She Paid Extra for a Big Driveway. Now Her Neighbors’ Builders Are Taking It Over

A woman went to Reddit for advice after months of fighting with her neighbors over a shared driveway. She said the large driveway was one of the main reasons she bought her house, thinking no one would ever block it.

Her problems began when new neighbors started building an extension on their home. They told her the builders wouldn’t block the driveway and would store materials on a grassy area. At first, that sounded fine.

But soon, the builders put a portable toilet against her garage wall. On warm days, she said, the smell of urine and feces came into her garage. She also claimed the crew arrived every day with at least five cars and a large flatbed truck, parking on the shared driveway from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

She said they often parked the flatbed across half her driveway, making it impossible for her to turn around. When deliveries came, the driveway would be completely blocked.

The woman reminded them there was a legal agreement, called a deed of covenant, saying no one should block the driveway. But after telling them several times, nothing changed.

The problem has been going on for eight months. Since she works shifts, she never knows when she’ll need to get in or out. She thinks the builders could park somewhere else but won’t.

She asked Reddit if she was wrong to keep pushing the issue. Most commenters took her side, saying the neighbors were being inconsiderate and that she was within her rights to take legal action.

The woman now thinks a lawyer might be the only solution. She’s confused because she thought she had a good relationship with her neighbors, but they seem not to care. After months of blocked access, bad smells, and arguments, she’s not sure if fighting the issue will only make things worse.