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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want the car to move!

309 replies

honeyandbutterontoast · 29/12/2024 16:19

Looking for honest opinions here because I’m aware this may make me seem like an AH.

I live in a road where the majority of houses don’t have drives. We park on the road. I knew that when I bought the house, it’s not permit parking but there is usually space for two small cars in front of my house. It has never been a problem in the time I’ve lived here, occasionally if there’s a local event I’ve had to park up the road for a few hours if I’ve been out, or for an evening.

Four weeks ago I came home from work to find a big car taking up both spaces outside. So I parked elsewhere. The car is still there.

Nobody has been to it, or moved it in that time and frankly I’m getting annoyed. I have to now park a long way from my house (else I’m in someone else’s space), which has been annoying with heavy bags of food shopping, or if I’m going out with the dog/DC. It’s meant if my mum has visited she’s also had to park elsewhere, again not ideal.

But what can I do? No point leaving a note as nobody has been to the car in that time (it’s right outside my window so I would see). None of the neighbours know who it belongs to either. It seems a stupid thing to get stressed about but I just want to be able to park outside my house!

OP posts:
JustKeepSwimmingJust · 29/12/2024 17:07

The people over the road from me parked their work van outside my house for 3 years. A month is nothing!

And I didn’t complain, ever, because mildly friendly neighbours are worth more than a parking space, although I was glad when he stopped.

FlutteryButterfly · 29/12/2024 17:06

Forgottobuymincepies · 29/12/2024 16:23

A4 paper... YOU PARK LIKE A TWAT. very satisfying ime.

But they haven't so why would you?

Thepurplepig · 29/12/2024 17:06

Okonomoyaki · 29/12/2024 17:04

And yet weirdly the OP has found similar info to me...

Show quote history

All the council will do is contact the owner. Once ownership has been confirmed the council will not legally be able to do a thing.

Kago2790 · 29/12/2024 17:06

They have as much right to park there as you and if there are no time restrictions they can stay there.

Bupster · 29/12/2024 17:06

OP I live in a similar street. I know you're trying to be considerate by not parking outside the houses of your neighbours, but that extra inconvenience is probably making you feel even crazier about the car parked outside your house.

We all park as closely to our houses as we can. I often get to park outside my house and it's brilliant when I can, but I don't mind when I have to park three doors up or even in the next street on occasion. I think the way forward, apart from reporting as you have done, is to park as close to your house as you can when you have unloading to do, and further away when you don't. If you really feel awkward about that you could pop a note through the door of the neighbours whose house you're parked outside. That should make you feel better about doing it, and let you unload your shopping, and maybe feel less annoyed by the abandoned car!

Whammyammy · 29/12/2024 17:05

I regularly see clowns putting bins and cones out to reserve public land they lay claim too. Hilarious

ByTidyLemonDreamer · 29/12/2024 17:04

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

SemperIdem · 29/12/2024 17:04

The issue isn’t it’s parked outside your house (which you can do nothing about) but the length of time which is has been sat there. It may well have been abandoned, 4 weeks is a long time for a car to just not move.

Okonomoyaki · 29/12/2024 17:04

Thepurplepig · 29/12/2024 17:02

I can write a five page essay on the subject if you like. The fact is you are incorrect. As long as the vehicle is parked within the restrictions of the road, had valid tax, insurance and MOT and has not been abandoned or stolen it cannot be removed.

Edited
Show quote history

And yet weirdly the OP has found similar info to me...

Original poster
honeyandbutterontoast · 29/12/2024 17:04

And I won’t be parking in front of someone else’s house. Whether it’s a public highway or not! There are elderly people along this road who have carers in, families with young children. Everyone is nice and polite about the parking and keeping to their space/s. I’ve lived in places with street parking before as well and it was never an issue there either.

OP posts:
Thepurplepig · 29/12/2024 17:02

Okonomoyaki · 29/12/2024 16:58

Well I posted a link to a council site detailing their approach, but the overwhelming elegance of you writing "wrong" has won me over.

