscapers to park and work. Nobody asked us if this was okay or even gave us a heads-up that the work was happening. I only found out this morning when the angle grinder started while I was on a work call!

To complicate matters, our house is currently on the market and we have a viewing tomorrow. I went over and asked whether the landscapers would be there tomorrow and was told yes, although they said they’d stop working while the viewing was actually taking place.

In fairness they have swept up the sand tonight and I appreciate that people are perfectly entitled to have work done to their own homes and that some noise and disruption from neighbours is just part of life. I’m not objecting to them having a patio built.

But AIBU to think that they’re being CFs by using our section of the driveway for the van, cement mixer and slab cutting without even asking us? Isnt that pretty inconsiderate? Especially when they have their own driveway they could use?

AIBU to ask them to use their own driveway tomorrow?

Why didn't you ask them to stop using your parking when you went over and spoke to them?

mamajong · 18/08/2026 08:46

Ideally you should have told them.yesterday. Do you not use your drive yourselves? If not they might havd just assumed it was ok, which btw is crazy entitled to me, but some people are just like that, never ceases to amaze me how little consideration people have for others, but thats another thread. Yanbu, tell them no.

MyPurpleHeart · 18/08/2026 09:01

Your viewers aren't going to want to walk past workmen covering them in dust to access your house. Either cancel the viewing or tell the workmen to shift.

BusyMum47 · 18/08/2026 09:04

LordEmsworth · 17/08/2026 23:39

Why would you be unreasonable? Why on earth did you not tell them today, get off my driveway?

This!!!!!!! ☝️☝️☝️☝️

SunnyRedSnail · 18/08/2026 09:14

@ThisBrickPombear you need to be assertive.

I would have spoken to the builder and said "Can I ask why you're using my driveway?" And then told them politely that sorry, they need to use the neighbours own driveway, and could they please move all their stuff.

Unless of course they want to rent your driveway for £200 a day... (but will need to clean up after themselves each day)

Inertia · 18/08/2026 09:21

Tell them they can’t use your driveway at any time, not just when the viewing takes place.

ErlingHaalandsManBun · 18/08/2026 09:22

See, the minute I realised they were using my driveway I would have been out there to talk to them and would have politely asked them to move.

If they need somewhere to set their stuff up then this should be done on the neighbours driveway and they need to move their cars.

We recently had workmen in and every morning we would get up early and move our car off our driveway so they could access it to set up their stuff and access their van. It just boggles the mind that your neighbours haven't done this. Some people 🙄

makeaplantpot · 18/08/2026 09:22

Don't be such a wet blanket OP. Don't ask them, TELL them they're on your land and they need to shift.
Did you really need to ask???

Thecomedyclub · 18/08/2026 23:32

makeaplantpot · 18/08/2026 09:22

Don't be such a wet blanket OP. Don't ask them, TELL them they're on your land and they need to shift.
Did you really need to ask???

Apparently OP was more keen to ask Mumsnetters than the actual workers parking on her drive. Ffs.

Blondeshavemorefun · 19/08/2026 01:26

We need a diagram - but yes course they shouldn’t be on your drive / but maybe they didn’t reliese it was yours and not the people they are working for

why you ask them to move - or park your car there - tho that means car will then get dusty