Neighbour Parking in Front of House, Partially Impeding Driveway Access

So this is a long story that i will summarise as quickly as possible. Within our street, the current housing price situation has forced my neighbours kids to stay at home and live. Nothing wrong with that. However, they all have cars parked on a narrow street which can only fit 3 cars width wise across it
. It gets pretty crowded quickly in the evenings. So our issues lie with getting into our driveway because of all the cars. So 2 years ago we decided to build an additional slab on are property so we could park an additional 2 cars on are front property lot. This helped greatly as it allowed us to enter our driveway freely. Recently are next door neighbour has been consistently parking in front of our house near the driveway because he doesn't want to park on his driveway and his two garages are full. So currently the neighbour has a boat, a cavaran, a 4wd, a van and a ute. The boat, cavaran and 4wd are all parked on the road and take up some considerable real estate on the narrow road. I have confronted him about it and hes arrogantly said its a free public road "ill park where ever i want". What i'm looking for is a way that i can block him from parking right in front of house near my driveway, so i can have free access to my drive in and out. Any suggestions or ideas would be great. The best way to describe us and my neighbours is, we work full time and are never home. While my neighbour lives at home with his parents, hes about 40 years old, hes got a few cats and a large garden in his backyard that he tends to. This keeps him at home pretty at home all year round. Other times he leaves home is to go fishing in his boat.

These are photos of how he is currently parked https://imgur.com/a/lgUIq and https://imgur.com/XwC1Ahd and aerial shot https://imgur.com/a/cyspO

THANKS FOR THE HELP GUYS, heres the update of what has been done -> Trailer Purchased, Cameras Installed & Maneuvering diagram (AS2890.1 AUS standards)
https://imgur.com/a/78PMB

Comments

  • Do many people leave boats and campervans on the street?

    • I wouldn't I'd think its so easy to just hook up and drive away?

      • Pretty much is as simple as that but most people that do buy wheel clamps for all wheels.
        Just make it that abit harder for opportunist.

        • Yes it is the casual opportunist you need to worry about, if it's and overnight thing you just sleep in it or get a dolly wheel with a removable crank and lock the wheel clamp so it can't be opened?

        • So someone going to post a deal for wheel camp removal…

          though removing the number plate and reporting abandoned is tempting, just saying…

  • +39

    Sorry OP, but you are making an issue out of nothing. If those pictures you have posted are indicatory of the problem, then there is no problem. If you would like more space when leaving your driveway, that is your issue, not his. He is parked legally.

    • Yeh your completely correct. Hes parked legally and it is my issue. But its an issue that is being deliberately caused by my neighbour that i need help solving.

      • +18

        What is the issue? It doesn't look like there are any other cars on the road. If you can't get into your driveway based on the attached photos then maybe you need someone to show you how to park a car.

        • -3

          I'll wait till my neighbor comes back and parks again and i'll take photos of the driveway access problem. Just imagine i have a cx-9 on a road which can only fit 2 cars and a small truck width wise. You can drive in a straight line between all these cars but you can manoeuvre at all.

        • +6

          @Will Mcdonald: OK because the photo you have taken and also the aerial view do not show any other cars near your driveway so it's kinda hard to understand/believe that there would be an issue getting in your driveway. There's certainly no issues with the images you have provided so far.

        • +1

          I find it weird when people think they can win an argument by criticising someone's spelling or grammar.

          On one and you are technically correct, but on the other hand you are missing the complete point of the conversation.

        • @AlanHB: There is no argument here.

        • @Burnertoasty: So you would say that your response addressed the points raised by Will.

        • @AlanHB: Yes, see above.

        • +1

          @Burnertoasty: Was his question about the correct use of your / you're?

  • +13

    Lord help you if you ever have to park in Sydney's inner west.

    To summarise, if your neighbour parked one meter further from your driveway you would be fine, but because you called the parking inspector six months ago on them, they are disinclined to do so.

    Perhaps you can try apologising for the rash act of calling the inspector and ask if they would mind parking one metre further back from now on?

    • This is the answer to OP's problem!

