Any help please driveway / selling up

diamondgirl007

Hi guys,

Bought our 3 bed semi in 2004. We're at the end of a closed cul-de-sac (which we were warned about but basically took no notice). Paid £500 to have a driveway laid in the garden. Contacted council at the time who said as the curb is dropped no need for planning, but to get Highways out to double check. Everything fine. The street at our end splits into a 'flat v' shape. Driveway was installed on an angle as 2 cars park either side of 'v shape'. We drive straight up the street and straight ahead onto drive. Problems start when neighbour, whose house is attached, starts to block us in (he gets himself an extra car) there are 2 cars are parked either side of the 'v' (4 cars in total) and he parks straight on blocking our drive (all in there are 5 cars to fit into what should be 4 spaces but as he has 2 cars he insists on parking one facing our driveway, causing a bit of a nuisance to the 2 cars parked either side but they can get out with care. We can't. He won't park along the street as he wants his car at his back door.

We go to council and police to be told nothing can be done unless he blocks us when were on the drive. Fair enough. As I was pregnant at the time we stopped using it altogether, too much hassle to keep asking him to move. Maybe we shouldn't have given in so easily. He claims he needs both cars under his CCTV camera as they keep getting vandalised (wonder why). This to me is an excuse as when his son had a car they did the same thing. No vandalism then. Over Christmas he catches me going out and asks as I am not using driveway can his wife use it. I advise that I would if he wouldn't block me, he replies I know but I need my car under the camera.

We have been told by the council that we can have a white line painted, at a cost to us, but we don't see the point. Seems like a waste of our money. The CEO's are only in work Mon-Sat 8-6 otherwise we need to inform the police. This would mean constant calls to the cops (who have better things to do) as obviously we work and aren't usually home between the hours of 8 and 6.

We've spoken to the neighbours who also aren't happy with his parking (if he doesnt get a space he blatantly just parks behind someone completely blocking them) but they don't seem willing to do anything, if indeed there is anything we can do. This is usually overnight.

Basically my question, when we come to sell the house, probably not for 4 years (in a fixed rate, we would ideally like to move earlier but cannot justify a penalty to get out of mortage) is this situation likely to offput buyers? We haven't fell out with the nieghbours, still speak etc, but he's a dafty. Is it wise to completely get rid ouf our driveway so buyers are none the wiser? Do we need to declare anything?

Sorry for the long post guys, thanks!

G_M

If buyers become aware of the problem, yes it will put them off. If.

I'm surprised by the police response "and police to be told nothing can be done".

It was my understanding that it was against the law to park blocking a dropped kerb. In fact 4 months ago I got a parking ticket for doing just that! No yellow line. No 'no waiting' sign. Just a dropped kerb.

If you are in the AA, or have legal advice with your home insurance, call them for legal advice to clarify, or go back to the police or whoever manages the local parking wardens.

Failing that, any way you and your other neighbours can block him in every time he parks inconsiderately? He's soon get the message.

chappers

If you are both parking legally within the boundries of your own property then I don't think there is much you can do, if he is parking outside of his property and blocking access across the dropped kerb onto your property then yes you probably can, but as you said it's probably a case of having to call the police everytime it happens.

diamondgirl007

Thanks guys. The Police said to go to the Council, Council said to go to the police. Neither really want much to do with it. The neighbour doesn't have off street parking, we are only one of two houses that do. One other neighbour has tried blocking him too but gave up when he realised it was just ending up tit for tat so to speak (and at the time he was trying to sell his house and didn't want repercussions for that).

Got up this morning to a car 5 inches from my passenger side (side by side) and 1 inch off my fence - again at the same house. Not a known car, must be a friend or something. Annoying to say the least!

Little upset that we seem to either have to put up with all this or ask him to move all the time. Also, that what we thought may add money to our property actually probably won't because Im quite concerned that when buyers attend at different times of the day they will end up put off by my inconsiderade dafty of a neighbour!

JasX

park on your drive and each time he blocks you in report it to the council / police as you have been advised.

Eventually he'll get sick of the parking tickets/paying to have his car towed away and stop no?

delmar39

Just in terms of your fixed rate you can port your existing deal to another property this way you don't pay the early redemption fee (this is what we're doing). The police and local authority do not like to get involved in neighbour disputes, which is what this is. We have a similar problem where we live. When selling a house you'll have to declare any complaints you make and also complete a section about your relationship with neighbours i.e. disclose any problems, so just be careful about what you do. You could get hold of your local Community Support Officer who should go round to chat to your neighbour about this or as it's a dropped curb they can actually get it removed. I know this isn't ideal, but perhaps you could park your own car in a position which prevents him parking there, but like I said, by no means ideal and I hear your frustration. It's a nightmare when neighbours aren't neighbourly and don't follow the unwritten rules. Hammer your local authority and local community officer, but just beware of the formal letters of complaint as you will have to declare these in case anyone buying your house looks into it after they've moved in.

diamondgirl007

Thanks guys, and that was useful into about the mortgage! We've actually got a review at the bank tomorrow so will look into it thanks.

Had the Police round 3 times to speak to him. Still no joy. Think we've resigned ourselves to the fact we may as well not have a driveway and that we should just be honest whe it comes to selling the house. Hopefully someone will still want it, maybe they don't have a car!!! Here's hoping!:)

dodgy

Buy an old banger and park it where he parks .. and leave it there. Okay, so you need to pay tax/insurance/MOT .. but it's worth it.

motherofstudents

I feel so sorry for you. We had a similar situation in a cul-de-sac. Fortunately we managed to sell the house. It was a huge relief and now we don't need to even think about parking or neighbours. You have to balance how stressful the situation is and whether you would be better of cutting your losses and getting away from there. If you can cope then try the old banger suggestion or similar but you don't want to make things worse. It seems to me it is just a form of bullying. I certainly felt I'd been forced to leave our house but I'm so glad we did. I hope you find a suitable solution.

diamondgirl007

Thanks everyone. I think you're right, the only way we will truly be happy is to sell!!! Here's to a speedy sale whenever it may happen!

Thanks everyone for all your help

natlol

If your looking to sell soon you dont want there to be a dispute recorded so if you can live with it until then it might be for the best. Me being me I would suggest some tit for tat tactics... the hired 7.5 ton lorry parked outside for a short while might drive the point home.