Neighbours blocking shared Access-way - no dropped Kerb

makara

We have some moronic neighbours who moved in next door almost 2 years ago.


(They are on a 5-year lease - whereas we own our property).


Between our 2 Semi-detached houses, there is an unconverted Access-way - barely the width of a car...you get where this is going...


As we have Residential parking permits (that we have to pay for), the morons next door have taken to parking their massive car/s in the shared access-way (despite there being no dropped kerb AND despite there being a "Residents only" white-dashed box outside it where everyone is supposed to be able to park) - sometimes for up to 2 months at a time, until bothering to buy a Residential Parking Permit.


Worse...they also are lending (or I suspect RENTING OUT...) this Access-way to their friends (or colleagues) to park their cars in - who are then !!!!!!ing off on Holiday for a couple of weeks - leaving us no room to walk down the Access-way to put our Rubbish out on Sundays (our Rubbish collections are on Monday mornings).


Then when they have pillaged the Access-way for their OWN uses...they are deliberately putting rubbish sacks / recycling containers (empty or full) at the entrance to the Access-way - to make sure WE or OUR guests cannot use it for OUR vehicles!


We have argued this out with them before - which resulted in the idiots damaging my mother's car by parking against its front bumper - so no dialogue possible.


We also informed the Council - who predictably said it's not their problem.


We contacted the Highways Agency, as their website advised people to inform on Neighbours who are driving over an un-dropped kerb to park cars in Access-ways (as the Pavement gets damaged) - but they also flaked out and didn't do anything.


Only the Police have been of any use - when we contacted them a couple of months ago, suddenly our Neighbours stopped piling Rubbish in the Access-way (we informed the Police that Foxes and Rats were tearing open their Rubbish sacks, and causing carnage across OUR half of the Access-way too).


However since their latest "friend" (or should that be "Cheap Airport Parking Customer"...??) left his car in the Access-way for 2 weeks recently when he went off to Pakistan, and then took it away when he returned - they have again put down Rubbish sacks to prevent us from using it for any kind of parking (i.e. temporary guests).


I am in contact with the Police again, but in the meantime - is the best thing to solve this a Fold-down Parking Bollard?


Since the Council keep telling me "It's a civil matter between you and your neighbour", can the Council then object to us drilling such a Bollard into the ground of OUR half of the Access-way?


This may come across as petty - but since we are being denied SHARED access - I have no intention of letting these people park their cars or their mates' cars there either.


Sorry for the lengthy post

bazster

What is not clear to me is who actually owns this piece of land between the houses.

ChumLee

makara wrote: »

We have some moronic neighbours who moved in next door almost 2 years ago.


(They are on a 5-year lease - whereas we own our property).


Between our 2 Semi-detached houses, there is an unconverted Access-way - barely the width of a car...you get where this is going...


As we have Residential parking permits (that we have to pay for), the morons next door have taken to parking their massive car/s in the shared access-way (despite there being no dropped kerb AND despite there being a "Residents only" white-dashed box outside it where everyone is supposed to be able to park) - sometimes for up to 2 months at a time, until bothering to buy a Residential Parking Permit.


Worse...they also are lending (or I suspect RENTING OUT...) this Access-way to their friends (or colleagues) to park their cars in - who are then !!!!!!ing off on Holiday for a couple of weeks - leaving us no room to walk down the Access-way to put our Rubbish out on Sundays (our Rubbish collections are on Monday mornings).


Then when they have pillaged the Access-way for their OWN uses...they are deliberately putting rubbish sacks / recycling containers (empty or full) at the entrance to the Access-way - to make sure WE or OUR guests cannot use it for OUR vehicles!


We have argued this out with them before - which resulted in the idiots damaging my mother's car by parking against its front bumper - so no dialogue possible.


We also informed the Council - who predictably said it's not their problem.


We contacted the Highways Agency, as their website advised people to inform on Neighbours who are driving over an un-dropped kerb to park cars in Access-ways (as the Pavement gets damaged) - but they also flaked out and didn't do anything.


Only the Police have been of any use - when we contacted them a couple of months ago, suddenly our Neighbours stopped piling Rubbish in the Access-way (we informed the Police that Foxes and Rats were tearing open their Rubbish sacks, and causing carnage across OUR half of the Access-way too).


However since their latest "friend" (or should that be "Cheap Airport Parking Customer"...??) left his car in the Access-way for 2 weeks recently when he went off to Pakistan, and then took it away when he returned - they have again put down Rubbish sacks to prevent us from using it for any kind of parking (i.e. temporary guests).


I am in contact with the Police again, but in the meantime - is the best thing to solve this a Fold-down Parking Bollard?


