Problem Neighbours

[gallapunk]

Not sure where this should go really, but hope someone can offer me some advice.

I live in a rented house on a private lane. The people in the house next to mine (at the end of the lane) obviously have to drive down the lane to enter their driveway. Trouble is, they started parking outside my house (I don't have a front garden, the door opens straight onto the lane) and my landlord told them several times not to do so (the lane is his property), but to park on their own property to keep space free for his tenants. They were very hacked off about this and have tried telling us we have no rights to park ont he lane, etc, but the landlord todl us if they give us any more trouble, report them to the police (yeah, I know, lot of good that will do).

Anyway, we could handle all that, but they are still parking on our doorstep instead of in their own driveway, on top of which, we have now noticed dings and scratches appearing on our car which weren't there before. One of them is right down to the metal and is right on the edge of the wheel rim. I'm really hacked off about it because I've only just bought the car and it was spotless. The trouble is, we can't actually say it's them because we haven't seen them do it, but with it being a private lane which doesn't lead anywhere except to the neighbour's driveway, who else can it be?

I do know that none of the dings/scratches have happened when we've been parked in a public car park because I always (sad, I know, but ...) check my car every time I've been parked in a car park and none of them have appeared then; only when it's been parked at home - and always on the same side of the vehicle.

My car's going to end up being a wrec k and I'm really upset.

[Ice.Maiden]

Try parking across your neighbour's driveway if he insists on parking outside your front door!

[daffy654]

You can buy fairly cheap CCTV setups these days,why not put one on the outside of your house and put a sign up saying that the property is covered by CCTV, maybe then they will stop being such annoying neighbours.If they carry on with their antics then you will have video evidence of them damaging the car to present to the police.

[gallapunk]

Wow, thanks for the quick responses.

I always thought it was illegal to park across someone's driveway, but then again, my landlord tells me that the neighbours don't even have any rights of way down the lane anyway. I might look into that CCTV thing, thank you.

[Ice.Maiden]

Sorry gallapunk - my reply was a bit tongue-in-cheek really. Hey - perhaps ON your neighbour's driveway might do the trick!!
Seriously though, if the lane's private, then I assume that each resident would be able to park where they pleased, as each are responsible for the upkeep of the road. Perhaps your local Council could give you a better idea of what's permissable, and what's not?

[gallapunk]

Lol Ice, I fell for that one.

The houses on the lane all belong to the landlord (except the one on the end with our neighbours in it) and so does the lane they're on; that's how he knows they have no right of way over the lane. The landlord says they're awkward so-and-so's; he's had run-ins with them on numerous occasions.

We all have cars and we all try to park as well tucked in as possible so that everyone can get in and out because it's only narrow.

Thanks for your help though, much appreciated.

[darcydark]

Hi, It is legal to park across a driveway, my son had a similar problem so he parked across their driveway, they soon got tired of it and changed their parking habits. Also just putting up a sign saying you have CCTV may do the trick without actually buying them.

[Ice.Maiden]

Bless - it's a problem isn't it? Most folk are mindful of their neighbours, but you always get the ones who aren't! Am I right in reading that the lane also belongs to your landlord? If that's the case, surely he can dictate as to who parks where, as it's his land? Do the neighbours know this? I appreciate that they have to drive up or down it to get to and from their property, but I'm sure that if someone parked on our driveway - which's long - then we could get them removed.

[Ice.Maiden]

LOL crambo! Great ideas, but not good in practice!
I have to say, gallapunk, that if it's just your car that's ending up with scratches on it, then the damage must be being done deliberately, but depending on what sort of surface your lane has, it's easy to get these bumps and scratches you know. Do your neighbours get any as well?

[gallapunk]

Lol Crambo, thanks for making me see the funny side. Wish I could sometimes, but I won't.

The lane is surfaced, so it's not from stones or anything (and the damaged spots too big for stone chips anyway), plus it's such a short, narrow lane (6 houses long) with a sharp bend to get onto it that you can only do a few mph anyway. Also the fact that the damage is only up one side of the car leads me to beleive it's deliberate.

You're right Ice, the lane does belong to the landlord and he keeps telling them to stop parking there and they stop for a week or so, then they start again.

Anyway, I feel better after having a few laughs over it and I've got some primer and touch-up paint so I'll tidy the car up today and see what develops. I'm also definitely going to look into the CCTV idea.

[Ethel]

It is illegal to park across a driveway on the public highway - not on a private lane.

[Jenga]

I used to live on on a close and had neighbours parking making it difficult to get in and out of our drive. I had so many arguments and it was like I was wasting my time because they never gave a damn. I vowed I would never buy a house on a close again.

I called the Police once and the community Police officer went to see one of the houses. The only problem was, it was more than one neighbour and it was their visitors also. It was a vicious circle.

[DONNNAKEBAB]

I had a similar problem where the people in the offices downstairs were parking right outside my driveway (its all mine) so I got a clamping man to come along and stick a sign up.

Worth a try - and free too.

Katie. x

[LAW_DROP-OUT]

TRAILER ...park a smallish trailer . like those sold in HALFORDS etc...... put a whhel clamp , on the trailer ...... to minmise theft//iam aware this would incur costs , buting the TRAILER....... maybe second hand....... and clearly the trailer...... will take up "valuble parking space ".... the worst thing that can happen ids that the COUNCIL will ask you to remove the "TRAILER "... and the nieghbours will be discontented to see such a tactic being deployed..... someone i knew parked a forien registerd car to take up a parking space permently.....

[darcydark]

It is legal to park across a driveway if there is no car in the driveway.