Issue with neighbours parking

Pineapple1 · 07-04-2019 9:12pm #1

Hi all, first time poster and have an issue thats starting to cause a bit of bother....

Current neighbours have moved into the house right beside us since last year. Whenever they have guests come around (which is fairly often) their friends always block our driveway with their cars. We actually cannot get our own cars out of our own driveway. At the start we let it go, but now we have lost count of the amount of times we have had to go over and knock on their door and ask that they get their friends or family to move the car so we can get out and about.

Its getting beyond a joke at this stage. Each time we call over to ask them to move the car (cant believe I actually have to ask them can I get out of my own driveway but here I am) they are full of the sorry's to me...should I be getting guards involved? Everytime we tell them they cant have their friends blocking us in they just fob is off with oh Im so sorry...until it happens again. We did not have this issue ever with our old neighbour. Thanks

uck51js9zml2yt · 07-04-2019 9:16pm

Call the clampers. It won't happen again.

Wabbit Ears · 07-04-2019 9:17pm

Stop being nice about it.

Is there anyway to put up a metal post or a bollard to physically prevent this happening?

To add. I own an apartment with a parking spot right beside the lift in the underground carpark. People were always using it so I ended up getting one of those drop down metal posts installed.

Sucked to have to do it but literally it was the only way to stop it being used by randomers.

Spanish Eyes · 07-04-2019 9:22pm

I will never understand how drivers can be so unaware about parking over someone's driveway.

And they are the very ones who will have a conniption if you challenge them!

I am sorry for your trouble, but just park over the neighbours driveway and block them in if you can every time you can. Fight fire with fire.

Pineapple1 · 07-04-2019 9:28pm

We live on a public road in a small town in rural Ireland so clampers are not really an option, there is no traffic warden either in the town so I'm not sure if its even legal to erect concrete parking bollards?

magicbastarder · 07-04-2019 9:30pm

no easy answer. do you know your local gardai?

This is it · 07-04-2019 9:31pm

Difficult one alright. Generally you want to avoid rows with neighbours if at all possible. Is there a way for you to take the space they normally would while still allowing access to your driveway?

Other than that I'd simply call over and in a nice but firm way explain that they need to tell visitors not to park in front of your driveway.

Have they no self awareness ffs.

enricoh · 07-04-2019 9:31pm

Pig ignorant behaviour, agree with thre other poster, forget the nicey nicey approach.
Are they dole heads? skangery? Etc

This is it · 07-04-2019 9:31pm

Nadia Young Cub wrote: »

Call the clampers. It won't happen again.

Clamping someone that's blocking your car in is hardly ideal...

Pineapple1 · 07-04-2019 9:35pm

No they are not dole heads. They are both teachers which makes it even more mind boggling how ignorant they are.

OldMrBrennan83 · 07-04-2019 9:38pm

Would lying on the horn sufficiently annoy them any time you want to get out or are they far enough away not to notice?

Toots · 07-04-2019 9:42pm

If you said you were in Dublin I'd have thought you were one of my parents. Their neighbours are the same, pig ignorant and would never dream of blocking their own drive but constantly park across my parents'.

It would be worth having a chat with a local garda and seeing what they advise. My sister in law was in a similar situation only in her case the neighbour was refusing to move the car so she called the Gardai. Neighbour still refused to move it so the Garda said basically if it's not moved in the next 10 minutes it'll be on the back of a tow truck. Neighbour must have thought the garda was bluffing, until, sure enough, a tow truck arrived and the car was carted off. They've never blocked her drive again, but obviously they now absolutely hate my sister in law.

carltonleon · 07-04-2019 9:43pm

Couple of cones with no parking sign should do the trick. Ridiculous it has come to this... or else just park in front of their driveway, they should get the message after 1 go. What I don’t understand is if you arrive in an estate where you don’t live you would never dream of blocking up someone’s driveway so are your neighbors telling their friends to park there, it makes no sense. Get your friends to park in front of their driveway

iamwhoiam · 07-04-2019 9:44pm

Pineapple1 wrote: »

No they are not dole heads. They are both teachers which makes it even more mind boggling how ignorant they are.

Stop being nice and tell them you are heading to the Garda station for a chat

Spanish Eyes · 07-04-2019 9:44pm

As I said earlier, park over their driveway at every opportunity. Bullies need to be tackled in the only way they understand.

But it is not clear if you have approached the house owners, rather than the inconsiderate parkers.

Either way, you have approached this issue with consideration. Time to take the gloves off maybe?

Pineapple1 · 07-04-2019 9:45pm

Thanks for all the replies so far..I can tell you all understand and support my frustration! What I'd like to know though is, can and should I get the guards involved? Or would they even care? (The garda station in our town is only open part time hours)

This is it · 07-04-2019 9:46pm

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

As I said earlier, park over their driveway at every opportunity. Bullies need to be tackled in the only way they understand.

But it is not clear if you have approached the house owners, rather than the inconsiderate parkers.

Either way, you have approached this issue with consideration. Time to take the gloves off maybe?

