A couple who moved to a rented property in London and initially made friends with their neighbours have found themselves in a bitter dispute after the neighbours began using their driveway without permission. The couple, who had friendly interactions with the husband and wife next door, discovered that their neighbour was parking a vehicle in their driveway without asking.
Neighbour Ignored Polite Requests
The disgruntled neighbour took to the R/LegalAdviceUK Reddit thread to vent and seek help. They explained that they approached the neighbour and asked that they simply ask in the future, as the couple planned to get a car themselves. The neighbour was not receptive. About 45 days later, a car parked in the driveway again. The couple left a polite note, but the car returned and the note was placed back through their mail slot without apology.
After realizing the neighbour's masks had slipped, the couple sought advice from their landlord to put up signs, but the landlord was not interested. The neighbour's wife later claimed she forgot to ask permission and thought the note was rude. The car has been parked in the driveway daily for 11 days.
Legal Rights and Trespassing
According to The RAC, parking on a driveway without consent is trespassing, a civil offence, not criminal. Police cannot make arrests. If the car is on a public road blocking the driveway, the council can act, but on private property, the council has no authority. The only legal recourse is a civil case for trespassing, where a court can order the car's removal. Alternatively, a claim for nuisance behaviour can be pursued, but court proceedings can be lengthy and costly.
The Ask The Police website advises against damaging, clamping, or removing the vehicle yourself, as this could lead to criminal charges or civil action. They also caution against pushing the vehicle onto a public road.
