I share a drive way with my neighbors. The drive is an easement between our properties with a slab at the back. There is one way in and one way out. I've been polite and asked them not to block it, even left notes. They basically tell me to F-off. I've called the police, code enforcement, HUD (they rent thru), Legal Aid, and the Building Department and they all told me that I am out of luck and there is nothing legally that they can do. They told me that I can take it to court but I have no money (stay at home mother). There is no reasoning with my neighbors, they are down right rude. I've tried to talk with them and they chose to pick a fight instead. When we can park back there they still block us in and several times refused to move their car until I called the police. The police won't come out anymore, it's a "civil" issue and therefore I have to go to civil court. I'm looking for a legal rep to help me sorta out my delimna, any help is appreciated!
2007-12-19 09:51:38 · 6 answers · asked by babygates05 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
I befuddled at the lack of help my city has provided me in resolving this issue, I know I am one of many who deal with this but yet there is no help out there. Please HELP!
Also, I don't want to park on the street because my neighborhood is not safe, in fact I watched a speeding driver smash in a car 2 houses down from me. And moving is out of the question!
2007-12-19 10:08:45 · update #1
I am currently purchasing the house, it stipulates in the purchase agreement, since the landlords live out of town, that we take care of all the issues with the house including this.
There people just don't care what they do, I mean for instance they have 3 pitbulls in their back yard (which is not fenced in) 1 is chained, the other 2 run loose throughout the neighborhood. Even the humane society won't do anything to them except come out and give them a verbal warning. My city is supposedly the "21st century" with idiotic ideals of how to handle estranged situations with very little legal help. Gah!
2007-12-19 10:17:18 · update #2
Have you ask your landlord for help? I'm sorry you have this awful situation. I can't imagine how stressful an issue this must be for you.
2007-12-19 09:59:25 · answer #1 · answered by thirsty mind 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First it really isn't a civil matter unless you suffer a financiaI loss as a result of their actions. I don't entirely intend this to be flippant. I currently am in your neighbor's position, 4 of my neighbors have an easement to use my drive across my property, and I buried my car in a snow bank twice last week when one neighbor was very inconveniently coming down the drive as I was attempting to go up. For the most part we do very well by cooperation . My part of the driveway is snowplowed and salted and they even paved the driveway a few years ago, by them . I in turn do my best to not block the drive don't go extraordinarily ballistic when they (or their contractors) have accidently pulled our power,phone and cable lines down which puts my wife out of work since she telecommutes from home. I even took 80 feet of fencing down so one neighbor could bring in a new modular home. Our fire department isn't crazy about our situation because they feel that their access to those 4 residences is somewhat insufficient even though they issued the building permits on the basis of the existing access.
If I were you I would check with them concerning the legality of their emergancy access to you being blocked, and who the would send to enforce the issue (They might have their own fire police or use the local code enforcement officer to issue tickets (also he can usually issue nasty tickets (to their landlord) for unregistered vehicles and other things like excess trash and unsafe conditions. If they refuse to help document the problem and get a hold of your alderman or town councilman and let them know that you are getting no help from the people whose job it is to enforce the laws.
Usually a phone call from them is enough to get them off their
@$$e$! . After you do get enough documentation (and buy your property ) you could either have their vehicles towed, or (here's the flippant part) borrow or rent a forklift and After giving them 5 minutes notice - move their cars for them! Do that once or twice and they will make very sure to stay out of your way!
2007-12-19 21:01:37 · answer #2 · answered by vlvtnrbt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have two options - you can escalate the situation, or deescalate it. If you choose to escalate it, they will see it as retaliation and are probably the kind of people who will take it to extremes (scratched paint jobs, dead pet, bleached lawn, etc.).
Your options to deescalate the situation are, unfortunately, limited. Your first option (talking to them) failed. That pretty much leaves the court system or a third-party mediator - I'm not sure how much those services run. If there is nothing that the bldg dept or police can do, then I'm not sure what your odds in court would be.
2007-12-19 18:04:39 · answer #3 · answered by Columbia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try talking to some one in the town. good luck.
2007-12-19 18:07:58 · answer #4 · answered by Mattman 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my first thought it to start blocking them in too if they wreck your car turn them in for destruction of property. I know my idea is petty but it was the first thing that popped into my head
2007-12-19 18:00:02 · answer #5 · answered by Kitikat 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
why do you want to buy this problem???
Tell the landlord you don't want to buy. It will NOT get better.
2007-12-19 23:40:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