New neighbour asked to "use" my drive.

I do have an attached garage but its full of my "stuff" - some of it boxes still packed from 20 years ago. Im surprised CF neighbour did not ask to use that.

@Millie22 - yes I may have posted about this before on a thread about unwelcome callers. I was just going for my pm nap when cf neighbour rang my bell. I told her she had woken me up. Instead of apologising she began to rabbit on about her damned cars, I told her to come back next day as I only see people "by appointment". That usually puts people off but she came by at the appointed time and we had the conversation about the drive.

I did not invite her in and she stood one side of a 6ft locked gate while I sat on a garden chair the other side with my coat on.

I did point out that the "nice couple next door" dont have a car either so she might wish to approach them. with her request.

The "nice couple" have sent workpeople to trespass on my property, dumped rubbish on my garden and are general whingers and cfs. So they deserve one another.

I was a solicitor Chrissyoh.

Different views of the world!
None of the cars people park on my drive would attract 'steal to order' , though I am amusing myself by wondering what order it might be!
Should I need anything from my neighbours, maybe running an occasional errand, taking me to an appointment, or a loan of something useful; I really hope they don't charge me the 'going rate'!

I would think that she will have got the message now biglouis

My daughter, when renting a flat
got to know her elderly neighbour
who then offered her garage space for free. It became a mutual friendship both if them winning

Good for you!
It's so much better to just say 'no' than try to back peddle later.

A dd rents out half her drive space once a week, via some online org. Parking is a bit of a nightmare locally and there’s a major hospital within walking distance so there are always takers. Seems to work well.

Once she gave up her car, my mother allowed a neighbour’s son to use her garage. Fine until she developed dementia, when she was endlessly and very angrily telling me that he’d ‘stolen’ it. ?

I am all in favour of helping neighbours but this sounds as if they want to park on your drive permanently which I wouldn't even consider! I tend to keep my car in the garage and I have told my neighbours that when their children come to visit and they need extra space they can use my drive, however, he always calls in first to check it is still OK.

@ Nannarose There is a difference between doing a small favour for a neighbour and charging someone the "going rate" because they are trying to get a free lunch!

I follow the example of a relative of mine who is an accountant and therefore has a very transactional view of life. A new CF neighbour who was building an extension, took it for granted that his builders could site scaffolding in his (relative's) beautifully landscaped garden for the build. He thought he could just "bung you a few quid". However my relative was having none of that. Off the top of his head he reeled off a long list of items including:

health and safety considerations
loss of amenity for part of his garden
ground rental for said scaffolding
privacy issues
his time and that of partner
legal costs
etc etc

Off the top of his head he was citing several thousand pounds before he even spoke to his solicitor to "estimate a price". All this frightened his NDN to the degree that he completely redrafted his plans to site the extension on the other side. Unfortunately the other NDN, having been briefed by relative, cited similar costs. Eventually NDN sold up and moved elsewhere.

It was the cavalier "Hey mate" attitude which got up my relatives nose, and not the fact that NDN wanted to build an extension similar to those which other properties in the area have.

He used an iconic phrase:-

"Lets leave this neighbour business on one side. Im a business man and you approached me with a business proposition so there has to be something in it for me as well."

Well I'm a business woman and there has to be somthing substantial in it for me too.

It seems that you have a lot of problems with your neighbours biglouis
Good neighbours really are an absolute blessing.
Mine are even timing their holidays around my hip replacement; so that they are here if I need any help.

And something properly documented. These informal arrangements are a lawyer’s delight when they go belly up.

I would have just said no, that wouldn’t work for me.
Can’t be arsed trying to let people know how clever I am.

I can understand fully why you have mentioned about renting the space to her, and think it's not a bad idea tbh.
I don't suppose that she has thought beyond finding somewhere to park her car. I mean, what about insurance for starters as you said about possible damage to your property/ wear and tear on the driveway etc.
Also, if at any point in the future and she decides to get an Evo car, will she be expecting you to provide a charging point for it ?