Definitely not the approach I would take. You're asking for trouble.

magicbastarder · 07-04-2019 9:48pm

go to the gardai first. even if they don't/can't do anything; that way, if anything does escalate, you'll be seen as having been the one who was trying to be reasonable about it before it has escalated.

iamwhoiam · 07-04-2019 9:50pm

Pineapple1 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies so far..I can tell you all understand and support my frustration! What I'd like to know though is, can and should I get the guards involved? Or would they even care? (The garda station in our town is only open part time hours)

Well worth asking advice from the Gardai
Also get a cone and write NO PARKING on it and put it on your spot

And invest it one of those

KEEP ENTRANCE CLEAR

OldMrBrennan83 · 07-04-2019 9:51pm

This is it wrote: »

Definitely not the approach I would take. You're asking for trouble.

No point in being a doormat either though.

Spanish Eyes · 07-04-2019 9:51pm

This is it wrote: »

Definitely not the approach I would take. You're asking for trouble.

Why? It is the same tactic that neighbours visitors are taking and they don't care. Neither do neighbours it seems.

Could do it now and then. I would TBH if the neighbourly approach didn't work.

The neighbours should be ashamed of themselves that their visitors are blocking people in. Right?

uck51js9zml2yt · 07-04-2019 9:51pm

This is it wrote: »

Clamping someone that's blocking your car in is hardly ideal...

I did it once in Dublin. They came back just as I hung up the phone. Told them the potential outcome and they stopped blocking my drive.

This is it · 07-04-2019 9:52pm

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

No point in being a doormat either though.

I agree.

Spanish Eyes · 07-04-2019 9:54pm

Nadia Young Cub wrote: »

I did it once in Dublin. They came back just as I hung up the phone. Told them the potential outcome and they stopped blocking my drive.

Ah go on and tell us. Don't leave us hanging like that!

This is it · 07-04-2019 9:54pm

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Why? It is the same tactic that neighbours visitors are taking and they don't care. Neither do neighbours it seems.

Could do it now and then. I would TBH if the neighbourly approach didn't work.

The neighbours should be ashamed of themselves that their visitors are blocking people in. Right?

As I said, it's not the approach I would take. No point in starting some sort of tit-for-tat parking war, there are plenty of other avenues.

twowheelsonly · 07-04-2019 9:55pm

Start by putting a sign outside your own gate if you can. " Please Do Not Obstruct Driveway Day Or Night, Thank You."That should let the neighbours know that you're getting irritated. They might not realise how much it's pishing you off.
If they do it again you can call and point out the sign to your neighbours and tell them that you were hoping that this would stop the problem from re-occurring and stop you from having to constantly call to them. Hopefully they'll get the message and let their visitors know.
If that doesn't work then I'd imagine that you're heading for Garda time.

Is it the same visitors all the time BTW ? Seems strange that a number of different visitors would do the same thing. Most people tend to be more considerate.

uck51js9zml2yt · 07-04-2019 9:55pm

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Ah go on and tell us. Don't leave us hanging like that!

Big yellow metal thing on their wheel...do I need to spoon-feed youse;)

mikemac2 · 07-04-2019 9:58pm

Some people think nothing of blocking up estates but most would not do it

I reckon the owner is telling them it’s fine to park outside your place. If it’s multiple people like the parents in law, relations, friends, whoever and they all do it well it’s even more likely

Lay on their doorbell next time. You can lay on your car horn too!

Spanish Eyes · 07-04-2019 9:59pm

Nadia Young Cub wrote: »

Big yellow metal thing on their wheel...do I need to spoon-feed youse;)

No need to be so dismissive.

But how do you get a clamper out at say this time of a Sunday night for example. Or any time as a non council hired person. Just wondered how successful it might be.

gk5000 · 07-04-2019 10:00pm

Is there some way you could block them in after they have blocked you in, say with a friends car, or by keeping your car outside when you expect them?
Then just don't answer your door or move it, and leave them stuck all night.

Spanish Eyes · 07-04-2019 10:01pm

This is it wrote: »

As I said, it's not the approach I would take. No point in starting some sort of tit-for-tat parking war, there are plenty of other avenues.

What alternatives do you propose, if talking to the neighbours/ blockers doesn't work.

jippo nolan · 07-04-2019 10:04pm

Toots wrote: »

If you said you were in Dublin I'd have thought you were one of my parents. Their neighbours are the same, pig ignorant and would never dream of blocking their own drive but constantly park across my parents'.

It would be worth having a chat with a local garda and seeing what they advise. My sister in law was in a similar situation only in her case the neighbour was refusing to move the car so she called the Gardai. Neighbour still refused to move it so the Garda said basically if it's not moved in the next 10 minutes it'll be on the back of a tow truck. Neighbour must have thought the garda was bluffing, until, sure enough, a tow truck arrived and the car was carted off. They've never blocked her drive again, but obviously they now absolutely hate my sister in law.

Sometimes hate is good!

topnotch · 07-04-2019 10:06pm

I would avoid blocking or getting others to block their driveway, i think it totally undermines your position.

q85dw7osi4lebg · 07-04-2019 10:07pm

Start parking in their driveway.

