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..

What if someone needs to get out? To pick up a child or get to a hospital appointment or go to work?

Asking isn't just polite, it's essential

Exactly!

It's never ok to block people in without asking, you have no idea what's going on in their lives.

It would be better if they'd knocked and asked first. But given that moving is pretty exceptional, I think you're adding fuel to the fire by complaining to them when you didn't need to get out and you're just adding to the chance that your ongoing relationship is going to be unfriendly or even adversarial.

Moving is stressful and a bit of grace from others goes a long way.

In this situation how would that have helped the OP has said she would have happily agreed to let them park there.

I find it convenient that the OPs apparent need to go out was missed from the first post and only added later.

Thars irrelevant. It says something about their character that they didn't ask first. They didn't know whether or not it would be fine for Op

I’d park across my own drive for a while, just to make the point. And I wouldn’t be taking parcels in for them going forward - rude idiots!

But that could be hours. Are you just supposed to say - oh ok, I won’t leave my house for hours now.

They sound awful. A normal person would just apologise, move their car to let you out and move theirs back if it’s to do with moving in. Then move it once they’re done.

Totally normal for movers to temporarily block people in - as long as they move as soon as you say you need to go out.

You could have asked then first.

Moving might be stressful but getting a call from school to say my son was having an anaphylactic reaction only to find there was a great big furniture lorry blocking my drive was considerably more stressful than any house move I can assure you.

If my neighbours had asked me I would have explained the numerous reasons I needed to be able to get in and out of the drive at all times and they could have parked the lorry somewhere else.

Thankfully they and the lorry driver were mortified but it could have all been spared if they had asked me first (my study was at the back of the house so I didn't realise till I got the call)

You need to in the future park at the furthest end of your driveway as near to the road as possible

The fact they spoke aggressively towards you is the main issue.

Quite.

The answers on here amaze me. Such hostility over a non issue.

The neighbours over the road did it to their next door when moving in. When she needed to go out she just asked them to move it to let her out, they parked back there and moved again when she needed to come back in. It was only whilst they were unloading. I was painting my fence, hence seeing it.

You need to clarify if this was when they were moving in or is it an ongoing issue?

I had this issue in my old house. One of the neighbours had 3 cars and kept parking one in front of my driveway so we couldn't get out. Sometimes he'd move the car when I asked, but often he wouldn't even open the door. He seemed annoyed that I was asking.

At some point I was 8 months pregnant and worried that we would end up getting a cab to the hospital. I got annoyed and called the council's parking enforcement. A parking warden turned up and left a ticket on the neighbour's windshield - it is illegal to block someone's dropped kerb. The neighbour never did it again

You are clearly privileged enough not to need to rush out sometimes to deal with medical emergencies

So you're insinuating I deliberately missed it off my original post? The fact is, I did need to go out and move my car - I have a busy life, im a single mum, have to be able to pick her up if needed, have errands. I have the right not to be trapped in my own home. What if they decided to leave the cars and go off for a bite to eat for an hour or two? I didn't mention about going out in the first post because my point was about blocking people in without asking. It's irrelevant whether i needed to go out.

Way to get off on the wrong foot with your new neighbours. They should have asked but maybe you could have let it go today as they are moving in. Different if it was every day

If they continue doing it, organise for a tow truck to come and remove the offending vehicle.
Their aggressive responses are a way to try and stop you complaining.

I clarified they were moving in. I hope it isn't an ongoing issue, but who knows.

I mentioned it was an ongoing issue with a previous neighbour and couldn't understand the mindset of someone blocking another driveway. To me it's extremely selfish, rude and entitled. Even worse is blocking someone's drive and then being a total arse about it when they politely ask you to move!

Yes they certainly got off on the wrong foot with their new neighbour.

Couldn’t you just give them the benefit of doubt though? They would need to park there to get their stuff inside so the adult thing to do would be to just let them off whilst unloading. Fair enough to say something on a normal day but when people are moving I think you need to be accommodating.

I don’t think I’m an entitled person yet I wouldn’t ask, as I’d just hope the neighbour wouldn’t mind. I’d ask if I saw you, and apologise, but I wouldn’t ask as if you say no, then I’m screwed.

You say you don’t want a bad relationship with them but you’re creating issues unnecessarily.

You're the annoying neighbour to be honest.

If this were me, I'd be knocking and asking them to move because you need to get out of your drive EVERY single time they do it. Then just drive around the block for 2 mins and go back. They might have parked there again already, so you'll have to knock again. And they'll have to move again. If they cotton on and start putting the car back there as soon as you are home again, leave it half an hour then say you need to go out again. Do this as many times a day as you can possibly stand, until they eventually get sick of moving for you. And put up a Ring camera in your doorway or window so all of this will be recorded.