Shared driveway issue

Donna37

Hello
Please forgive  me if I’ve posted this on the wrong thread but it’s been years since I’ve posted here.
I share a driveway with my next door neighbours who have only recently bought the property.  I was told yesterday by their builder that they want to build a wall up the middle of the shared drive so that I don’t park on their side and they don’t park in mine and to keep both properties separate.
Does anyone know if they can do this?  I’ve lived in my house over 20 years and never had an issue like this before.
Any advice would be greatly received.
Many thanks in advance. 

neilmcl

If they want to build a wall on their side of the drive then I don't see an issue. What impact would it have on you?

TELLIT01

If building the wall won't impact on your ability to park on your side of the drive and have easy access to your car they will probably be OK.  Some shared drives are not wide enough to provide vehicle access if there is a wall up the middle.  To me it's disappointing that the neighbours didn't see fit to inform you directly of what they are planning to do.  Is your relationship with them OK?

Donna37

Neilmlc they don’t want to build it on their side they want to build it up the middle which encroaches on my side.  Depending on the width of the wall will depend on how much space I have to get my car in and out easily.

Donna37

Tellit01 - it’s not that wide a drive and they not told me anything since they have moved in.
Ive had people parking on my drive, scaffolding up against my house and builders in my garden pulling their trees out.  

unforeseen

I assume your deeds give you a right to use the full width. If so then tell them they can't have the wall

PasturesNew

First look at your deeds.... is it shared, or is each half wholly/independently owned and there just happens to be no fence between the two?  Do either/both of you have any rights to pass/repass over each others' space? 

If it were me and if there were rights to pass/repass then, so long as I could get my car out easily I'd not object... but if it was a nuisance to me I'd say "no".  

When you sell the deeds will be looked at... if there is a right to pass/repass it will raise questions; if there's room for a good sized car to pass it might not cause an issue when you resell, buyers might like it being with a wall.  

Deeds first though: who has what rights?

in_my_wellies

The car might fit up the drive but remember to check if the door will open easily - it's not just the width of the car you need. Sorry if that's obvious but I'm remembering a similar thread on here from a while ago.  

kerri_gt

As said check the deeds but also can you not haveca discussion with them (from a ssd of course) to see why they feel the need for the wall? Has anyone else in the road done the same thing? It might actually be a disadvantage to them in the future if tradesmen with large vehicles can't acess the driveway, had they considered that? 

Donna37

I shall be checking my deeds to see exactly what it says.  Thank you all for replying.  I appreciate it.

TELLIT01

Irrespective of anything else, I would want the wall to be built entirely on their property or you may also be held jointly liable for any long term maintenance.