A retired homeowner was left stunned after their neighbour claimed the right to park across their driveway, citing a 'property line' as justification. The dispute, shared on Reddit under the username Greedy-Tutor3824, highlights common parking conflicts between neighbours.
The Neighbour's Entitled Claim
The homeowner explained that the neighbour routinely overhangs their dropped kerb driveway, and even invites guests to park across it entirely. When confronted, the neighbour became hostile, insisting that the dropped kerb overhangs their 'property line,' giving them the right to park there. The homeowner believes this is a non-factor and that simply parking a couple of feet back would solve the issue.
Legal Perspective
According to UK council guidance, parking across a dropped kerb that blocks access to a driveway is typically an offence. Salford City Council states that it is an offence if access to the public highway is blocked, and if a vehicle prevents leaving the driveway, it can become a police matter. Newcastle City Council also confirms that local authorities can enforce dropped kerb restrictions without road markings.
Reddit Reactions
Reddit users advised the homeowner to record future incidents and contact the local authority if the problem persists. Some warned against taking matters into their own hands, as damaging or blocking a vehicle could lead to legal complications. Advisory white 'H-bar' markings may be available from some councils, but these are not legally binding.
