A frustrated homeowner has taken to the Mumsnet forum to ask for advice after their neighbours allegedly set off their doorbell camera repeatedly by cutting across their private driveway. The user says the situation occurs daily, and they are now wondering if it is time to speak up.
The homeowner, who lives in a house with a front driveway, described how the neighbours to the right have their own side driveway and a direct path to the street. Instead of using that, they prefer to cross the homeowner's garden and walk down the driveway whenever they leave with their dogs or go out on foot.
Constant Doorbell Alerts
"Every day the neighbours walk across my garden and up and down my driveway way rather than using their own path out of their house," the exasperated resident wrote. "To walk their dogs or head out on foot. It sets my doorbell off constantly."
The regular footfall has become a genuine irritation, especially as the neighbours often pass closely by the family's parked vehicles. The homeowner added: "They walk down it regardless of if we are parked on the drive or not and walk very close to our cars which makes me worried they'll get scratched."
A Question of Etiquette
The user made clear that the driveway is private property, not a shared communal space, and asked whether a polite request would be acceptable. "Would it be ridiculous for me to politely ask them not to as it's setting the cameras off?" they wrote.
The homeowner acknowledged that the neighbours have been inconsiderate in other ways, particularly with noise, but said they have never raised that issue. "Might seem like a tiny thing but the constant notifications on the camera are annoying and despite them often being inconsiderate neighbours noise wise I have never said anything," they explained.
They also expressed a strong belief in common courtesy, stating: "I feel it's common courtesy to not walk across other people's property. I would never walk across someone else's drive and find it quite a bizarre thing to do." The situation has even made them feel uncomfortable in their own home, as they worry about neighbours peering into their living room when walking along the drive.
Mixed Reactions from the Forum
Commenters were quick to weigh in. One cautioned against making the request, sharing a personal story: "You can if you like, obviously. My neighbour did the same to me, which I thought was really petty and I subsequently refused access to scaffolders when they wanted to replace the roof so be careful. The thing with neighbours is that everything is reciprocal."
The original poster hit back at this advice, writing: "Maybe I was brought up to respect other people's property. I don't think it's petty to ask people to not trespass. It's definitely petty to refuse scaffolders. Glad you're not my neighbour."
Another user suggested a more practical solution: "Make it inconvenient with planters or similar. They are doing it because it's easy. As soon as it becomes harder they will stop." A third commenter was sceptical about the effectiveness of any request, noting: "Trouble is, the sort of people who behave this way often don't take kindly to such requests, however politely made!"
Finally, a more easy-going forum member advised: "Get a doorbell you have to press, and don't be petty. Life is too short."
The thread reflects a common residential dilemma, where convenience for some can feel like an invasion of privacy for others. Whether the homeowner will choose to confront their neighbours, install deterrents, or simply adjust their doorbell settings remains to be seen.
