Parking issues!

[Kitkatmonster]

AIBU to be feeling really pissed off that the people living around the corner have parked across my double gates (and dropped kerb) for the 3rd day in a row? I live in a house on a corner plot and I use the drive at the front and very rarely open the gates or use the 'back' drive. And no, I don't need to access it today, or yesterday, or the day before. So I guess IABU. I just find it really rude that they are parking there all day without even knocking on my door to politely ask if it would be OK for them to block my gates. Someone is having work done and there is a skip in their usual spot so for convenience I guess they are parking across my gate instead. I need to let it go don't I?

[goodnightdarthvader1]

If your car is on your property at the time, they are BU.

[honeysucklejasmine]

Argh. I hate that. It makes you angry but it also makes you feel so petty!

I would be quietly fuming too. And also feel silly for being annoyed.

[shinynewusername]

It is a breach of law to park by a dropped kerb without the permission of the property owner.

The trouble with letting it go is that they may continue doing it long-term. I'd be inclined to say that you don't mind them doing it till the skip goes, but not after that.

[Kitkatmonster]

Yep, I like being anonymous on here because it feels so petty in real life, but seriously would it be unreasonable to expect them to ask first? My car isn't behind the gates, but as they are above 6 foot and have a brick wall either side there's no way the round the corner people would know whether my car was there or not without asking me...

[Kitkatmonster]

I was kind of thinking that shiny, we are planning to have work done in the summer and will need access via the gates, should I say something because if they get into a habit it could cause me a problem if they are parked when I actually do need to use the gates. I'm starting to see why people feel the need to have signs saying 'please don't block the gates'.

[LurkingHusband]

%It is a breach of law to park by a dropped kerb without the permission of the property owner.

Haven't there been stories of homeowners being prosecuted for parking across their own dropped kerbs ?

[GruntledOne]

YANBU. Start using those back gates with immediate effect - it only needs to be once or twice a week - and ask them to move their car every time they park there.

[SquidgeyMidgey]

I don't think YABU it's the kind of thing that would annoy me too. However, they've probably noticed that you don't use that bit and think that means you wouldn't mind. I wouldn't start mucking about using it for the sake of it but if you ever do need to use that bit just let them know.

[LurkingHusband]

I wouldn't start mucking about using it for the sake of it but if you ever do need to use that bit just let them know.

You'd be amazed how entitled some people can become if they used to something. How many threads on MN about parking have had tales of people knocking on peoples doors telling them to move their own cars, so door-knockers can park there instead.

Especially (but not exclusively) near schools.

[superram]

Either put a nicely worded note on the windscreen stating that you need access or ring the council and have them ticketed.

[shinynewusername]

Haven't there been stories of homeowners being prosecuted for parking across their own dropped kerbs

Possibly but it is legal for the owner or anyone else with their permission to park across the dropped kerb of a residential property.

[zeetea]

I've had a lot of parking issues in the past, so I would be annoyed by this and ask them to stop. Doesn't matter if its in use or not, it's a drop kerb on your property.

[LurkingHusband]

Haven't there been stories of homeowners being prosecuted for parking across their own dropped kerbs

Excerpt from: www.drivingtesttips.biz/dropped-kerb-parking.html

CAN I PARK ACROSS MY OWN DROPPED KERB
To avoid being issued a PCN for parking across your own driveway where a dropped kerb has been implemented, contact your local council to confirm your residency details and make, models and registration of your vehicle.

[PegsPigs]

What about getting one of those gate signs or is that too passive aggressive?

[Gatehouse77]

I'd be inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt and go with shiny's suggestion of a note saying you don't mind it being a temporary measure but do need access on an ad hoc basis so could they check first in future to avoid any inconvenience on either side...