    • +3

      Maybe I've misread but from what I understood reading above it was already done in the correct order to be polite (i.e. ask before calling council) but OP was met with a rude response followed by illegal parking. Now the neighbor is just trying do some petty harassment for kicks.

      If it was out of anger an apology would help, but if he was just doing it to be a jerk it might just be confirming for him his plan works and he keeps at it.

  • +2

    its a crap park, but it looks legal to me.

  • +5

    The house across the road from you should be the one who is annoyed. Having to back out of their driveway with a ute in the way would be really annoying.

    • Yeh you make a good point, maybe hes pissing of both us and that neighbour across the road.

      • A box trailer would probably give them more room too. Put the tyre right in the gutter and they'll have far more room than the 4WD is leaving anyway.

  • +3

    The car is parked legally. I'm sure you do this unknowingly when visiting friends or parking in other residential streets (for a cafe or whatever).

    To be honest, it doesn't look like it would be that hard to get in and out of. What cars are you parking on your property? If they're too big for you to manoeuvre, that's your problem.

    Either park all of your cars on street so you don't have to get in and out, or start taking the bus.

    • +1

      i got a cx-9 and cx-7. Yes they can't maneourve in and out when hes parked in that position. I have to drive down to the end of the culdersac and than approach my driveway from the left. I have attached a google aerial. https://imgur.com/a/cyspO

      • +13

        Or you could learn how to reverse your car.

        • Yes this! You should reverse your car in anyways as it is safer when pulling out. I have the same situation where I live… I don’t see what your problem is here.

        • Exactly what I was going to say. Just reverse in. Looks completely legal. Else you can be nice to him and ask if he can park a bit away from tmyour driveway.

  • If he parked closer to the kerb it would make it easier for you to turn into your driveway. Not sure about your surbuban street location but parking that distance from the kerb in city streets generally results in a fine.

    A pity your driveway is in good condition as a wider entrance and crossover would also give you more room to manoeuvre.

    • So i approach from the right of the driveway and go into the driveway. I'll take another photo when my neighbour comes home and than upload it for you to see. However when my neighbour is parked across from us you can't manoeuvre into the driveway without hitting his big bull bar on his car.

  • +9

    I am annoyed that you misspelled "our" twice. One in the description and one in the photo caption. Really?

    • +11

      4 times in the description
      Within are street
      on are property
      on are front property
      are next door neighbour

      • +1

        Well, that's even worse, isn't it?

  • +13

    Take a six pack over and tell him that you got off on the wrong foot. Apologise for the confrontation (even if you believe to not be your fault) and suggest a beer on the front deck/in the front yard.

    Get chatting and then just mention that the parking situation is frustrating and why.

    If he is still unhelpful then not much you can do but at least you tried. I can almost guarantee that after your beer he'll at least consider you when he parks up in future.

    In other words, kill him with kindness.

    • +1

      Seconded. Good advice 👍

    • +7

      Then dance around holding hands, spreading flower petals, singing Kumbaya. Meanwhile back in the real world :).

      • +6

        Back in the real world - who turns down a free six-pack?

        The OP has to live next door to this guy - surely better to have a good relationship than a bad one?

      • You should get back to the real world, nomad!

    • -1

      Beer?

      Don't electricians like anything with 'currant's?

    • +4

      Or just tell the guy to stop being a puny inadequate ponce and do the decent thing; Park 1 or 2 metres further away from the driveway. It isn't hard. And 2 extra meters of walking to his home is not the end of all life.

      Imagine the guy's mind as each time he pulls up; "Youse are getting what you deserve for asking me to do something reasonable, and then when I didn't youse called the council on me. NOW I GET REVENGE every day for months". What fool.

      All the simcom's need a better grasp on reality. The guy is aware of the issue but refuses to adjust his parking by a metre or two. So the suggestion is to suck up to an obnoxious selfish prick or for the op to "Learn to reverse" (WHY?), spend a few hundred to put something there.. blah blah. Negger's simplifies it and then complexify it with stupid dodgy solutions rather than go straight to the baseline solution; The guy can make a small adjustment to his parking methods.

      Also read into it more, the OP states that they had a discussion at first, that didn't work so the Council was involved. It is clear the neighbour is being obnoxious.

