Whats the UK law on a neighbour parking & blocking my drive whether there is a car on my drive or not?
Question:our neighbours have 2 cars, so do we, parking has always been a problem as our garages are at a close right angle with each other, so for 18 months we haven't used out garage, the neighbours haven't for a few months either, but the other night they decided they want to use their garage again, fine, but then they park the other car out side of their garage blocking our garage so we have to park elsewhere all the time, way up the road sometimes!
we've decided to move our garage back in our garden to give ourselves a drive to park in, what is the uk law on whether they could continue to park the second car at the end of our drive blocking us in or out?
They have no problem knocking on our door if our cars or visitors cars are the slightest bit in their way, & have told us (Nice of them) that we can knock & ask them to move if we DO want to use the garage! I have told them i do not want to disturb their time at home by knocking on their door, i was not brought up to disturb people like
Answers:
they should not block a dropped kerb it should be kept clear at all times
i don't think the law can help you here, try inviting the neighbours in and have a cuppa and a chat and resolve it that way.
The only law you can use is is the one of wilful obstruction. You would probably have to get a civil suit to serve it though as the police wont get involved.
If you want your car in your garage then chap there door. If your home first then block there drive and let them chap your door. Better still get rid of your second car and have your neighbour do the same. Bottom line is neither of you should be blocking the entrences to teh garages or drive ways.
It's an offence to park anywhere that constitutes an obstruction, and that includes blocking garages or drives. Inform the police. Of course, if you can get them to take any notice is another matter... Perhaps mention the magic words 'behaviour likely to lead to a breach of the peace'.
Get your car there first and keep it there...or write them a letter explaining how it is. Failing this, see a solicitor and get something written up.
If they are parked on your land (as in within your boundaries) there is such thing as right of way, therefore you can complain. However if they are parking on land infront of yours or their house (ie neither own it) then there is no law. My friend had the same problem and was unable to do anything. At the end of the day you need to keep good relations with your neighbours so as annoying as it may seem its best just to ask them to move. eventually if you ask them all the time they may just get annoyed and stop parking there !!
if you have a drop kerb your locail council can do something about it
talking is a good policy and one that may resolve any problems, especially if you explain to them precisely what is on your mind. iam not able to specify the law if any on this, but hope it can be resolved. Or just go out buy yourself a series 2 Land Rover park it on your drive, sorn it. and tell them your going to be restoring it but it cant be moved yet :-)
hmm.. a tough one... do you go by law or go by neighbour relations?
they seem to be decent enuf in telling to knock if there is a problem.. and they don't seem to be getting themselves worked up over your parking . you both have two cars so I doubt they feel they have the monopoly because they have lived there longer. We have 7 cars at present in my household and the driveway will only hold four max.. so we use the neighbours drive too. There is no animosity amongst us or any of the neighbours for that matter and we certainly don't think we have the monopoly because we have lived here longer and we have more cars...
I think you may just want to worry less about it and be concerned about things that really matter in the world. But in the meantime.. talk to your neighbours.. they do not seem to be unreasonable but you sprouting the law at them may just make them hostile towards you and then things just go down hill from there.
if you have a dropped kirb infront of your driveway and they block it they are breaking the law, if you have to drive up the kirb to enter your driveway,technically you are breaking the law for driving across the pavement,and there is nothing you can do to stop them parking infront of a drive wihout a dropped kirb
Several options here:
Talk to them about it first, see if you can get them to stop doing it by being reasonable. Make a point of the fact that you're having your garage moved so that you can park two cars without it getting in their way. Check if there would be enough room to get past if their car was parked tightly to one side.
See your solicitor about what access rights you have for your property, and whether this covers the garage. - this should have been looked into when you were doing searches etc before purchase. If it wasn't, get a better solicitor.
Park your car across the end of the drive, so it blocks THEM in instead, though this is a little antagonistic.
There can be an issue of 'custom and practice'.
If they have for a long period been in the custom of using a certain space and this has been acceptable and allowed.
You do say they "have told us...that we can knock & ask them to move if we DO want to use the garage!" So I would simply take them up on this by going to talk to them in calm and friendly way to explain that you need to use the space regularly and would appreciate it if it could be kept free.
It is far better to seek agreed solutions and maintain a better atmosphere than to start talking about 'Law' and getting too uptight about a situation that could, it seems, be fairly easily resolved.
go to the local by-law office at the town and ask for their input. I am having a hard time picturing this...is it a shared driveway to a pair of garages at back??..On the other hand if you knock on this a..holes door at 2:00 and 3:00 and 4:00 AM every hour on the hour to get in and out of the garage then you are doing as he or she has asked you to do..I think they will get the heck out of the driveway real quick..if they do not move the car you can call for a truck and have it towed as you have the right to access your garage at all times of the day and night...besides what if you had an emergency and they went for a walk...oops someone died due to I could not get car out to go to hospital on time... I WOULD TOW THE JERKS CAR AWAY.
I had a similar problem, when we moved house about a year ago. It wasn't the guy next door, is was his visitors (family) who kept blocking our driveway.
I had to go round about three times to ask them to move their car, before they got the message. I agree with you, that I don't really like to do that, but is was the only way.
I don't care if your neighbours have lived there for umpteen years, that sort of thing is disrespectful and inconsiderate. Perhaps if you knock on their door very early in the morning, they'll soon learn.
hi parking laws are a joke because the law say if your car is taxed moted and insured you can park any where on the public high way has long has there are no restrictions , but in your case it's about courtesy between neighbours you could also have a word with your council i hope this is some help tp you or have a word with the c.a.b good luck
Fill your tyres with that substance that prevents your tyres from puncturing. QVC have sold it in the past.
Then sprinkle some tin tacks across your driveway.
I sympathise with you about those dreadful neighbours. They sound as though they have the attitude that living there for so many years gives them special privileges.
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