Advice on neighbour who keeps blocking my gate

eddjimmyjones

I need advice on what to do to resolve a parking problem where a neighbour’s guests have habit of parking directly on my back gate.  And also if am overreacting, as I find that I get very angry and agitated at what occurs. I am thinking about sending the neighbour a  letter about their parking but not sure if this would just cause further problems. 

 I moved about a year ago to the house I live in now, the house is on a corner and has 2 double gate entrances one on the front and one of the side, I mainly use my front entrance to park my car although its a tight squeeze to park my car at front driveway as, I used the gate on the side / back of the house when I have large deliveries and also plan to park a small car there. However, I have a small sun room at the back which looks out at the back gate and find it grating to see their van or car parked when I am in my sun room. 

Anyway, my house is on a funny position, where my neighbours house is directly behind mine, however, their front gate into their house is directly next to my back gate, however, like my front gate entrance, their’s is also a bit of a tight squeeze to get a car in. Anyway, when I first moved in no one would park blocking my back gate, if park on my back gate then I would be blocking entrance into my neighbours entrance. Anyway, when I first moved into the house no one parked on my back gate and it always would be clear besides the odd guest the neighbour had for a few hours which I was fine with. However, the neighbour then had a new boyfriend who made it a habit to park directly on my gate as in the photos above, although would be few times a week and weekends. This person wouldn’t even acknowledge me etc, anyway, I found the parking very annoying and angering especially I wouldn’t dream of parking blocking someone’s gate and also if I was to ever to park there then I can imagine the neighbour be up in arms complaining that I am blocking their entrance.

One night in June after returning from work I was putting my bin back in from road and was using my back gate, I was dragging the bin back in and at the same time the neighbours boyfriend drove up and parked directly on my gate and didn’t event acknowledge me, I got very annoyed and don’t think I handled it well as I stared him down for a minute or so as I was closing my gate and he just stayed in his car.  The next day I heard the neighbours son and them saying that they would never ask my permission to park there, the neighbours son parked there for a few hours I feel to provoke me. I took an issue with this as I am the only person of colour in the street and felt there was an underlying racial issue to some of this, although I am pretty sure a lot of people on MSE may not perceive this. 

Anyway, since this run in the neighbours boyfriend will park their car directly on my gate from around 4pm to the next morning around 7am or 10am on Sunday then clear off and the neighbour now doesn’t appear to allow anyone to block the gate during the day. I still find it aggravating that the neighbours boyfriend in particular will park directly on my gate in the way in the picture which I find a little provocative. I wouldn’t dream of parking infant of someone’s gate especially if I know they don’t like it and also in such a manner, there is on street parking next to the gate although some other neighbours park there and there is also public parking at the front of my house and others neighbours house which is perfectly legal for them to park at. 

I also find it an issue at times having to open my curtains in my little cubby and seeing that van there or his other car there, I am pretty convinced if it was the shoe on the other side they wouldn’t like it one bit. The street is very quiet and peaceful and everyone generally gets on although I clearly don’t get on with my neighbours at the back and now just avoid each other. 

Anyway, I needed advice on what to do and how to handle this and if I am overreacting as I find the cars parked there a great nuisance and not sure if I would trust myself to handle things without getting agitated if I ever had to go knock on neighbours door to get them to move their car if they had the gate blocked and needed access.  Part of me is thinks I should challenge this as I don’t think its right but part of me questions I am overreacting or not being as tolerant.

I was thinking about writing them a letter to express how frustrating and provocative i find their parking albeit they appear to try and cut this down to a few times a week, however, on the other hand I just wouldn’t park in that way.  I am trying not to handle the situation in a petty way as I could easily just park my car there and force them to come and knock on my door to access their front gate which I am pretty sure won’t go down well with them.  Anyway sensible advice welcomed, or if you think I am tripping and just need to chill. 

JGB1955

Do you have dropped kerbs at both gates ? If not, it's a free-for-all.

MikeJXE

Put up a polite notice on the gates 

Access required please do not park and see how it goes 

eddjimmyjones

JGB1955 said:

Do you have dropped kerbs at both gates ?

Yes there is a dropped kerb on both the front and back gates and back gate as per photo below, I believe the curb being cut off and curved in at my back gate entrance is the dropped curb unless I am mistaken?

kinger101

It does appear to be a dropped kerb. 

I would considering redacting the phone number and logo of the van.  Not sure posting that on here is the right thing.

It would have probably have been better to politely ask them not to park there when you had the opportunity but that's easy for me to say from my armchair.

Unless you feel there is a personal risk to yourself, you could politely ask them to stop now.  Go along with a friend (for support and as a potential witness).

If it continues, your only hope is reporting it to the council as they are responsible for local parking regulation enforcement but whether they're sufficiently motivated to do anything about it is a different matter.  Many councils do have online forms for reporting this however, so there might be some hope.

But speaking to the neighbour first is the polite thing to do, pointing out is is illegal.

dnpark38

I do think your neighbours visitors are being thoughtless but that's the way many are today.
Think you gave yourself the answer at the end.
I believe the law is unlawful to block peoples cars in but not to block them from getting in.
I  would try to get on with your neighbours and as long as the cars are moved when you need access I would let things be.

born_again

Contact the company & advise them they are constantly blocking you gate way.

kinger101

born_again said:

Contact the company & advise them they are constantly blocking you gate way.

Might be worth a try but the pre-redacted photo hinted towards a sole trader.  

Ms_Chocaholic

I don't think your actions helped your situation IMHO, "staring him down for a minute or so" is a very long time, they might be doing it to wind you up, I'd leave it a few months, a few polite hellos in the meantime and then go from there. Obviously if you're blocked in then pop round and ask nicely if they would move it.

WillowLeaf

Sounds like things are improving so I would take that as a positive.

Once you escalate you can't go back. If they are the type who think it's funny to wind people up then your super-power is to not let them think you are wound up.

I doubt they're doing it for race reasons, there are plenty of people who just do whatever is best for them regardless of the effect on anyone else.

Personally I wouldn't write letters or put up notices, idiots just ignore them. Much as it might be painful, you could try and be friendly, say hello etc, then if you need them to move ask them politely. Then subsequent requests to move could mention how it's awkward for you to get in and out and offer a suggestion for where might be better for all.

You still retain the right to escalate, but that is a last resort for reasonable people, as you clearly are by asking the question here and not just putting a brick through their window.

Edit: which is basically what Ms_Chocaholic said

Flugelhorn

plenty of people don't think. there is nothing malicious they are just not thinking. 

Seeing the dropped kerb, is there any chance of just leaving the gates open for a while ? that might put them off