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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbours have decided that myself and NDN park some of our cars in another street to make it fairer for everyone. AIBU to ignore the request?

484 replies

SumoFarah · 30/11/2025 20:39

I live on a street with unrestricted parking and few driveways. I know it might sound excessive but my family and NDN family have 7 cars between us. I can’t get a drive out in as the street is really narrow so I would need the space opposite to be empty in order to exit.

A neighbour on the street knocked on my and NDN to explain that our six cars take up too much space and means that:

  1. neighbours who finish work late can never get a space so have to park on another street and walk
  2. their weekend visitors can never get a space
  3. on weekends they sometimes have to park in the middle of the road to unload their shopping and then go and find somewhere else to park

We we’re told that ‘they all’ think everyone should agree to use a maximum of 2 spaces to use as they wish and any further space needed should be used in the free car park about 1/2 mile away.

Also that the two teenagers (one mine, one NDN) don’t need cars as they are still in school so should have no need for cars anyway.

I get that parking spaces are at a premium, and can be frustrating when all the spaces are taken, but I don’t want myself or my dc to walk 1/2 mile in the dark (or the light, for that matter) just to placate the neighbours when there’s a space available. All our cars are pretty much used on a daily basis.

NDN told the messenger neighbour that it’s first-come-first-served. I do understand the annoyance but don’t agree with the suggestion because some houses only have one car and some houses don’t have a car, so should balance out in theory, but obviously doesn’t in practice.

Would I be unreasonable to ignore the ‘request’?

Suggestions welcomed.

OP posts:
Evenstar · 30/11/2025 20:58

I actually have a house rented out at the moment as I couldn’t sell it, and I got my agent to enquire about the number of vehicles prospective tenants had so as not to cause the neighbours a problem like this.

I see no reason why your young adult children shouldn’t park in the car park to free some space for your neighbours YABU

velocity123 · 30/11/2025 20:58

Sorry op but YABU 100%. 7 cars is ridiculous! We used to live on a street just like yours and it was awful, dh even managed to reverse into a car one dark morning and he’s been driving 30 years very well! There are far too many cars on the road these days. I don’t drive so I don’t contribute to it myself before anyone says double standards

ChristmasHug · 30/11/2025 20:57

I think you may be my neighbour. Its so bloody annoying not being able to park near my house but I recognise you are entitled to own as many cars as you wish and park them legally.

Ignore the neighbours.

kiwiane · 30/11/2025 20:56

You can do as you like but no wonder they’re fed up; can you share a car with your teenager?

SumUp · 30/11/2025 20:55

If you’re a couple living in an area with poor public transport, with two adult children living at home and you all work or need cars for college, I can understand how you might end up a four car household. The NDN is irrelevant.

But that aside, for the sake of good relations, I would use your driveway and park at least one vehicle that is used less further away.

huuskymam · 30/11/2025 20:55

I'm with the neighbours on this one. 2 cars per house is fair, and if your kids can drive then they can walk a bit instead of inconviencing everyone on the road. Our road is 2 per house, but one neighbour had 5 cars, they were very reasonable and parked 2 on the and the rest elsewhere. Being thoughtful of the neighbours stops a lot of petty arguing in later life.

Lifestooshort71 · 30/11/2025 20:55

I think there's a drip feed coming, surely!

Fiftyandme · 30/11/2025 20:54

It’s a public highway, you can park where you like. Smile and carry on

Kleeneze · 30/11/2025 20:53

You’re being a selfish dick. Surprised you needed us all to tell you this.

Cebello · 30/11/2025 20:53

YABU we have a similar issue on our road and the teens park their cars up the road, so we don’t take up all the parking near the houses. It’s called not being a dick to your neighbours. You never know when you might need a neighbour’s help, it really is worth maintaining a good relationship with them.

ThatJollyGreySquid · 30/11/2025 20:53

You sound completely selfish and entitled. I would never park more than two cars in a street and don’t know anyone who’d pull such a dickhead stunt.

SleepyHollowed84 · 30/11/2025 20:53

since we can't vote - YABU

JustAn0therUsername · 30/11/2025 20:52

7 cars between two households is easily done given how long young adults stay at home these days. It’s not 7 for one house. But…nicely, if you don’t use your drive / have a garage, taking up all the space on the street between you is inconsiderate.

Soontobe60 · 30/11/2025 20:52

How many people live in each house and how many cars belong to each house? Do you have a drive?

Gazelda · 30/11/2025 20:52

Legally speaking, I guess you and NDN are in the right.

but morally, I don’t think so.

but it’s up to you how important neighbourly relations are. 🤷🏼‍♀️

i’m interested to know how many cars are from your household, how many from NDN.

Bobbybobbins · 30/11/2025 20:52

Obviously legally you are not doing anything wrong but I can see your neighbours’ point of view. How would you feel if you could never get a single parking space on your road because you happened to finish work a bit later and had to walk in the dark every day?

FiveShelties · 30/11/2025 20:51

Suggestions welcome

Don't tempt me OP😂

Shinyandnew1 · 30/11/2025 20:51

Why are you giving a total of you and your NDN's cars? That's really odd! How many cars do you have in YOUR household?

I can’t get a drive out in

What does that mean?

Bonjamin · 30/11/2025 20:51

Yes. Yes, you are being unreasonable. And I feel as if there’s a massive drip feed incoming, regarding either the number of cars you own, or the fact that your DP is an on-call kitten rescuer or something.

ShesTheAlbatross · 30/11/2025 20:51

PinkPonyClubDancer · 30/11/2025 20:46

Yeah you have way too many cars. Absolutely ridiculous to think you can keep that many vehicles with nowhere to actually park them. There needs to be regulations brought in about this, I would make it only one car in the road and however many you can fit on your own driveway only. Roads were not designed for every house to have 3+ vehicles!

You’d have to sort the housing issues out to do that. I imagine a lot of the homes with lots of cars are either house shares of young adults, or a family with adult children who still live at home and need to drive to work. I’m sure they’d all love to live in their own flat or house with parking.

WearyAuldWumman · 30/11/2025 20:51

SumoFarah · 30/11/2025 20:49

I get that it’s annoying. I do. It’s just become an issue more recently because the nights are darker earlier.

NDN has a partner who doesn’t live there but stays on and off.

So you have 5 cars?

CarrotVan · 30/11/2025 20:51

If you have a drive then you should use it. If you don’t you are being unreasonable.

MayaPinion · 30/11/2025 20:50

Yeah, 7 cars is taking the piss.

Applesinapie · 30/11/2025 20:50

SumoFarah · 30/11/2025 20:49

I get that it’s annoying. I do. It’s just become an issue more recently because the nights are darker earlier.

NDN has a partner who doesn’t live there but stays on and off.

How many cars are yours? NDN isn’t really relevant I suppose. You can only control your own situation. Do you have a drive?

Happiestathome · 30/11/2025 20:50

I’d be annoyed if my neighbours were taking up 3/4 spaces on the road each and we couldn’t park. We have 3 cars and so does the ndn, but we both have driveways. The majority of our road is on street parking. We chose our house specifically due to our parking needs. You can ignore their request, but it would be neighbourly to consider it. You are wanting none of your family to be inconvenienced, but the neighbours all have to be.

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