      Being legal or not is less relevant, being SENSIBLE and BILATERAL is the solution.

      • +1

        Hear, hear. Well said.

      • Haha. I really like the way you put it.

        “Negger's simplifies it and then complexify it with stupid dodgy solutions rather than go straight to the baseline solution”

  • +4

    Like the majority here, I don't see an issue.all you can do is ask to park further back until the next time he doesn't care and parks wherever.

    Get yourself an old 6x4 trailer and register it. Park it in front of your house with a wheel clamp. Leave it there permanently as long as you keep up the reg.
    You're welcome

    • Sounds like a cost that is not too bad. I can look into that.

      • +3

        A cheap solution is to place your garbage bins, or one of them about a metre from your driveway entry, and just out of the gutter stip, leave it there through the week. If the neighbour moves it or puts it on your lawn etc, take further action.

        Also just plainly say to the guy. "Let us get past this issue, please park a metre or two further away from my driveway, it is common decency. That is all I ask." Or get some cheap spray dust or chalk and draw a line about a metre down, say your vehicle's turning circle is not tight enough to swing in any other way.

        I know you already spoke to him. But some people are petty and weak, so will carry on a vendetta for a long time.
        Ignore all the advice about sucking up, the guy does not deserve a six-pack or any loving. He needs a bit of a reality check. Most of the entitled weak ponces get away with what they do because few people can be bothered challenging them; this feeds there false belief they can get away with anything, they are tough etc..

        Good luck.
        Regards, Adam

    • Do this. Buy a second hand trailer, park it (and lock the wheels! We’ve had people try push the trailer away so they could park in the spot) where he’s parked but further back leaving enough space for you to get out but not enough to park a small car. That’s what our POS destroyed trailer is still doing, and once we recover money from the drunk driver we will buy another to do the same. Trailer rego is dirt cheap.

    • +9

      LOL lets solve Sydney's parking woes by putting trailers & junkers all over the place.

    • Just check first if there are any Council By-Laws regarding trailer parking. I believe there can be for boat trailers but maybe not for little box-trailers.

  • +2

    Deleted

  • +1

    $300 for trailer and clamp.
    $65 a year for reg.

    No brainer. You can park the trailer as far back as you can without fitting a car in front. Cheaper than buying an old car and less obstructive.

    • Yeh its a good idea, i'll look into. How many trailers am i allowed to legally have parked outside the front of my house? (NSW, Hornsby Shire)

      • +1

        As many as can take every spare park in the street. Got any friends with unused cars/trailers/caravans? Make it so he has to walk home from 20 houses away for a month. :-D

  • +2

    As an aside why are the council rubbish bins on the street taking up space? Is that normally allowed in NSW?

    If the road does not have a continuous dividing line or a dividing strip, the driver must
    position the vehicle so there is at least 3 metres of the road alongside the vehicle that
    is clear for other vehicles to pass…

    • position the vehicle so there is at least 3 metres of the road alongside

      many sealed local roads in nsw is 5m to 6m wide. that's more than enough to pass or do a three point turn.

      https://imgur.com/a/lgUIq

    • +1

      They're supposed to be on the footpath/gutter. But they're probably putting them out on the road for the benefit of the garbage truck driver. i.e. People probably park in front of them, so the garbage truck guy has to get in/out of his truck for every bin in the street to load it onto the lift manually. (I've seen the guy that does my area do this.) They probably put them out an hour before and take them inside immediately afterwards.

      • People on my street usually put them out the night before garbage collection and than collect it in the evening the next day. It allows the garbage to be collected and no one to park in front and block the garbage bins.

  • +5

    There is a BIG difference being a considerate neighbour vs parking in front of someone else's house and making it hard for the house owner to drive in and out of the driveway.

    This issue is real in many cases and it does not matter whether it is legal or not, council and many people here wont be able to see the problem unless they live in the OP's house.

    Things can be legal but not ethical, considerate or even moral. Think of what lawyers do in courts ;)

    I have a neighbour in front, their house is only 10m wide (405m sq block) and mum dad and 3 adult kids and a nanny and a boyfriend of the kid, all have cars and so 5 cars parked outside plus 2 cars for mum and dad inside.

