Neighbour blocking driveway

[TamTims]

I have some new neighbours who are moving into the house in stages. Where i live parking is limited - each house has space for 1 or 2 cars on the drive but that's it really - there's limited space on the road itself without blocking in other cars.

Twice now the new neighbours have parked their car or van that fully blocks my drive so I can't get my car out.

I've asked politely not to block my drive but each time they have responded angrily saying they have to park there for convenience. I explained they could have asked me first to park there out of courtesy, and I would have agreed, but just blocking my drive without asking was unacceptable. Even after me asking them the first time not to block my drive without asking, they did it again later. On both occasions when I spoke to them they responded in disprectful and hostile manner. They thought they had the right to block my drive since they were moving in..

I'd never dream of blocking anyone's driveway and just don't understand the mentality of these people.

A previous neighbour regularly had visitors who'd block my driveway and I had to go round and ask them to move their car which was usually met with annoyance.

AIBU to expect people not to block my driveway under any circumstance? Why do people think its ok to block someone's drive?

This has really upset me, I live alone with my young daughter and don't want to be having issues with the neighbours.

Thank you..

Send them a formal letter to cease and desist and install cameras. And tell them so.

They sound delightful. I mean, why would you want to piss your neighbours off before you’d even moved in?

If they’d knocked and said “Hi I’m Roger, we’re moving on next door and we might need to block the drive for a bit while we move stuff in. If you need us to move, just knock. Hope that’s ok!” It would be a different eh?

Nobody wants neighbour issues, but this is going to be one of those situations where you have to firmly and consistently stand up for yourself.

Is there a dropped kerb?

Just park there yourself.

Absolutely. I completely understand why it was handy for them to park there and had they just knocked and asked me, I'd have said of course. Doing so without asking is rude and entitled and their response when I asked them to move was pretty disgusting I thought. They clearly have no respect and I think im going to have problems with them. Im only renting so hopefully I can find somewhere else if it gets worse.

My road is a bit strange as there aren't any pavements, so there's no kerb at all.

Are they parked there because they are moving stuff in?

If so, then I wouldn't dream of complaining, as by the sounds of it, it would be ridiculous having to park much further away and carry all the stuff over to the house.

Did you actually need to get out, or did you just ask them to move the car/van because it was blocking your drive?

It sounds like from your post they are parking there to enable them to move stuff into their house?

Was it actually inconveniencing you as in did you need to get out or were you just going out to complain because the van was there?

I think I'd give new neighbours in the process of moving in some leeway rather than set out to cause animosity.

Park your car there. Also...ring doorbell or cameras

That’s what I’ve had to end up doing. We parik one on front one on drive. Could get two cars on drive but we were often blocked in so it’s easier to block each other in

Some neighbours are weird. You don’t have to be best friends but you’d think it would be in people’s interests to be on decent terms even if it’s just “hi” and “bye”.

Not as bad as your situation OP, but I lived in a block of flats and although most people were friendly, there was a couple of different people who if you said hello to them in the corridor, they would just blank you. Made it really awkward if you had to get in the lift with them.

Can’t you park half in and half out of your drive so they can’t get there car there ?

So if you were moving stuff to a new house, you'd just patk over the neighbours drive, blocking them in, without even asking them first if that's ok? I already said, if they had asked me first, id have agreed. You don't ever block someone's drive without asking, under any circumstances, even moving in, in my opinion.

Normally I agree with don’t block peoples drives when parking but in this case I think YABU. They are not parking up for the night and blocking you in, they are parking and unloading the van.

So you are indeed repeatedly going out to make the point that they are blocking you when moving items into their new home just because they didn't have the forethought to knock and ask even though you admit you would have said yes?

You sound like a very petty neighbour. Sometimes it's nice to be nice and if it's not actually causing you a problem then most people would have been understanding of them doing so.

But they should have had the courtesy to ask @TamTims first

My children have medical issues that mean I often have to rush them to hospital. I don't see why anyone ever has the right to block my car in without checking with me

I’d personally sit there with my hand on the horn if they’re being difficult! It’s illegal to block someone’s drive if they’re parked on it so they are certainly in the wrong

It s not petty at all, it gives op the chance to say if she will need to get out by a particular time or if it will in fact inconvenience her

I agree with you. It's rude, thoughtless and disrespectful. They have shown no consideration for what other people might have going on in their lives

Did you need to get in or out of your drive?

That's not relevant. They dont have the right to deprive her of the option without checking first.

Were they actually dropping off their things as in actively unloading a larger than normal vehicle in which case you are being unnecessarily aggressive, if you need to move your car than absolutely fine to al them to let you in or out but we all need to be understanding when someone is moving in/out because you may need to be at a different angle for access for instance. If it’s simply they have more vehicles than there are spaces for that’s different but still going in all guns blazing is setting you up for trouble

Ordinarily moving day is a true exception to the norm and I would give people extra grace. But when you knocked and asked the to shift it they should have apologised and done so straight away. The problem for me is more the attitude than the initial offence but either way it doesn't bode well for the future.

It seems they were indeed just moving items in so a temporary inconvenience which most people would give no thought to.

It's sad how many posters on this thread immediately jump to assuming the neighbours are terrible people.