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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Parking one (with a photo!!)

86 replies

DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 18:56

Photo taken from my house. Red line is the boundary line. Blue line is where the drop kerb ends. It’s a joint drop kerb serving us and our next door neighbours. Next door neighbours have parked this black car blocking their own driveway, but we cannot get onto ours based on the location of the black car.

AIBU?

Parking one (with a photo!!)
OP posts:
fashionqueen0123 · 03/09/2026 21:04

Id get your wall taken down too. Your car is at an angle.

Surely if it’s on your side the pavement issue can’t be that bad?

Next time they do it you’ll just have to keep knocking and banging. Can you go round the back at all?

Original poster
DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 21:03

Coconutter24 · 03/09/2026 21:01

Well your diagram is a bit off scale, the wall in your actual photo doesn’t even go past your passenger door but in the diagram it’s the length of the car.
If they’re new tenants how do you have their number?

Show quote history

Sorry, I will try and do a better diagram! Incoming.

I have their number as I went around to say hi (as mentioned upthread) to try and keep things friendly in case of issues..

OP posts:
Coconutter24 · 03/09/2026 21:01

DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 20:52

Totally fair - the obligatory shit diagram attached

Show quote history

Well your diagram is a bit off scale, the wall in your actual photo doesn’t even go past your passenger door but in the diagram it’s the length of the car.
If they’re new tenants how do you have their number?

Original poster
DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 20:58

Ifeelold48 · 03/09/2026 20:28

Get the number for the local authority. Parking enforcement will happily come out and give them a parking ticket if they are blocking your drop curb. Some people need to feel it in their pocket.

To be fair the wardens usually do a swoop in freshers week to set down the law and make them understand that bad parking costs - this lot have just come down early!

OP posts:
Original poster
DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 20:56

Awkwardisfunny · 03/09/2026 20:46

Post this pic through their letterbox (if car definitely owned by neighbour) and include a note saying you will have to contact police (non emergency) next time this happens to get it towed quickly as you needed access to your driveway and they weren't in to move the car.

Remind them it's illegal to park blocking entrances / exits. Weird to do that anyway when they didn't need to. If you have two cars, block them in next time, front/behind. And ignore door when they knock (or answer and say: "yeah, it's annoying isn't it").

Show quote history

We sent it via WhatsApp (with the lines!) the one tenant I have a phone number for at 8am. She maintains it was ‘slightly’ over the line….

I don’t want to threaten police etc as I know it’s hollow and they won’t give a damn. I’m hoping this is the last of it but as they’re new neighbours and we had bad experiences with the last lot I wanted to get a sense check that I wasn’t being a Victor Meldrew about it (I should hope not at 37 but you never know…)

We have school runs and clubs and work that sometimes starts at 7am and elderly parents who occasionally need a drama call at 10pm and it’s really important that we have access. I have said this to them today.

OP posts:
Original poster
DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 20:52

RogueRascal · 03/09/2026 20:45

I'm confused by the second picture, it's parked in ur front "garden" rather than in the drive?

Show quote history

Totally fair - the obligatory shit diagram attached

Parking one (with a photo!!)
OP posts:
Awkwardisfunny · 03/09/2026 20:46

DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 18:56

Photo taken from my house. Red line is the boundary line. Blue line is where the drop kerb ends. It’s a joint drop kerb serving us and our next door neighbours. Next door neighbours have parked this black car blocking their own driveway, but we cannot get onto ours based on the location of the black car.

AIBU?

Post this pic through their letterbox (if car definitely owned by neighbour) and include a note saying you will have to contact police (non emergency) next time this happens to get it towed quickly as you needed access to your driveway and they weren't in to move the car.

Remind them it's illegal to park blocking entrances / exits. Weird to do that anyway when they didn't need to. If you have two cars, block them in next time, front/behind. And ignore door when they knock (or answer and say: "yeah, it's annoying isn't it").

RogueRascal · 03/09/2026 20:45

DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 20:09

It’s just out of shot tucked around the corner. The grassy area starts at the beginning of the blue line. Here’s it tonight now we are parked up. There’s a low wall - not an issue unless our access is impeded. Want to get rid of the wall, but have been quoted £k to do it as it would involve making good the public pavement to the standard of the LA and it’s only an issue when our drive is blocked.

I'm confused by the second picture, it's parked in ur front "garden" rather than in the drive?

Original poster
DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 20:32

BigCheeseWheel · 03/09/2026 20:25

The uni will absolutely not care or get involved in parking disputes or loud parties in properties that are not student halls.

We’ve actually had good experiences in the past with the uni when parties have gone out of control (which is rare!). One lot had a warning issued and had to send apology letters to the local residents and we were told if it happened again there would be a disciplinary.

Parking issues though I accept are well in the ‘whatever’ bucket for them 🤣

That said there are yellow lines around the area and the council make ££££ every new term so I think they might be invested for want of a better phrase 👀

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 03/09/2026 20:32

I think you have taken the right approach and hope it resolves the issue.

Original poster
DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 20:29

NestaVipaz · 03/09/2026 20:21

Honestly, I do think your message is aggressive. There is no “please”, but plenty of imperative demands to do something “immediately” and something else “never again”. Also, it’s overkill to suggest that driving one side of your car off a normal kerb will bugger your suspension. Yes, they shouldn’t be doing it. Yes, you’re in the right, but you are sounding self righteous.

Edited

That’s totally fair feedback, thank you. I was stressed and focused on being factual because I was trying to get everyone out of the door, but I totally appreciate a ‘please’ would have been appropriate. I did feel in the moment I didn’t need to be grovellingly polite to someone who had fucked up my morning, but I take that on board.

