Neighbour Blog Part 2

Blocked Driveway – Visitor Vehicle

On one occasion, a visitor vehicle parked across the end of the driveway, blocking access. After a "strong" request for it to be moved, the vehicle was removed. Around the same time, another neighbour raised concerns directly with the Brauns about visitor parking affecting their own driveway.

Discussion with Mr Braun

Later that day, Mr Braun came to our door to state, very sarcastically, that the vehicle had been moved. During the exchange, he suggested it was the visitor’s first time and they were unaware of restrictions. After I told Mr Braun that it was his responsibility to make sure the driveway was kept clear the conversation became heated, and ludicrous allegations were made by him. The matter highlighted the ongoing difficulty of ensuring visitors park appropriately without blocking access.

December 2024 – MOT Concerns

In December 2024, it was noted that the Braun household’s Mercedes vehicle had not been presented for its first MOT by the required date, despite being in use. The MOT was subsequently carried out on 23 February 2025.

Relevant Deed Requirements

• Shared driveway must be maintained in good condition.
• Exterior of the property should be kept in tidy order.
• Residents must not obstruct the right of way or access to garages.
• Residents must avoid causing nuisance to neighbours.
• Certain boundary alterations (e.g. fences) are restricted by the deeds.

10 March 2025 – Decorative Tub Damaged

A vehicle driven by Mrs Braun struck and damaged one of two decorative tubs placed near the boundary, which also protect a telecom junction box. No attempt was made at the time to advise us of the incident or reposition it.

A few weeks later I asked Mrs Braun what she was going to do about the tub and she denied all knowledge of the incident. I advised her that the incident was captured on our cctv and that we would seek to claim on her vehicle insurance and, the next day, their contractor replaced the tub.

On 4 April 2025, the contractor Vlad repositioned and refilled the tub, several weeks after the incident.

Parking Behaviour

Since late 2024, visitor parking arrangements have generally improved. Most visitors now park on the street. Occasional incidents of driveway obstruction have still occurred, but less frequently. The Mercedes minibus has continued to occupy one of the two visitor bays on a long-term basis.

April 2025 – Driveway Planter

A planter was placed on the shared driveway in April 2025. Concerns were raised about access being partially obstructed, along with bricks and wood remaining from earlier works, which created potential trip hazards.

Noise Incident

On 26 April 2025 at 04:35, a vehicle returned to the Braun property with loud music playing, disturbing nearby residents.

Summer 2025 – Visitor Parking

Summer 2025 was relatively quiet, with fewer disturbances. A large gathering on 21 August caused some parking congestion in the street. During the August Bank Holiday, vehicles were rotated between driveway and visitor bays, with the BMW remaining in the street for an extended period.

September 2025 – Property Maintenance

On 17 September 2025, contractors cleaned the Braun property’s window frames (after 9 years) and carried out general tidying, including weeding the driveway and trimming plants.