How can I stop a neighbour parking on my property?
Discussion
So, how can I stop my neighbour parking on my drive. My drive is not shared, but between the houses there was only enough width for one car. There used to be garages (now both knocked down and extensions built) at the back however these were built after the houses (1930s) and there is nothing on the deeds stating shared access or responsibility. My boundary is straight down the middle marked by a dotted line which my solicitor explained to me when I bought the house was the “boundary with no physical boundary”, he also said I could fence it if I wanted.
Recently I had my drive done and I have fenced down the middle of the drive between the houses (as others have done on the street) with a gated access to the front (she used to park in this space 50/50 on each side prior to this). I spoke to her before I had to work done (6 months in advance) and she said she was fine with it her words – “it’s your boundary, do what you like”. She now just parks in front of the gate making access for me difficult (again). We have to share a drop kerb wide enough for 1 vehicle.
She doesn’t want to lose her front garden or path and only has enough width to park 50% of her car on her property. I can drive on via the shared drop kerb at an angle and not touch her drive, but with her car parked 50% on my side I have to drive over the grass verge & kerb. The boundary is clear as my drive is block paved, hers concrete.
I have spoken about it this whole situation with her over the last couple of years, first off about getting the drive done together so we could all park (she didn’t want to – couldn’t afford, also didn’t want to lose garden) and second off saying I’m not happy about her parking on my property.
I wish I’d just stuck a waist level picket fence up down to the pathway, but didn’t because I thought it would make access for her harder should she get her drive done (I don’t mind, I can drive) and at the time I thought that was a step too far. I assumed the obvious boundary of two different surfaces would be enough to make it obvious who’s is what.
And to top it off she’s now peed off with us for suggesting she can’t park on our property! I cannot see how I am in the wrong here, what’s the best course of action ->
- Erect a small fence
- Solicitors (would rather not spend money on this nor get into a proper dispute, so far I have been thoughtful and understanding in comms as I would prefer to get along)
- Tow her car off my property (ha)
- Clamp her car and charge £500 to release (ha)
- Suggest she finds another neighbours drive to park on without permission(ha)
- Send her on a common sense course?
- Anything else?
She’s lived there for 15 years, I think she thinks because she has been there longer it’s alright for her to park where ever she fancies.
Cheers
Recently I had my drive done and I have fenced down the middle of the drive between the houses (as others have done on the street) with a gated access to the front (she used to park in this space 50/50 on each side prior to this). I spoke to her before I had to work done (6 months in advance) and she said she was fine with it her words – “it’s your boundary, do what you like”. She now just parks in front of the gate making access for me difficult (again). We have to share a drop kerb wide enough for 1 vehicle.
She doesn’t want to lose her front garden or path and only has enough width to park 50% of her car on her property. I can drive on via the shared drop kerb at an angle and not touch her drive, but with her car parked 50% on my side I have to drive over the grass verge & kerb. The boundary is clear as my drive is block paved, hers concrete.
I have spoken about it this whole situation with her over the last couple of years, first off about getting the drive done together so we could all park (she didn’t want to – couldn’t afford, also didn’t want to lose garden) and second off saying I’m not happy about her parking on my property.
I wish I’d just stuck a waist level picket fence up down to the pathway, but didn’t because I thought it would make access for her harder should she get her drive done (I don’t mind, I can drive) and at the time I thought that was a step too far. I assumed the obvious boundary of two different surfaces would be enough to make it obvious who’s is what.
And to top it off she’s now peed off with us for suggesting she can’t park on our property! I cannot see how I am in the wrong here, what’s the best course of action ->
- Erect a small fence
- Solicitors (would rather not spend money on this nor get into a proper dispute, so far I have been thoughtful and understanding in comms as I would prefer to get along)
- Tow her car off my property (ha)
- Clamp her car and charge £500 to release (ha)
- Suggest she finds another neighbours drive to park on without permission(ha)
- Send her on a common sense course?
- Anything else?
She’s lived there for 15 years, I think she thinks because she has been there longer it’s alright for her to park where ever she fancies.
Cheers
1Matt1 said:
“it’s your boundary, do what you like."
That. Enforce the boundary.I would personally have one last try at getting her to see sense, then fence the lot, and make sure it's in something solid enough to hurt if she "accidentally" drives into it or it somehow gets vandalised.
Then be prepared to have your drive blocked at every opportunity they get.
TA14 said:
Jesus!! That's like swatting a fly with a cannon! Even a smallish one (45cm) full of compost would weigh enough to not want to move it so 3/4 of those would be fine.
Cheers guys, I was beginning to doubt myself that I’m being unreasonable.
Planters are an option, but drive slopes at quite a gradient. Not impossible though! Fence/chain is the solution I reckon.
Can’t extend drop kerb, paid £80 for them to inspect and they said no as my drive isn’t deep enough (needs to be 5m min, it’s 4.5m at the bay window, 5m at the door, but other houses on the street have had it done with the same scenario… however policy has changed since then!). Maybe I’ll pay someone cash to do it on the sly….
She’s just being an ar se. No need.
Planters are an option, but drive slopes at quite a gradient. Not impossible though! Fence/chain is the solution I reckon.
Can’t extend drop kerb, paid £80 for them to inspect and they said no as my drive isn’t deep enough (needs to be 5m min, it’s 4.5m at the bay window, 5m at the door, but other houses on the street have had it done with the same scenario… however policy has changed since then!). Maybe I’ll pay someone cash to do it on the sly….
She’s just being an ar se. No need.
1Matt1 said:
I've only got this image, pre doing the drive and fence and pre me owning the house. I am on the Right. Picture is at a funny angle but basically I own in line with the Red line in the middle of the drive.
So, most other people have done the sensible thing and extended a parking area in front of their houses, however she wants to retain her garden? She wants to park on the road then. The only sensible options appears to be that you both start using bikes! 
I assume that you've lost the bush in your garden to give you the width for a proper drive?
And I assume she hasn't?
In which case, as above, she ain't got room for a car wider than about 2 foot!
ETA, after another look at the pic, in your situation I'd be putting a big proper fence right along the boundary, removing that bush, and having a nice wide drive in your front garden to get into .
The drop kerb looks low enough to mainly be ignored for driving over unless you have something stupidly low.
I assume that you've lost the bush in your garden to give you the width for a proper drive?
And I assume she hasn't?
In which case, as above, she ain't got room for a car wider than about 2 foot!
ETA, after another look at the pic, in your situation I'd be putting a big proper fence right along the boundary, removing that bush, and having a nice wide drive in your front garden to get into .
The drop kerb looks low enough to mainly be ignored for driving over unless you have something stupidly low.
Edited by Piersman2 on Thursday 10th January 13:12
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