How annoying are overland easements! And neighbours! And local planning politics!
My house shares a driveway with another house. My house is at the back, and theirs is at the front, so I have to drive past their house to park on my property. The driveway was built after the subdivision of our two blocks by the previous owners of the other house, who were lovely people and excellent neighbours, but who sold their home late last year.
To make things extra complicated, the land the driveway was built on was not originally privately owned. It was public land, which I guess belongs to the local government by default. But according to local planning rules, once they built the driveway, it magically became private property belonging to the house in front of mine. I suspect you can see where this is going.
My problem starts where their driveway ends and mine begins, at the border of my property. My new neighbours have three cars, which they insist on parking in their driveway. That means my car is stuck either on my land, or on the street, with no thoroughfare from one to the other. When I complain, they move the cars to let me through, but it happens all the damn time and it’s becoming impossible to manage. There isn’t enough street parking available, and I find myself cruising the neighbourhood looking for a place to park rather than forcing a three car shuffle.
I’ve tried discussing the problem with my new neighbours, but they continue to do it and insist that it is, after all, their driveway. I’ve spoken with the police, but they aren’t willing to help because it’s a civil issue. I’ve spoken with the local planning authority, but they aren’t willing to help because no actual rules are being broken, and their only suggestion is either civil litigation or a long and arduous process to seek a planning determination, which may, or may not, be granted.
I tell you, being at the mercy of another homeowner is the worst.
