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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:
ThisLittlePony · 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.

So ndn has 1 car and you have 6?!

Ohpleeeease · 30/11/2025 20:50

Are you and the NDN connected in some way, ie extended family? Otherwise I’m not sure why you mentioned them.

Lindy2 · 30/11/2025 20:49

More details are needed.

Are you using all of your cars? 2 parents and 2 young adults in a household each with a car that they drive regularly, then obviously they need 4 cars.

2 drivers in a household each with 1 main car and then second cars they don't really drive, then that's a bit off especially if there is no driveway.

I know some people who have several cars but they have big driveways and garages to keep them in.

Can you make changes to your drive layout do that it's useable? It would add value to your house if you could.

MumChp · 30/11/2025 20:49

I am happy we don't live on your street.

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.

OP posts:
OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 30/11/2025 20:49

7 between 2 houses sounds excessive but you only need a couple of adult children to live at home and you've got 3/4 cars in a single house.

Anyway, you are all a bit unreasonable. They can't force you to park elsewhere but equally, knowing that you are taking up a lot of road space you are being a little inconsiderate of the needs of others.

Wynter25 · 30/11/2025 20:49

Yabu

Thankyourose · 30/11/2025 20:48

up to you but I wouldn’t want to be the car-prick on my street. We have one opposite. More cars than people. Likes them all lined up outside their house… most aren’t used regularly, or used one at a time.
It’s annoying but he can park his 6 cars like that and we just all think they’re a bit twatty. Theres the ‘old’ car, the people carrier car, the one the wife prefers to drive ( not often) the one the bloke likes to drive, then the 2 other random cars…

cadburyegg · 30/11/2025 20:48

I think you’re being a bit selfish sorry. Why is it ok for them to have to walk half a mile but not you?

I don’t understand your point about the driveway. Do you mean you have a driveway you don’t use?

Technically you’re not doing anything wrong but I think you should consider their request.

Also not sure why you have included your NDN in this. How many cars do you actually have? I think it’s quite inconsiderate to have more than about 3 cars per house if you don’t have off road parking, unless it’s absolutely essential.

Lavender14 · 30/11/2025 20:47

I think having that many cars seems excessive between the two houses but you technically aren't doing anything wrong. I also think you could be more considerate towards your neighbours. Good neighbour relationships do count for a lot so I personally would take this on the chin, I think a 2 car agreement is more than fair. And I'd much rather have a neighbour come to me to try and reach a compromise than finding my car mysteriously scratched.

FrodoBiggins · 30/11/2025 20:47

TigerRag · 30/11/2025 20:46

You don't want to walk the 1/2 mile in the dark but it's ok for everyone else to?

With all that apparent overuse of cars you'd think a swift 7 minute walk now and then might be a healthy option, too

PGmicstand · 30/11/2025 20:47

I'm not clear on the driveway situation - do you mean you DO have a driveway but don't use it? If so, then YABU.
7 cars between 2 households is pretty excessive, almost double anything I'm used to seeing.

Whilst you're not unreasonable as such to park on the street, it IS unfair when you've twice the amount of vehicles other people have.

If you do have a driveway, then you should use it, or consider making space on the front of your property to hold as many of your cars as possible. Or hire a garage for some.

Giraffemug30 · 30/11/2025 20:47

Yeah you've got a ridiculous amount of cars between the two of you, and no it's not really fair your neighbours cant park on the road because of all your cars

They cant force you obviously, it's a public street, but I feel you should have some social responsibility in this situation and park one of youe cars in the free carpark

gogomomo2 · 30/11/2025 20:47

You are free to ignore but 7 cars between 2 households is very excessive unless you have private parking in place. I think parking one car each further away is the neighbourly thing to do

applegingermint · 30/11/2025 20:46

You are THAT neighbour.

TigerRag · 30/11/2025 20:46

You don't want to walk the 1/2 mile in the dark but it's ok for everyone else to?

ConstantlyFuriosa · 30/11/2025 20:46

I wonder why you didn’t enable voting.

Maybe because you know that you are being oh so very unreasonable. Fuck the ozone layer, eh?

KimTheresPeopleThatAreDying · 30/11/2025 20:46

YABU.

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!

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 30/11/2025 20:45

Why didn't you let us vote? You coward.

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 30/11/2025 20:45

itbemay1 · 30/11/2025 20:44

7 cars between 2 houses is quite excessive and your NDN are not unreasonably unhappy, I do get their frustration but you are not doing anything wrong as such, however for the sake of neighbourly relations I would consider parking at least some of the cars elsewhere. We have 4 cars - 2 adult children, we have a garage and 1 space in front which houses 2 of the cars. The other 2 park in a different road about a 5 min walk away because our road sounds similar to yours and we really like our neighbours.

What about the people who live on the other street where some of choose to park?

ThisLittlePony · 30/11/2025 20:44

CombatBarbie · 30/11/2025 20:43

7 cars between 2 houses? Yeah thats a bit of a piss take.

This how many cars per house? You 6 ndn 1?

InterestedDad37 · 30/11/2025 20:44

Reasons for having a car aren't their business, but their request regarding the number of cars sounds very reasonable to me. I think you should do the neighbourly thing.

ShesTheAlbatross · 30/11/2025 20:44

I can see why they’d be annoyed at so many cars but they are being totally insane. I would never agree to something like this.

FrodoBiggins · 30/11/2025 20:44

Is it 6 or 7 cars, you've said both.
How many are yours versus NDN? I'm confused why you're counting them together, are you related to NDN?

Legally you can do what you want.
But I am on team neighbourhood I think. You have too many cars for someone with no distinct parking space for them, and if I were your neighbours it would piss me off.

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