Advice on Driveway obstruction and potential sale implications

chug91

Ever since we bought our house we have had issues with 2 neighbours who have “claimed ownership” of the kerbs outside their house and respectively our driveway entrance. On 5-6 occasions access to our property was restricted due to inconsiderate parking and had to ask people to move their cars. After few years not taking any action about the issue decided to seek legal advice and advised to send a letter to the neighbours in question with detailed explanation of the issue and the potential consequences if they continue to obstruct our driveway. Prior to this we had a semi formal conversation with them and asked that if there is a car parked on one side of the kerb not to park on the other. As you can imagine this was ignored and in the end a letter was sent. This led to one of the neighbours contacting police and they basically had no interest in our account however explained that there shouldn’t be anyone parking on the bend and of they do to report online or to 101. This was something I was advised to do by a solicitor as well so we did on numerous occasions and also tried to get council to try help to resolve the issue. Even though police told me there shouldn’t be cars parked on the bend and if they do to report it they have absolutely nothing about it. Council have no interest in this at all as they never acknowledged my reports. 
 I can confidently say nothing will happen and the issue will continue and we have accepted that as long as we have enough space to go in and out then we won’t be bothered. We have recently decided to start looking for another property and start preparation for putting the house on the market but we are afraid that the inconsiderate parking will put buyers off. I was wondering if anyone had to deal with something like this during a property sale and what was their approach. Also how likely it is to succeed in a potential legal action if a seller states the reason for not putting an offer is the parking problem. Thanks in advance.

chug91

Pictures to illustrate the issue.

ibb.co/…dwbkRw0Q
ibb.co/…ynxBHCBk
ibb.co/…JwS8c0C2
ibb.co/…1G3ysj2b
ibb.co/…tT8LvC7h
ibb.co/…rKZ4yY3n
ibb.co/….YBHMx1xK

PS: Remove dots to access the links.

m0bov

You will just have to keep making a nucence of your self. These sorts of people get a kick out of making other people's lives a misery.

Bang on their door each time, block them in. Park outside theirs. When their lives get affected then it will soon stop. By a cheap trailer and leave it there with a clamp.

mjm3346

You will have to disclose the issue and I certainly wouldn't offer with ongoing neighbour issues

Wonka_2

TBH the whole thing looks like a s**tshow

Presumably the road/estate isn’t adopted yet so this could go on for years. 

chug91 said:

Also how likely it is to succeed in a potential legal action if a seller states the reason for not putting an offer is the parking problem. Thanks in advance.

Are you asking whether you can sue the neighbours if you can’t sell your property due to their parking ? If so I think (or at least hope) you know the answer is you’ve no chance. 

mjm3346

https://ibb.co/dwbkRw0Q
https://ibb.co/ynxBHCBk
https://ibb.co/JwS8c0C2
https://ibb.co/1G3ysj2b
https://ibb.co/tT8LvC7h
https://ibb.co/rKZ4yY3n
https://ibb.co/YBHMx1xK

Grumpy_chap

mjm3346 said:

https://ibb.co/dwbkRw0Q
https://ibb.co/ynxBHCBk
https://ibb.co/JwS8c0C2
https://ibb.co/1G3ysj2b
https://ibb.co/tT8LvC7h
https://ibb.co/rKZ4yY3n
https://ibb.co/YBHMx1xK

I am not entirely sure exactly which driveway is the OP's, but I cannot see that any of those photos show a driveway obstructed to the extent of blocking access / egress.

This will have to be declared as a dispute when the OP comes to sell.

ian1246

I m assuming the OP'S house is where some of the photos are taken from, which presumably means the neighbours are the one's on the left where there is often a vehicle parked on the corner on the pavement? If so, not really sure what the issue is?

Even with another houses car parked on the road opposite, it looks like you could fit a tank through the gap. Also if its genuinely causing a problem - why approach just that neighbour & not the other households also contributing to the ongoing issue? (I.e. the one also parking opposite it).

Definitely needs declaring for the ongoing neighbour dispute. Wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

GDB2222

I have two advantages over the op, as I am in my 70s and my car is a 19 year old. So, I would knock on the neighbours' doors and explain that I will do my best to inch past their shiny new cars, but I can’t guarantee anything - particularly as I am a terrible driver. Of course, if there’s a problem, I will leave a note, and my insurance will cover the cost, but I am worried they’ll be inconvenienced, and maybe they would like to move their cars. 

I imagine that would do the job. 

Maybe the op should trade his car in and buy a wreck? 

Zekko

I’m not sure what the problem is. From the photos provided you could fit a bus through that gap.

WIAWSNB

Hi Chug.
As said, it needs declaring. So, best be upfront.
You definitely need to mention it in the TA6, but perhaps get advice from your conveyancer how to best word it.
And, if you or the EA is asked about 'neighbourhood issues' or specifically parking, then explain along the lines of, "Some folk can be inconsiderate and sometimes park thoughtlessly, but I've never been actually blocked in or anything like that..." - making sure it's factual. (On that point, did you really have to ask for folk to move their cars for access, or could you have snuck through?)
Any potential buyer can see what's on the ground, and make their own judgement. It looks, from your photos, that the issue is not as bad as you described, which would be good news. So most folk who are used to living on similar streets might not think it a significant problem. And some might even be quite forthright in their approach to tackling it - now, wouldn't that be great 😃