The housekeeper for my in-laws house asked if her son could park his car in the drive as he didn't make much money workwise and parking in the area was expensive. We said yes as the house was unoccupied (inlaws had died) and the arrangement was mutually beneficial. The only criteria was when we or friends or the Estate Agent wanted to visit. All went well until we turned up unexpectedly and found out that another 2 cars parked by his friends were there. Words were said.. It didn't happen again and our housekeeper was very embarrassed.

Can’t be arsed trying to let people know how clever I am

Its not just a case of letting people know how "clever" you are but rather of reminding them that there are legal and insurance issues involved in renting out part of your property to random people. Apart from all that has been mentioned what about possible capital gains and planning issues? Could this be construed as creating a legal "right" or precedent?

Clearly this young woman (she appeared to be about late 20s) had not even considered these aspects. It is as well that she now does consider them for her own sake, as well as that of whichever individual she manages to palm off her extra vehicle on. I have really done her a favour!

Its significant that the sites which allow you to rent out your drive via an app state that they are not responsible for legal aspects/damage/insurance and so on. They steer clear.

@Germanshepherdsmum (who used to be a solicitor,) has pointed out that these kinds of situations can be a legal minefield. Situations involving property are best handled by formal contracts which specify the rights and duties of each party. That legal work has to be paid for and does not come cheap.

Well said op

Germanshepherdsmum

I was a solicitor Chrissyoh.

Ah - I see - thanks for the reply .?

It might be useful if they will do something for you in exchange like mow the lawn or take you to the supermarket.

Is allowing someone to use it occasionally ok?
Surely a legal agreement needn't be drawn up?

Neighbours (more than one lot) have asked if they can use our drive when they have had workmen parking on their drives or when they had visitors staying.

They would do favours for us if we asked.

Smart move biglouis and don't forget about potential oil leaks on your drive..........almost impossible to remove and very unsightly!

Harris27

I’m waiting for this to explode with my sons new house. He has an end of terrace property with his drive being part of next doors. At the moment he doesn’t drive and the guy parks four old cars on both drives. I didn’t want to upset my son when viewing the property and I did say along the lines about this being a problem. He went ahead and bought it anyway but I do wonder about the future.

I wouldn’t touch a house with an owner next door owning more cars than spaces provided. Always going to be a problem. Especially as your son doesn’t so he is going to get walked all over, then perhaps one day he does own a car, he’ll have a fight on his hands for his own driveway.

Nannarose what a lovely neighbour of your late father’s.

Our friend had the same casual attitude from a builder, who was working on three new houses across the road and wanted to dig up friend's garden to lay a sewer pipe. 'I'll put the grass back - won't cause you any problems' he announced. Friend played hard ball for a while, and then settled for the builder providing a new garage, having his house painted, and his garden landscaped.

We had an arrangement with our NDN at our last house, that we each would park on the other's drive when we or they were on holiday for security. Worked very well and we cut each others hedges, leant tools etc. Trust on both sides as it should be.

I can't really agree that the original enquiry from the neighbour was cheeky.

After all, the person whose drive it was, was obviously not using it, so why not ask if you might?

Being taken aback when the owner of the property mentioned the legal aspect of renting out part of her property, only really shows that her neighbour hadn't realised there could be legal implications, including tax.

However, not having heard the tone of voice or the wording of the enquiry, I cannot be positive it wasn't the impertinence you all seem to think it was.

Like OP's neighbour, I would have been flabbergasted if a polite enquiry as to the possiblitiy of useing something for a couple of days (if that was the original enquiry's time frame) had met with this kind of reply.

But then I live somewhere where we happily lend the neighbours hedge-clippers, flexes, chain-saws or standing room for vehicles for a couple of days. Anything longer would probably require a more formal agreement, so I am not criticising OP for mentioning this aspect - just surprised it was her initial reacton.