I’ve banned my neighbours from using my driveway even though I don’t use it – but I have a good reason
NEIGHBOURS along a UK street have fallen out after one resident banned anyone from using their driveway - despite the fact they don't use it themselves.
has had to withdraw a previously kind offer they had made to let other residents use their unoccupied drive - but only because they felt pushed into reacting in such a way.
Sharing the tale of how the situation came to be, the user LatoyaF posted on the online forum, , over the weekend.
The homeowner, who doesn't drive herself, said: "I want to learn to drive but I haven’t gotten around to it yet."
Out the front of of her house though, there was enough space for two cars that she was more than happy to offer up to the other families living on the street who were struggling for parking spaces themselves.
She then explained how her 15-year-old brother, who lives in the same house, would have to make frequent hospital visits due to chronic problems.
But without a car that meant taxi rides once a month that, in theory, would take herself and her weak-jointed brother from door to door, hassle free.
She was forced to retract her offer to let her neighbours use the driveway though, after they demanded constant access to it, despite their need to pull up closer to the house becoming more and more necessary.
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She said: "We were pulling into our street in the taxi after a hospital visit and one of my neighbours pulled into my drive, blocking our taxi from pulling up to the door.
"We waited for them to realise my brother had crutches and move but she looked at us and carried on inside, along with her sisters and step father. I had to hobble my brother across wet muddy grass to get to our door.
"I was so angry I then told my neighbours that they were no longer allowed to use my drive."
Another incident saw the drive blocked once again, which lead to the property having a "no parking on drive" sign installed.
The 32-year-old started the online thread to ask the online community if she was really in the wrong in regards to the situation.
"I was neighbourly until they caused me not to be," she said in the post.
"I know I am being petty and vindictive in my reasoning, but I feel I am justified as I did them a courtesy for years, letting them use my drive."
Overwhelmingly, the over 180 comments under the original post that has so far racked up 2.1K upvotes on the site, agree that the neighbours were in the wrong.
One replied: "I would start having them towed if they park in your driveway again.";
Meanwhile another commented: "The neighbours had a good thing going, much better than they deserved, and messed it up just through thoughtlessness."
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Another user said: "It's your driveway, you can do whatever you want with it."
But there are rules and procedures you'll need to keep in mind if you are tempted to take a similar matter into your own hands.
Sometimes taking action can be costly, and you might not have as many rights over what can enter the space out out front of your house, as you thought you had.
What are your rights if someone parks on your driveway?
There is no criminal law against someone parking on your driveway without consent so you technically wouldn't face a fine or penalty.
According to the RAC, a loophole in the law means that blocking someone's driveway could easily go unpunished too.
But it is considered trespass if the car is parked on your driveway.
The council can only intervene if it's an obstruction on the road though, they can act where a car is blocking a driveway while parked on a public road for example, but they have no authority if it's not in public space.
If the car has been abandoned without tax, an MOT or insurance, then the council would be required to move it regardless of where it is.
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But if those options fail you shouldn't take the rules into your own hands, as you could find yourself committing a criminal offence were you to hire a tow truck or clamp the vehicle in an attempt to get rid of the offensive car.
You shouldn't try pushing it back onto the road either as you could cause damages that you'd have to pay out for as well.
Ten things YOU should know as a car owner
- When is your MOT due? Find out here
- When is your car tax due? Find out here
- Is it illegal to drive barefoot?
- How many units can you drink and drive?
- What do dashboard warning lights mean?
- Is it illegal to drive without road tax?
- Can you be fined for breaking the highway code?
- How to change the address on your driving licence
- What does MOT stand for?
- Is it illegal to park across someone's driveway?
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