Neighbour's van has blocked in our garage

EatingGlitter

Hiya,

It's not a massive issue but we've just moved into our house and one of the reasons we bought it was because it had a garage.

The garage is accessible by an alleyway that backs onto our road and the road next to us. It is not owned by anybody at all.

So my OH went away for two weeks and put the car in the garage as he didn't want to leave it on the street for 2 weeks. I don't drive so I didn't need the car at all.

Last night he was back and wanted to take the car out to find that the alleyway that leads to the road was blocked by a white transit van just next door. Not too much of a problem at that point but my OH can't even take his motorbike in and out for work (he leaves really early in the morning).

Nobody has used our garage in it's correct context for over 7 years and none of our neighbours in the other direction use their garage and it's slightly overgrown. I can understand that the person who's van it is wouldn't know any different.

Would it be worth popping a note under their windscreen saying "Erm Hi, we can't get the car or the motorbike out because of where you've parked. Would you mind not parking there or park a bit further back?"

The thing is it's not owned by anybody so I'm not sure what the right of way is?

HappyMJ

Every peice of land is owned by someone. You may have a private road/alley or it may be owned by the council. What does your title say? The note is fine. Or you could just knock on the door of the owner of the van.

tyllwyd

It doesn't matter about who owns the alleyway, nobody should park so as to block it - a polite note would be fine, but as a personal thing I hate getting notes on my windscreen and I would much rather that you just had a word with me.

jjlandlord

EatingGlitter wrote: »

The garage is accessible by an alleyway that backs onto our road and the road next to us. It is not owned by anybody at all.

What's on your property's title deeds?

Sometimes these alleyways are actually on the land of the properties bordering it, with a right of way in the properties' deeds.

In any case, as mentioned, the alleyway's access surely cannot be blocked by anyone.

mrcow

Don't stick a note on their car - it's REALLY irritating and will lead to bad feeling.

They are your neighbours. Knock on their door with a smile and ask them if they could move their van as your car is stuck in the garage.

princeofpounds

Yes, go and speak to them. They probably haven't done anything unreasonable seeing as the garage hasn't been used for such a long time.

If for some bizarre reason they don't help, you would be able to ultimately have the car moved as it's almost certain you have a right of way over the relevant alleyway.

thegirlintheattic

Knock on the door do not leave a note. Had a note last week from the neighbours and what got me was they are the nosy types that always look out the curtains when I park - so they know I own the car and where I live, and know that I am in during the day. Yet snuck out 2 mins after I parked to leave the note. Really irritating!

mrcow

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

Knock on the door do not leave a note. Had a note last week from the neighbours and what got me was they are the nosy types that always look out the curtains when I park - so they know I own the car and where I live, and know that I am in during the day. Yet snuck out 2 mins after I parked to leave the note. Really irritating!

My neighbour once did that. My OH didn't see the note until he was on the motorway and it started raining. He nearly crashed the car due the obstruction of the paper.

So I left a note on my neighbour's car saying that windscreen wipers are a safety device, not a paperweight, and not to leave his litter on my car in future. My neighbour (not next door) is a bully and he didn't like it at all. He knocked on my door to try and confront me and was sent off with his tail between his legs.

EatingGlitter

Cool. Thanks for all the replies. I'd be anti leaving a note as well but it could be one of about 4/5 properties... I might do a little door to door and be polite.

I said to my OH maybe we should drop a hint by clearing the overgrowth where our garage is to suggest we want access to it.... but I'm not sure.

On our title deeds it doesn't have an "owner" but is generally used and we have access to it. The solicitors did several searches etc.

Will probably do a door to door if it's still there tonight. It's a nuisance though as we can't park on the street outside as it's too busy.. boo.

Blackpool_Saver

I would door knock, then clear the weeds etc and clean up the garage door so peeps can see it's in use

puddy

this is what worries me when i look at properties on right move (my favourite hobby), as many of the ones i like often have a garage at the back which is accessed by a track or something. but i worry about owning a shared access thing with other people