    So i can feel OP's dilemma.

    Council's answer to me when i lodged a yellow line request, they said i should spend my own money to make my driveway entry wider. This way, when anyone is parked less than 1m of my driveway, council can earn revenue from the infringement notice.

    • +3

      Completely agree with you. It's hard for me to explain exactly the issue but you are right on the money at the problem i'm facing. Thankyou

  • Neighbours can be difficult for no reason whatsoever. We are having issues with our at the moment over a different matter where the laws are black and white.

    Trailer is a good idea but I am sure he will just move it - clamp or no clamp. Any chance of escalation into violence? That's what would concern me, people go off at the stupidest things and our laws are lax!

    • +1

      If you attach a sensor to the trailer that goes off when it is moved then it will scare the hell out of him.

      • +1

        If he is intent on being a @ss then he will just move it anyway or tamper with the alarm or not give a cr@p …

        • +1

          true, but if you leave a camera videoing it you might be amused by putting it on repeat.

  • +6

    i looked at all the pictures and i still have no idea what your talking about…
    hes not blocking anything and is parking legally, and you can still get in and out of your drive way….
    whats the complaint?
    millions of cars are parked exactly like that next to peoples houses all over australia right now. and those people dont have a problem with it…

    • I'll take some photos once my neighbors get back and the road fills back up.

      • +2

        Please do because I park exactly like that guy does every single day. I only have on street parking and wouldn't find a park in my street otherwise.

    • +2

      Did you notice the free space behind the car? It is more than 2 metres. OPS Neighbour can be decent and respect his neighbour with a small adjustment by parking 1-2mtre further back from the driveway.

      Did you know that all cars have different turning circles? Manoeuvring a big car with a big turning circle is hard when there is an obstacle in your arc. (But the neggers solution is to "Buy a car you can drive" rather than for the neighbour to learn how to be a decent person and park properly.

      Millions of people commit a crime. Where is the problem?

      Traffic and parking situations change throughout the day. The scene may be different during busy hours.

      • I think that's the point.

        The car is parking between 2 houses and leaving 50cm of space between the drive way of other house and giving themselves 2+ metres of room.

        The solution is to park mid-way between the 2 houses or closer to their own house, but they are deliberately choosing to obstruct their neighbour's room instead of their own.

  • If you're coming from the right just reverse into your driveway. That's what I'd honestly be doing even if there wasn't the neighbour's car parked there.

  • +6

    Put a bunch of hidden bird seeds on the branches above his car and let the birds do their work. Surely the bird poop will make him move.

  • +6

    Am I crazy? I don’t get how you can’t get in or out of your driveway from those photos?!

    • +7

      Shhh… OP's inability to drive is why we have this post to read.

      Can you please not point out the obvious and suggest something that can further spark the feud between OP and the neighbour?

    • I'll take some photos once my neighbors get back and the road fills back up.

  • +6

    I suggest going to NRMA Driving School, they will teach you how to maneuver around parked cars which are parked legally as show in all your photos so far.

    • +1

      i use to be a taxi driver, i'm perfectly capable of maneuvering in and out of my driveway. The issue is subjective to my whole family, otherwise with are largest car (cx-9) it is difficult to make the turn. And he has been giving an infringement notice when a ranger came and noted that he was impeding access to the driveway on a narrow street. He even said to me why is he parking here in the first place

      • +3

        Why don't you park the same way in front of his driveway?

        • Then neighbour will call the ranger to ticket OP, and that will teach OP what he should really be doing if that actually happens.

        • +2

          Tit for tat doesn't solve anything. If I did park my car in front of his house he would have to get a hefty for his boat or move to his friends place

        • +2

          @Will Mcdonald: Well then go over and talk to the FATHER.

      • +5

        Why do you keep writing "are" instead of "our"?

      • "capable of maneuvering in and out of my driveway."
        I was a Public Service driver, and like many Post Office ex-police, ambulance and fireies I know, make a point of reversing into parks where legal and feasible for both safety and vehicle wear and tear when cold reasons.