OldMrBrennan83 · 07-04-2019 10:07pm

gk5000 wrote: »

Is there some way you could block them in after they have blocked you in, say with a friends car, or by keeping your car outside when you expect them?
Then just don't answer your door or move it, and leave them stuck all night.

That's a brilliant way of getting a message across when people use your driveway, I've done it before and never had to again. It's very hard to block a parallel parked car unless you can get in front of and behind it with two cars though.

OldMrBrennan83 · 07-04-2019 10:08pm

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

What alternatives do you propose, if talking to the neighbours/ blockers doesn't work.

Wash their car for them while it's blocking your drive. Just to not create any friction like. Can't have friction.

Pineapple1 · 07-04-2019 10:08pm

It's different cars every time, not just one. Also, he gives grinds from his house so the drivers will abandon the car and either swan off into town or wait in his kitchen for the hour. So between friends, family and customers calling to the house next door we have been busy going back and over to the house. All of the rest of our neighbours couldnt be more courteous to us and vice versa. Its like they think they are above us by being so popular?! We have been on this street for decades so its upsetting that this is happening.

This is it · 07-04-2019 10:11pm

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

What alternatives do you propose, if talking to the neighbours/ blockers doesn't work.

Guards, signs, cones, call over when it's not blocked and ask nicely, but firmly, that they tell visitors not to park in front of the driveway.

holliehobbie · 07-04-2019 10:12pm

Say you'll report them to revenue for running a 'business' from their home?

This is it · 07-04-2019 10:12pm

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

Wash their car for them while it's blocking your drive. Just to not create any friction like. Can't have friction.

One extreme to the other, which no one is suggesting, but sure keep going.

iamwhoiam · 07-04-2019 10:16pm

Pineapple1 wrote: »

It's different cars every time, not just one. Also, he gives grinds from his house so the drivers will abandon the car and either swan off into town or wait in his kitchen for the hour. So between friends, family and customers calling to the house next door we have been busy going back and over to the house. All of the rest of our neighbours couldnt be more courteous to us and vice versa. Its like they think they are above us by being so popular?! We have been on this street for decades so its upsetting that this is happening.

Time to get assertive . I personally would knock in when no one has parked there . Tell them you are sick and tired of their inconsiderate behaviour and you won't be tolerating it any longer and calling the Gardai next time it happens
Tell them you have never seen such unneighbourly behaviour in all your years there
Put them to shame

tretorn · 07-04-2019 10:18pm

Ring Revenue and report him, he may be declaring the income but then again maybe not.

Springfields · 07-04-2019 10:19pm

Can you get those stickers they use in car parks when someone parks illegally...the ones that are near impossible to get off?? That might stop it....2 or 3 on each car that blocks you.... or Vaseline on the windscreen....maybe put a sign up first and then they can't claim they weren't warned...

This is it · 07-04-2019 10:21pm

Another option, though may induce a neighbour war, would be those No Parking stickers that takes 3 months, 12 car washes and 6 hours of scraping to get fully off. They'll surely get the message but be prepared for a backlash.

Spanish Eyes · 07-04-2019 10:21pm

It happened to us about ten years ago if anyone cares,

Day and night, no exit possible. Spoke to the neighbours, they were very kind and did try to ensure it wouldn't happen again, but it did, and they didn't care at the end of the day.

We parked over neighbour's driveway. And it worked.

Bullies and idiots should not win IMV.

funnyname · 07-04-2019 10:21pm

Print out a few of these

topnotch · 07-04-2019 10:22pm

I would go with putting out cones. After a while you will no longer need them.

magicbastarder · 07-04-2019 10:25pm

the following is not advice, just an anecdote.
i once helped push a badly (i.e. inconsiderately) parked car out of the way. an important point to note was that this was at my brother's wedding (where i was best man) but one of his mates was in the special branch.
whether it made a difference or not, he advised to get two people bouncing the front of the car, said it'd make it easier for those pushing. took about ten minutes, but we got the car moved enough to make the difference.
the owner of said car arrived just as we were finishing the job, nose out of joint. a quick flash of the garda badge of sad friend above defused the situation.

however, going back to the situation above - talk to the gardai first. as mentioned, if there's any fallout, you will have come across as the reasonable, and wronged, party. it's harder to cast yourself as the wronged party if the first thing the gardai know about the situation is a complaint about you.

anewme · 07-04-2019 10:26pm

I would knock in and say it to them when there is no one parked there.

More in the way of a warning shot across the bow "you need to resolve the parking, as its not acceptable. Straight up.

Youve been more than patient. Id have been more direct. What part of stop blocking my drive doyou not understand.?

Friend gave me this advice " never be a lodger in your own home" i

Wildly Boaring · 07-04-2019 10:27pm

Can you park in your own gate?

What Username Guidelines · 07-04-2019 10:29pm

Pineapple1 wrote: »

It's different cars every time, not just one.

This is the bit I don’t get though, if it’s multiple cars, surely your neighbour isn’t instructing people to park there and just block the drive. So before the cones, revenge blocking their driveway, etc., is it just a design issue? I mean, I’ve been on roads/estates before where there’s a strip between driveways that looks like you’d fit a car into, but it wouldn’t hold anything longer than an Aygo.

Issue with neighbours parking

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