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AIBU?

Neighbour won't park in their garage

160 replies

crystalcmps · 20/10/2013 19:24

Hello, I've browsed these forums for ages but now have a question I've been pondering for some time that I hope people can help me with.

We've lived in our house for 3 years. It's a terrace on a private road of about 10 houses. All the neighbours are friendly and mostly get on with each other.

The family on one side are usually ok, although have been driving me up the wall lately.

Since before we moved to the street, this family have insisted in parking in a space further down the street which really should be our space, as we are one of the few houses without a garage. However, we didn't let it get to us and just parked outside our house. I know it annoyed the previous owners.

Now, the family are renting a garage and still insist on parking in this space which I think seems rather unfair as they are using their garage purely for storage and could quite easily fit the car inside. I reckon it's simply because it's quicker for them to park in the space rather than having to open and close the garage door, but it means that they are effectively denying us of a space. There are no other spare spaces in the street so we have to park in front of the house which makes it hard to get in and out of the front door as we need to park right by the door.

Should I ignore things or have a word with them? Or are they entitled to do what they want?

Help greatly appreciated!

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RandomMess · 20/10/2013 19:26

What do the deeds say - is it actually "your" space or is it just a general parking space for anyone in the street to use?

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missmapp · 20/10/2013 19:26

We have a garage, but it is so full of junk valuable items that we couldn't fit a car in, however, we park on our drive and , if needed, outside our house.
I think YABU to expect them to use their garage to park their car, but maybe a word about parking outside their house would be a good idea.

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Trills · 20/10/2013 19:28

YABU

They can use their garage as they see fit.

If they are parking on the side of the road (not blocking anyone in/out), or in a space that is marked but not labelled as belonging to anyone, then they are perfectly entitled to park there.

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3birthdaybunnies · 20/10/2013 19:28

Can't you just park in front of their house?

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DawnOfTheDee · 20/10/2013 19:28

Where are the garages for the other houses if it's a terraced street?

I may be being thick but i'm having trouble visualising the scenario...

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Trills · 20/10/2013 19:29

It doesn't sound as if there is anything about the space that means is should be yours.

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Ooddoyouthinkyouare · 20/10/2013 19:30

Depends who owns the space.

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TTTatty · 20/10/2013 19:31

Is the space actually yours or you feel it would be kind for it to be left free for your use?
If it is your designated parking place then yanbu and you need to have a word but if it is just a general space then tough luck I'm afraid - lots of people use their garage for storage and not to park a car and are well within their rights to do that.

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Wigeon · 20/10/2013 19:31

Are you sure they could fit their car in the garage? We have a brick built garage next to our house, and we technically can fit the car in, but you then can't actually get out of the car because the doors will only open a crack! The car is only a Ford Focus but the garage was built in the 70s when I presume cars were narrower. So we have to park on the street. I can imagine people might resent this but it's impossible for us to use the garage for parking in.

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TigerBabyyy · 20/10/2013 19:31

Alot of people with garages don't put their car in them, they are generally used for storage.

People have a garage for all sorts of different reasons, just because they have a garage, that doesn't mean they should use it for their car.

Do they have a driveway?

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BoundandRebound · 20/10/2013 19:32

Public road is for anyone to park on so they are well within their rights

Yabu

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crystalcmps · 20/10/2013 19:32

The houses are on one side of the street and the garages on the other.

Half of me thinks I should just ignore it. When we can, we park in the space but usually they're home before us.

I wouldn't mind if their garage was completely full, but it's not - they could easily park inside it but choose not to.

The space doesn't belong to anyone, but by parking there, it means we can only park right by our front door which causes accessibility issues. The previous owners of our house raised this with them and they weren't bothered.

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atomicyoghurt · 20/10/2013 19:32

If it's not in your deeds or contract then it's not your space. Tough luck I'm afraid... And it's none of your business what they use their garage for.

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parakeet · 20/10/2013 19:32

YABU. Public road without yellow lines = anyone can park there.

Do yourself a favour: accept it is not your space and move on.

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crystalcmps · 20/10/2013 19:32

It's a private road, not a public road.

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harticus · 20/10/2013 19:34

YABU - unless you have legal entitlement to a parking space you just have to lump it and what they do with their garage is none of your business.

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PenguinsDontEatPancakes · 20/10/2013 19:35

If it was your space you would be being reasonable to be annoyed - i.e. in the deeds of the private road.

If you just habitually park there because you have no garage, well why should they park in the garage? I hate parking in garages and never did after I left home and my mum stopped making me! It is not up to you to police where they park just because they happen to have a garage I'm afraid.

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crystalcmps · 20/10/2013 19:36

That's what I thought. However, I still find it rather inconsiderate as I'd want to park in a garage if I had one.

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lljkk · 20/10/2013 19:37

ooh... I would probably just explain your problem and ask if they could change their habits and then if they resist & don't want to, just let it go & don't hold a grudge. How do you know the garage is standing empty & not full of tat like most people's garages?

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AdoraBell · 20/10/2013 19:38

If the space doesn't belong to any of the houses then YABU. Public parking spaces can be used Anyone. What they do with their garage is not your business, unless you want them to tell you what to do with your lounge/kitchen/bathroom etc.

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FortyDoorsToNowhere · 20/10/2013 19:38

Who owns the road, could you get them to put in designated parking for each resident.

I don't see why the neighbour don't park in front of the garage.

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CrohnicallyLurking · 20/10/2013 19:39

So why not rent a garage as the other family do?

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Viviennemary · 20/10/2013 19:39

I don't think there is any 'our' space on roads or anywhere else unless it is in your title deeds or rental agreement. Hardly anyone seems to park their car in the garage these days. Takes far too long to get in and out.

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KippyVonKipperson · 20/10/2013 19:39

I agree, it's not your space. Anyone can park there. If you are parked there before them where do they park? Garages are a faff, I would use it as storage too. I think you need to stop thinking about it as your space.

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Chocovore · 20/10/2013 19:40

Why don't you rent a garage then??

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