No, as a one off it’s not an issue for the suspension but as mentioned they’re new tenants, we’ve had issues with being blocked in for hours by previous student households so I wanted to maintain a hard line so this doesn’t happen again, as in my experience if you give an inch a mile is taken.

OP posts:
Ifeelold48 · 03/09/2026 20:28

Get the number for the local authority. Parking enforcement will happily come out and give them a parking ticket if they are blocking your drop curb. Some people need to feel it in their pocket.

Nearly50omg · 03/09/2026 20:26

Ring the police if you can’t get off your drive and keep your finger on their doorbell and phone on repeated ringing until they get off their arse! You’ve been too nice imo for too long

BigCheeseWheel · 03/09/2026 20:25

The uni will absolutely not care or get involved in parking disputes or loud parties in properties that are not student halls.

NestaVipaz · 03/09/2026 20:21

Honestly, I do think your message is aggressive. There is no “please”, but plenty of imperative demands to do something “immediately” and something else “never again”. Also, it’s overkill to suggest that driving one side of your car off a normal kerb will bugger your suspension. Yes, they shouldn’t be doing it. Yes, you’re in the right, but you are sounding self righteous.

Original poster
DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 20:14

DozyCrow · 03/09/2026 20:11

I'd get myself a cheap cone off Amazon and make a point off leaving it in the road at the boundary line to remind them where it is. Alternatively, a can of line marker spray paint, and mark a small line in the road for the boundary line. They sound thick and need help staying in their own space.

I was thinking this but I don’t want to get into trouble with the council putting lines on the pavement! And a cone can easily be moved… they’re students, putting cones in funny places is kind of in the job spec 🤣

OP posts:
DozyCrow · 03/09/2026 20:11

I'd get myself a cheap cone off Amazon and make a point off leaving it in the road at the boundary line to remind them where it is. Alternatively, a can of line marker spray paint, and mark a small line in the road for the boundary line. They sound thick and need help staying in their own space.

Original poster
DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 20:09

It’s just out of shot tucked around the corner. The grassy area starts at the beginning of the blue line. Here’s it tonight now we are parked up. There’s a low wall - not an issue unless our access is impeded. Want to get rid of the wall, but have been quoted £k to do it as it would involve making good the public pavement to the standard of the LA and it’s only an issue when our drive is blocked.

Parking one (with a photo!!)
OP posts:
Bellaboo01 · 03/09/2026 20:01

Where is your car (where did you take the picture) as there doesn't seem to be a car there.
Just for the moment go over the raised curb. There doesn't need for your child to be late for school for this reason as there is plenty of room.
I would pop round to your neighbours and explain this issue though.

Original poster
DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 19:57

WonderingAndOverthinking · 03/09/2026 19:50

Some people just don’t give a shit ☹️

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I want to believe they’re just a bit naive and silly - we are used to students getting confused about what you can put in the bins etc and living in a bit of a bubble.

The response to my text was v defensive saying we’d been aggressive… this was my text at 8am:

“Good morning. There is a car parked across our driveway and we need this to be moved immediately, we are taking our children to school and going to work. The registration plate is Xxxxx. My husband has rung your doorbell/knocked on the door to no answer. Please move this car immediately and do not park across the boundary line in future.”

Maybe I’m just old and grumpy about Gen Z but I don’t think that’s aggressive 🤣 the text didn’t get read until 11am…

OP posts:
WonderingAndOverthinking · 03/09/2026 19:50

DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 19:27

We have. I do wonder what goes through people’s heads though! They know we are a couple in our 30/40s with two school age kids - on what level do you not think we need access to our own drive?!? And even if we didn’t… anyway. Madness. I’d be mortified if this was one of my DC at uni in 10-ish years!

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Some people just don’t give a shit ☹️

Original poster
DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 19:27

WonderingAndOverthinking · 03/09/2026 19:11

Nope, you are not being unreasonable at all. It’s worth explaining that you need access to your (own!) drive for work and school purposes so it needs to be kept clear. Stick to your guns, you are in the right!

We have. I do wonder what goes through people’s heads though! They know we are a couple in our 30/40s with two school age kids - on what level do you not think we need access to our own drive?!? And even if we didn’t… anyway. Madness. I’d be mortified if this was one of my DC at uni in 10-ish years!

OP posts:
WonderingAndOverthinking · 03/09/2026 19:11

Nope, you are not being unreasonable at all. It’s worth explaining that you need access to your (own!) drive for work and school purposes so it needs to be kept clear. Stick to your guns, you are in the right!

Original poster
DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 19:11

hotmumshit · 03/09/2026 19:10

Theyre rude then!!

Do what you need to, be firm, they need to be respectful!

Can you contsct the agent? Might be on the hmo license? X

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Tempted - but I don’t want to go nuclear. The owners are some offshore shell company. It’s a student let so I do have the option of complaining to uni but I try and save that for raves rather than just parking niggles 😬🙈

OP posts:
hotmumshit · 03/09/2026 19:10

DealForTheKids · 03/09/2026 19:06

They’re new tenants - it’s an HMO (don’t get me started). 2 parking spaces for a house that’s been converted to have 6 bedrooms. We’ve had issues before so I was fair but firm in my message to them and the response was ‘I’m sorry we slightly edged over your boundary’.

We’ve had issues before with previous tenants of that house when DD was late to school (they parked over the boundary and then couldn’t be raised at 8am when we needed to leave because of sleeping off hangovers) so I am trying to set expectations early… I’m just a bit enraged by the suggestion it was ‘slightly’ over the boundary.

Show quote history

Theyre rude then!!

Do what you need to, be firm, they need to be respectful!

Can you contsct the agent? Might be on the hmo license? X