my neighbours (?) keep blocking my driveway

user1977

Sorry, where would the DVLA or insurers come into it? Is there something you’ve missed out from the story?

pinkshoes

For now I'd stick a very sticky note (Pritt stick - it comes off with hot water so no permanent damage) onto the windscreen politely pointing out that they have parked over a dropped curb and blocked your car in, which prevented you from leaving the property. 

I'd contemplate calling 101 as they are breaking the law by blocking you in.

Albermarle

Jemma01 said:

swingaloo said:

I would simply go to the house next door and introduce myself as the new neighbour. Just ask if they know who owns the car blocking the drive and explain that you are unable to get out.

Then when you know which house it is just knock and explain the situation. It could be that the house has stood empty for a couple of weeks and neighbours have just got used to parking there but it is a bit thoughtless when they can see a car in the drive.

You do look to have a dropped kerb so they should not be parking there but in the interest of keeping things neighbourly I wouldn't be reporting to the council yet.

It seems odd the different cars are parking there, are they possibly the same family. If it is awkwardness then I would leave my car across the drive for a while to get them used to having to park elsewhere.

I'm too scared to knock on people's doors I'm 45kg if someone slaps me on the face, I'd fly a mile.
I came from an area where we had random people walk into our porch (apartments) and inject themselves with drugs, this property is 10mins walk from there. I had the next-door neighbour knock on my door yesterday my heart dropped, he had to identify himself before I opened the door (he owns the blue car).
I'm with you that I don't want confrontations with anyone, but I don't know how to go about it without risking my safety. I'll probably resort to leaving a note on the cars, I missed my gym class today thanks to this idiot.

Despite your past experience and what you might read in the media, it seems highly unlikely a neighbour will smack you in the face, just for introducing yourself.

Auti

Ask the person with the blue car as you have already met them when they came to introduce themselves - were they friendly? Can always get a sign and fix to wall so people can see it that says ‘please do not block drive as access is needed at all times’. I think, as a vulnerable person too, I would speak to blue car and get a sign too

FreeBear

You might want to go back and blur out the number plate on the blue car...

Miles86

I agree leaving a note is a good way forward. I have some ready printed off so if I happen to walk home and find a vehicle parked I can quickly and easily add one - even if I'm not going out at that specific moment.

Next steps after that, as I understand it most police forces, if you use the words, "obstructing the highway" will, when pushed, consider you being blocked *in* to be a police matter, but not being blocked out.

If you are stuck you may find that when you call 101 they'll see if the DVLA record for the vehicle has the registered keeper's telephone number and call them asking to move it. Clearly a phone call from the police is quite likely to elicit the vehicle's movement.

Ratkin007

I always thought it was the case you can block someone out but you can't block them in, however someone I used to work with informed me he had his neighbour's car removed because it was preventing him from accessing his drive. The neighbour was regularly blocking the drive until that point. More recently, I saw the local authority remove a car from outside someone's drive. we checked if the car was taxed, which it was, so assume it was because they had parked across the drive.  If they blocked you out, that is one thing but they can see they have blocked you in and as you say, there are other spaces on the road where they could have parked. It also looks like they have been/was there for a long time.  If you have the car removed they won't park across yours or anyone else's drive again.  I hope the car has now been removed, but maybe on Monday seek advice from the council for if it happens in the future.

Liverpool85

https://www.askthe.police.uk/faq/?id=b812e9dd-d3ce-ed11-a7c6-00224841c899#:~:text=If%20your%20local%20council%20hasn,and%20you%20cannot%20get%20out.

dannim12345

I don’t think somebody would slap you, a really horrible person might say get lost.  I’ve been asked to move my car (when I wasn’t even in the wrong) and I wasn’t angry about it. 

Best to raise it now, if it continues you might get stuck in your drive when you have to be somewhere important 

youth_leader

Best wishes for a solution to this without confrontation - I hope it isn't a neighbour as it would have to be declared as a 'dispute' if and when you sell.

A friend at work did have to declare when she moved, sadly.  She would get home from work to find the neighbour across her drive, or part way across.  They (she and her husband)  went round and knocked and asked nicely for their drive to be left clear, and were ignored. 

They ended up phoning the police at 3 am in the morning asking for the car to be removed as they were going to the airport for an early flight.