  • +3

    My family home is also on a narrow street with many cars so I completely understand your situation. However, from looking at the photos he is not parked illegally and it's clear that you don't get along well with your neighbour. What you can do is park in front of your house instead of inside the property. Can't think of any other ways.

    • Thanks for understanding. We can park on street if we need to, but we have built car spacing on r property close to our house. So we can get from the car straight into the house nicely.

  • +1

    Some More information i'll just add in. When i did speak to their son about a year ago. "His response was i know people in council and i know what i am allowed to do and not allowed to do. i'll park on the public street if i want". His Parents have been our neighbours for over 30 years, their son who is now about 40 yrs old moved back home 10 years ago. And hes been causing little problems over the last 2 years. This issue that has been occuring over the last 6 months is making life a bit difficult not being able to leave or enter our driveway.

    • +3

      it is clear, who you are dealing with, is not a considerate or nice person.. unfortunately there are people with issues like that..

      narrow street is an issue plus a car parked too close despite at legal distance, no one in this thread can understand unless they live in one.

      cars can only turn so much at tight spaces.

    • +2

      Did you reply to the son "so did the people in the council give you a heads up when an infringement notice was being issued?"

      That is, if you want to start a war. Which is what I usually do, because if you can't reason with an unreasonable person, why not stir them up.

    • Sounds like he's being a petty douche, but not parking illegally. If you do go the trailer route, I'd recommend video surveillance for when he moves it.

      Also, he is not allowed to park his boat on the street for more than 28 days. You might already have evidence of him exceeding this time, so you can mention this to the council.

      Good luck.

      • good idea ill install security cameras and get it done this week. I did talk to my local council (Hornsby Shire) and they said as long as its out the front of his house its fine.

  • I thought boats could not be parked on roads and had to be on private property? does he move it often? My neighbours got busted for leaving their caravan on the road for 3 days without moving. Council issued a warning.

    • I'm part of the (Hornsby Shire) the only council that doesn't have the rule in Sydney. Their rule is, if you have a boat or caravan you can park it only in front of your home.

      • so trailer is ok too?

        • Yeh trailer is ok too. I might look into that option and just get a trailer parked there. Seems stuiped to buy a trailer that i don't want to use, but than i can go in with my day to day life with no worries.

      • +2

        So after he goes on his yearly trip you could park a registered car in front of his place where his boat and caravan were and he would be stuffed when he came back…

      • Might be time to get political and get your local alderman to change some bylaws.
        Be the squeaky wheel. Councils will respond eventually.

  • +3

    Honestly the only thing you can really do is perhaps eat your pride and try and ask him in the prescence of his parents if he could just park a tiny bit further back so the turning radius in and out of your driveway is a lil easier. Given that you've already called inspectors etc I'd imagine he'd be rather reluctant to back down so if you REALLY want it resolved you might have to apologise, admit you were wrong etc etc - I KNOW you'll hate doing that but you're going to have to concede a little ground here if you want him to do the same.

    The simple fact is the street is narrow and he's parking 100% legally (based on those pictures). There's a difference between legal and considerate - but lets face it so many people are pretty self absorbed and alas for you he's one of those.

    So if you're seriously considering buying a trailer etc just to 'block' him from parting there - I'd try the 'sorry, I handled it badly but if you could please' approach one last time.

    If that doesn't work perhaps have a chat with your wife by your side with his parents and explain your side of things - perhaps they can get a better result if they're the messengers as likely you've burnt your bridges a tad with this guy.

    Is all a shame as it's a very small and easy thing you're asking/expecting but once it becomes a tug of war it can escalate very easily - so beware of doing that as it'll spiral into a huge mess. Best of luck.

    • +2

      Yeh I completely agree.
      I’m curious how OP initially confronted him. If he was aggressive to the son for parking there I’d be pissed and reluctant to help.

  • +1

    WTF???

    From what you have stated and the pictures your neighbour is not doing anything illegal. You still have access to your driveway. The street is a public place. As long he is not obstructing your driveway, it is not an issue.

    Also, sorry to be frank, but your driving skills must be terrible if you have trouble getting around that road!

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