'A neighbour keeps parking across my drive - and I can't believe how he reacts when I knock on his door'

A homeowner has said he’s been left stunned at the actions of neighbour it constantly parks his car across the driveway. Asking for legal advice the motorist siad he had been stunned at bizarre actions from the neighbour including b anging on his door in the middle of the night to ask them to turn music down - when they’re all asleep.

But they said thecampaign over the driveway was the most annoying and raise the issue on a Reddit forum asking for legal advice. He complained that whenever he goes to ask the neighbour or his sons ‘just laugh and close the door’ often leaving him trapped on the drive.

The Bristol resident said: “We’ve had problems with our neighbour ever since we moved in, he’s a landlord who owns almost the whole neighbourhood and has been harassing us ever since we moved in - swearing at us, getting his sons to push my car when it was parked legally on the street (caught on camera), banging on the door at midnight telling us to turn music down (we were asleep and didn’t know where the music was coming from).

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“Recently he has been parkingdirectly straight across our driveway, stopping us from getting out. Our driveway is walled on either side so we can’t even squeeze past. I ask him to move it each time but he and his sons just laugh at me and close the door, which means sometimes I can’t get out to work or anywhere for a few hours until they move their car.”

The resident said that he’s got a proper dropped curb and added: “I’ve read countless things online saying it’s illegal to park there, and that it’s illegal to stop a car getting onto the highway. We’ve called 101 but they just say because he’s not being violent then they won’t do anything and they’ll just record it as a report, I’ve called them at least 5 times in the last few months and am told the same thing each time.

“And it’s worth mentioning that there are loads of places to park on our street, but he insists on parking directly in front of our drive, so it’s definitely deliberate, and I think them just trying to annoy us into moving.

“I just want some peace and don’t know what to do, can anyone give some advice?” Responders said that one of the key things is to keep a log of everything that happens.

And they said it was illegal. One explained: ”It is absolutely illegal to park across a dropped kerb blocking a vehicle from accessing the highway, contact the police again, as well as the councils local councillor & if you get no joy get hold of your MP.

“The police will do nothing if they can get away with it, constantly push them.” Another asked: “When you called 101, did you actually report an obstruction on a public highway? I can’t figure out why the Police told you they can’t take action because he’s not being violent, that seems a totally inappropriate response to access to a road being blocked”

The homeowner replied: “I’ve not worded it like that but will in future, just said that the neighbour is blocking my driveway and won’t move and I can’t get out. They say they’ll log it and call me back and when they do they just ask is it still happening, which it isn’t because they only park there for a few hours before moving.”

A user said: “NLA but start keeping a log and evidence (photos and videos) for everything he does. It may seem a pain, but call 101 each time too. Just to officially log it. See if you can get it added to the same reference number.

“A mate was being harassed by an ex and logged it all. He said he felt like he had 101 on speed dial. When she ended up having him arrested he quoted a reference and it was all stacked up.”

The Bristolian replied: “Yes I’ve already started making a log and have got everything recorded on a security camera, clearly showing Reg no. and his car.”

The Highway Code states that a vehicle should never be parked blocking a property entrance. This is outlined in rule number 243, along with a comprehensive list of other locations, including near school entrances or close to a bus or tram stop as well as a taxi rank.

Motorists are also prohibited from parking on dropped kerbs in front of driveways. The RAC has clarified that it is indeed legal to park outside someone’s house, provided you’re not obstructing their access. This means the space outside your home isn’t automatically yours and parking operates on a first-come-first-served basis, with some exceptions. They add that when it comes to double yellow lines for instance, drivers may incur a fine of £70 however this can be reduced by 50 percent if you pay the fine within 14 days depending on the local authority.

As well as a potential fine, the RAC are further warning motorists that whilst “the Highway Code isn’t the law, many of its rules are in fact legal requirements under the Roads Traffic Act, which you can be prosecuted for contravening”. Because of this, drivers may be fined, given penalty points on your licence, disqualified from driving, or even sent to prison.