Since the Council keep telling me "It's a civil matter between you and your neighbour", can the Council then object to us drilling such a Bollard into the ground of OUR half of the Access-way?


This may come across as petty - but since we are being denied SHARED access - I have no intention of letting these people park their cars or their mates' cars there either.


Sorry for the lengthy post

So you don't want them to park in the shared access because you want it as your parking spot?

stator

What do the deeds say about the access road? You may both have a covenant attached to your property that says you can't block access to the lane. Your recourse would be to sue.

Who are they renting from?

Johno100

You say you have spoken to the council, was that about the parking of the cars or the rubbish sacks? I should think environmental health would have something to say about the rubbish and consequential rodent problem.

Where does this access way take you, if anywhere? If it is the only rear access to your property then there may be a fire safety issue and your local brigade might be willing to pay a visit.

You own your property, do the deeds to the property make mention of this access way and state you are entitled to unfettered access?

makara

bazster wrote: »

What is not clear to me is who actually owns this piece of land between the houses.

I'll try to find out.

makara

ChumLee wrote: »

So you don't want them to park in the shared access because you want it as your parking spot?

Not the case. We have for the last 10 years paid for Parking Permits for both our vehicles, i.e. we park on the road. So we aren't trying to annex the Access as our sole parking spot.


We had also with the previous occupiers (who still own the house and have leased it to these people) allowed GUESTS to TEMPORARILY (i.e. for a day at most) park there.


But these newcomers have decided to deny us access, and use the Access-way as their "personal" drive-way - for themselves and their guests ONLY (by means described in my original post).


Since our (gated) back garden leads out into the Access, it is also our route to take the Rubbish out from - which becomes near-impossible with some idiot blocking the entire width of the Access with their vehicle.

makara

stator wrote: »

What do the deeds say about the access road? You may both have a covenant attached to your property that says you can't block access to the lane. Your recourse would be to sue.

Who are they renting from?

I'll try to find out what what the deeds say.

ChumLee

makara wrote: »

Not the case. We have for the last 10 years paid for Parking Permits for both our vehicles, i.e. we park on the road. So we aren't trying to annex the Access as our sole parking spot.


We had also with the previous occupiers (who still own the house and have leased it to these people) allowed GUESTS to TEMPORARILY (i.e. for a day at most) park there.


But these newcomers have decided to deny us access, and use the Access-way as their "personal" drive-way - for themselves and their guests ONLY (by means described in my original post).


Since our (gated) back garden leads out into the Access, it is also our route to take the Rubbish out from - which becomes near-impossible with some idiot blocking the entire width of the Access with their vehicle.

You've completely missed the point, why should you be allowed to use it as a temporary additional parking spot if they can't park there?

bazster

makara wrote: »

I'll try to find out.

It is a bit crucial.

makara

Johno100 wrote: »

You say you have spoken to the council, was that about the parking of the cars or the rubbish sacks? I should think environmental health would have something to say about the rubbish and consequential rodent problem.

Where does this access way take you, if anywhere? If it is the only rear access to your property then there may be a fire safety issue and your local brigade might be willing to pay a visit.

You own your property, do the deeds to the property make mention of this access way and state you are entitled to unfettered access?

The middle paragraph is an excellent question - but I'll answer all 3 of them -


1) We have spoken to the Council about BOTH the blockage to Access (which they say is nothing to do with them) - and the Environmental health issue. On the latter point, I have sent DOZENS of photos of what animals have done by tearing open their sacks - and each time the Council merely say "We'll pass this on to someone relevant who will let your neighbours know how to store rubbish" (or words to that effect). In other words, the Council are being useless.


2) The Access-way DEAD-ENDS to both our Gated back-gardens - NEITHER house has had the termination point of the Access-way "opened up left and right" to allow a vehicle into either back garden.


So once a vehicle is parked in the Access-way...there is no room for it to go anywhere (other than back out).

Funnily enough, someone at work recently remarked on the Fire Hazard issue - thanks for your good point also...there is NO OTHER rear access...meaning that if a vehicle is left in the Access-way... perhaps next time I speak to the Police, I should point that out!!



3) I'll try to find the point about unfettered access.


Another point which MAY be of relevance - our street contains a few old Terraced houses - and mostly newer Semis. EVERY OTHER Semi-owners (apart from us and next door) have had their Access-ways properly converted into Drive-ways (complete with Yellow lines put there by Council). Whereas outside our Access-way there is a Residential Parking "Box" only - i.e. it is NOT a designated Drive-way by any stretch.


I'll also ask the Police about the Bollard idea. I'm hoping they won't object to one being put on our half of the Access, since it is designed for walking Access rather than vehicular Access.