To think my neighbours should be a bit more considerate when parking?

[kando]

We live in a close where our side of the street (4 houses) have an en-block garage each with parking for 1 car in front of each garages and "on close" (as opposed to on the road) parking for, technically, 7 or 8 cars.

We are the only ones to have one car, everyone else has 2. My next door neighbour frequently has 3 cars parked outside the house - not visitors, the car is there overnight. Another family take up 3 spaces instead of 2. If we have visitors, we either park our car or the visitors car in front of our garage.

Is it unreasonable to expect the couple with 3 cars to park one of them in front of their garage? Would I also be unreasonable to expect the ones who take up 3 spaces to only take up 2 instead?

[Obviously I appreciate that in the grand scheme of things this is so petty it's off the scale, but it's been very cathartic getting it off my chest!)

[SuperWomanX4]

YANBU - I have a similar problem, where I live we have a residential parking square that is for 11 homes. 9 homes have garages and there are 7 other parking spaces- 5 of which are not allocated to any particular home. Some of us have 2 cars and some have none meaning some garage spaces are used by those who don't have cars.
My problem is that the 2 people who do not have garages insist on parking their cars centred with their house meaning you can only fit 4 or 5 cars in the spaces not the possible 7.
Really annoys me as because we have a garage and they have 1 allocated parking space they think they own all the free parking spaces.
I get on very well with my neighbours except those 2 and 1 other rude lady!
The best solution to my problem would be parking white lines - might have to sneak out and do it!
As for yours do you definately not own one with your property (check your deeds) if rented speak to the landlord about numbering spaces.

[cupofcoffee]

It does sound a bit annoying if some people are taking up all the space all the time but I am unclear from your post if this is affecting you in any way. From what you say you have one car and one space, nobody is parking on your space so you have somewhere to put your car (correct me if I've got that bit wrong). Is the problem getting somewhere for your visitors to park?

[cupofcoffee]

And were you saying that someone with 3 cars puts all three in the communal spaces leaving their own personal space free? That is annoying as putting one of their cars in their space would obviously leave space for someones's visitor.

[onepieceoflollipop]

It is always going to be a bit frustrating for those of us that live in small closes/cul de sacs etc.

The problem we have is not so much the neighbours (we are all fairly amicable and "know" the best way to squeeze as many cars in as possible without blocking the entries that are in use and the occasional driveway)

It is visitors who cause most problems, parking sideways, or taking up two or more gaps, or "not realising" that if I can't access my drive due to their crap parking then I may be frustrated that they have also managed to park across the entry as well preventing me from accessing our garage!

I would really say don't be tempted to request yellow or white lines. It just adds to the stress if the number of gaps is cut down on.

One odd man in our close has one car and sufficient parking on his drive for 2 cars plus a garage. He told dh that he parks on the pavement so that "no one else can park outside his house" I do find that unreasonable.

[pjmama]

Get your visitors to park in front of their garages, since they don't seem to want to use that space themselves and are taking up all the spaces on the close. If they complain, point out that they're monopolising the available spaces and didn't leave you much choice.

That'll teach 'em!

[onepieceoflollipop]

Just to add we sometimes do leave our drive free (one space) and put our car on the street (and other car in the garage) as we have a family member with a disability. This relative would genuinely find it hard to visit if they had to park round the corner. (has a blue badge)We only do it when he is due to visit.

[kando]

superwoman - pretty sure there's nothing on the deeds saying a space comes with the property (other than that outside the garage).

cupofcoffee - it doesn't really "affect" me in any way, other than the fact that I can't park my car outside my front door! So yes, the one with 3 cars keeps their personal space free and takes up everyone elses space!

pjmama - I think I might well be doing that if the 3 car scenario keeps on! I have also asked a neighbour across the close, who I get on very well with, if she would mind if I parked on her drive when things are parked up - she only has one car and is more than happy for me to do so (drive envy, whoever heard of such a thing!!).

onepiece - I definately won't go down the route of asking for yellow lines as I don't think it would go in my favour, so to speak! If I ever do have a house with a drive, I too would park on the road if it was a busy area and we had visitors staying - they don't want to lugg all their stuff miles up the road when the come to see us!

Thanks for your replies folks, it has made me feel a bit less "unreasonable" about it all. I shall probably still fume in silence as I can't quite bring myself to "confront" anyone about it, tempted as I am!