Parking wars

Remove the gate

Are most driveways big enough to park a car across? The only one I've ever had wasn't, I couldn't have parked across it without encroaching slightly on nextdoor's drive or using a little bit of the car space outside my house, which obviously wouldn't be free in OP's case.

This is literally what the OP is proposing to do!

Yes, assuming you’re going to ask nicely and you won’t get stroppy if she says no, go ahead.

This would be my advice. Park over the end of your driveway

This is what you have to think about when you buy a house near a school.

This is what you have to think about when you have 5 children so need a big car and the house you have bought doesn’t accommodate your car - on the drive or garage.

Those are the decisions you have made.

I think it must be quite large to fit 5 children, most of whom are in car seats.

Some of these replies are brutal, of course OP knows she doesn't own the road but at the same time it's bloody difficult lugging a baby and shopping and car seats etc around. I'd be highly embarrassed to sit blatantly waiting for someone to head out on the school run so I could park outside their house for the whole day.

OP, I'm guessing there are no other spaces available when this woman parks otherwise she wouldn't wait for yours? But if you know of other spaces, I'd definitely try and have a chat with her and give her some tips of where else to park.

Just be aware that if you have this chat and she continues, you're going to be more annoyed than ever.

she waits for me to go then parks outside my house

There are plenty of on street spaces that aren’t directly outside of someone’s front door, and she can clearly see that I’ve got a baby

Why do you think she waits for you to leave and then parks? What is it about your space over all the other ones on the road?

Maybe she thinks you're leaving for the day.

Anyway, of course you can ask, no one needs to get opinions on whether they can ask a question.

If the other spaces are easy enough for you to point out then surely they're not that far for you to walk?
Also you could pull up, unload your shopping and then park.

It is a pain, but I guess that's the downside of townhouses and/or impractical drives.

She can wait five minutes if it's that important. She clearly sees this woman waiting for the parking space, if it's not free, she isnt going to block the road all day to wait.

You are not unreasonable to ask at all. If I realised I was doing this I'd be mortified at causing a local resident so much distress and id try to minimise it. Yes others are right - you don't have a right but you can ask. Mumsnet is horrible about parking and I often think it shows the worst of us.

Parking 'wars'? She's parking in a space that she's entitled to park in. Where's the war? You can ask if she can refrain, but she can say no, of course she can.

Do you own the space ? You don't.
There is really no question for debate. Off you pop, lovely.

Presuming you have a dropped kerb for your drive, can you not park across it?

But if she didn't park there, someone else could / would?

At what point do you accept that you don't own the road outside of your house?

If a new neighbour moves in with multiple cars, or an existing neighbours child passes their test and gets a new car? Are you going to moan at them as well?

It's frustrating, I've been there, but that is the joy of little or no off street parking.

OP has to leave to drive her own kids to school

If she is waiting for you to move to park outside your house, why can't you just stay there until she has parked somewhere else? She's not going to make herself late by waiting.

Just wondering, how big is your car?

That's 'make it clear' 😀

Wait until you can talk to her. Put your best smile on your face and very kindly explain the situation.

Military it VERY clear that you are not demanding anything and totally understand she has the right to park there, you are just bringing it up in case it would make no difference to her to park a little bit further.

See how it goes.

This.

Or if you do think they work at the school, ask at the school if they can ask staff to respect the neighbours and not park directly outside of people’s houses (especially if there are other spaces that wouldn’t inconvenience anyone).

If I was the woman you were asking and you explained the problem, and were polite and there was somewhere else I could park, I would help you out and park elsewhere. There are still some reasonable people out there- maybe she’s one of them.

In the real world, many people would consider a request like this as they would hope for the same consideration outside their own home. Not everyone, but many people.

It won't hurt to ask politely.

Somebody parks outside my house every week day. There is nothing I can do about it. They have as much right as I do to park on that bit of road. Yes it is annoying but you bought the house knowing the drive was rubbish and you’d got a load of kids to get in and out.

Well, if I was the car owner and you explained your situation to me, I’d happily park elsewhere if I was able to.

she probably hasn’t thought that you return after school drop off and are unable to park there. In her mind, it’s a legal spot which someone else would take if she didn’t.

but once she understands how it impacts you, she’ll probably try to park elsewhere.

You can ask, don't bank on a yes though.