Show quote history

I can write a five page essay on the subject if you like. The fact is you are incorrect. As long as the vehicle is parked within the restrictions of the road, had valid tax, insurance and MOT and has not been abandoned or stolen it cannot be removed.

ByTidyLemonDreamer · 29/12/2024 17:02

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Disclosured · 29/12/2024 17:02

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
honeyandbutterontoast · 29/12/2024 16:59

Thank you for the suggestion of contacting the council. I hadn’t even thought of that.

Turns out there is a whole section on it and you can report a car after 2 weeks. So I’ve done that. Had to take a photo of it to send and I can see it has obviously been in a minor accident so maybe why it’s been left there.

OP posts:
Christmassoxs · 29/12/2024 16:59

There are some really petty twats on this thread, watch it your car might be next....

Whammyammy · 29/12/2024 16:59

ILoveAnnaQuay · 29/12/2024 16:31

It's a public road. If you're desperate to park outside your own house, buy a house with a driveway.

Or just claim public road as your own.
#entitled

Ironthrone · 29/12/2024 16:59

honeyandbutterontoast · 29/12/2024 16:28

Thanks for that. But when you buy a house with parking on the road you kind of expect to be able to do that.

And yes if I parked outside someone else’s house that would be inconveniencing them. We all try and be considerate when parking here. It’s a residential street with most people in the same boat.

Sounds like it may be your car? If so just move it along the road a bit? Just for a change

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Just because there is space to park outside the house you bought doesn’t mean anything.

You don’t own the road and anyone is free to park there.

If you wanted a space outside your house then you should have bought a house with a drive.

BeAzureAnt · 29/12/2024 16:58

maybe someone is visiting a relative? OP, it is a public road.

CornishPorsche · 29/12/2024 16:58

honeyandbutterontoast · 29/12/2024 16:28

Thanks for that. But when you buy a house with parking on the road you kind of expect to be able to do that.

And yes if I parked outside someone else’s house that would be inconveniencing them. We all try and be considerate when parking here. It’s a residential street with most people in the same boat.

Sounds like it may be your car? If so just move it along the road a bit? Just for a change

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Shit like this is why I absolutely loathed working as a neighbourhood beat officer.

Yes it's less convenient for you if there's a car parked legally on the street. No, you don't buy a house with the expectation you'll park outside - if you don't own the land, you're expectations are unreasonable.

Unless you're prepared to sell up to buy a house with off street parking, that's the end of it.

Okonomoyaki · 29/12/2024 16:58

Thepurplepig · 29/12/2024 16:54

Wrong

Show quote history

Well I posted a link to a council site detailing their approach, but the overwhelming elegance of you writing "wrong" has won me over.

Whammyammy · 29/12/2024 16:57

honeyandbutterontoast · 29/12/2024 16:28

Thanks for that. But when you buy a house with parking on the road you kind of expect to be able to do that.

And yes if I parked outside someone else’s house that would be inconveniencing them. We all try and be considerate when parking here. It’s a residential street with most people in the same boat.

Sounds like it may be your car? If so just move it along the road a bit? Just for a change

Edited
Show quote history

You purchased a house. The road is outside your house. It's not yours.
It's also not inconsiderate at all. It's a public road

thescandalwascontained · 29/12/2024 16:57

Thanks for that. But when you buy a house with parking on the road you kind of expect to be able to do that.

Not in the places I've lived! Crazy time parking in some areas!

Christmassoxs · 29/12/2024 16:57

A car was dumped for several months outside my old place, council weren't bothered nor were the police until someone smashed the windows in on it. Then it took several days for it to be shifted.

RedHelenB · 29/12/2024 16:57

Forgottobuymincepies · 29/12/2024 16:23

A4 paper... YOU PARK LIKE A TWAT. very satisfying ime.

But they're entitled to park there.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 29/12/2024 16:55

Just park outside next doors house. You wouldn't be parking in "their space" any more than this car is parked in "your space".

I've spent most of the last 30 years living in houses without drives, and it's always a free for all. Sometimes you get the spot outside your house, sometimes you get the one outside next door, and sometimes you end up 3 streets away.

Stop being a martyr and park as close to your house as you can.