When parking outside your home breaks the law
Numerous households rely on their driveways for bin storage, vehicle parking and various other uses.
While this is perfectly normal behaviour, some people might not know they could be accidentally breaking the law by parking outside their homes. It all depends on how your property is set up, and precisely where your driveway sits. If the space is shared with a neighbouring property, there are multiple rules you need to follow, according to specialists at digital legal platform Lawhive.
With a shared driveway, both households have the right to access it, but the Highways Act 1980, which applies across England and Wales, stipulates that people must not obstruct a highway, including a shared driveway.
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This means that neither homeowner can block the driveway, for instance by parking on it, and could be hit with a fine for doing so, reports the Express.
It's also an offence to leave items on a shared driveway, such as rubbish or recycling bins. This behaviour would be classed as "obstructing a highway", according to Lawhive.
If you find yourself in a dispute with your neighbour over a shared driveway, legal experts suggest familiarising yourself with your rights and seeking advice from a solicitor.
They also recommend having a conversation with your neighbour once you understand the complete picture, as this approach might be sufficient to settle any differences. Should these measures prove unsuccessful, engaging a professional mediator might assist, or perhaps a formally worded letter from a solicitor.
As a final option, you may be able to pursue an injunction to prevent the neighbour from carrying out actions that violate your rights.