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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this is really effing unneighbourly?

67 replies

Whysoserious · 08/11/2011 18:40

I live in a street with old Victorian terraced and semi-detached houses where people need to park on the street.

My house is a semi and my neighbours in the semi next to us have a garage built into the front of their house (our houses are set back and up from the road - we have a small front garden, they have the aforementioned garage.)

This garage is NEVER used for keeping a car in but has KEEP CLEAR painted onto the road in front of it so of course my neighbours have a guaranteed parking space all the time.

However, (and this is the part that really fecks me off, especially when I arrive home from work after a stressful day) when the husband arrives home (usually before me) he will park directly outside my house leaving the space outside their garage clear for when the wife gets home so that they are both parked pretty much right outside their house.

By the time I arrive home (often before the wife) there are very few or no parking spaces left and I am greeted with neighbour's husband's car right outside my house and then a space directly outside their's which I cannot park in because it says 'keep clear' and they would be arsey about it despite the fact that they definitely do not need to get onto the garage.

I am happy parking on the road, occasionally a bit further away from my house - I have a lovely old house full of character and having no drive is the only downside to this type of house. BUT I think it's really rude that my neighbour constantly parks outside my house so that they can keep the spot outside theirs clear for the second car. And they don't own that piece of road - I'm quite within my rights to park there when I get home on a rainy evening like this one aren't I? Or am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
ecclesvet · 08/11/2011 18:42

Have you spoken to your neighbour about this?

OctonautsOnRepeat · 08/11/2011 18:42

who wrote the 'Keep Clear'?

TheMonster · 08/11/2011 18:42

It's annoying, but technically they aren't doing anything wrong by parking outside your house.
Could you make your front garden into a driveway?
Have you ever spoken to your neighbour about it, just out of interest?

mothmagnet · 08/11/2011 18:43

Park outside their garage and when he complains, tell him why. It's simple manners to not park outside your neighbour's house if they need the space.

Maybe as you've not mentioned it before, he thinks it's ok?

IggyPup · 08/11/2011 18:45

Park there, give him a knock on the door and let him know you are only parking there as he is in front of your house but you will be happy to move it when his wife comes home. Then you have hopefully made 2 points:

  1. You can park wherever you legally can park, as so can he
  2. You are not unreasonable.
Be prepared for his counter argument: then twat him!
TidyDancer · 08/11/2011 18:45

Is the Keep Clear official? Or is there a dropped kerb, etc? If they've just taken it upon themselves to paint that in the road, and there is no dropped kerb, I would park there myself. Though be prepared for some frosty neighbour relations, because they will more than likely be arseholes over this, even though you're in the right.

Dirtydishesmakemesad · 08/11/2011 18:45

we had a similar thing in our old house didnt have much impact on us since we dont have a car but some other neighbours got into some right arguements with the family who did this.
In the end someone complained to the council and it turns out that just writing keep clear doesnt mean a thing (the neighbours has done it themselves it seems years before) I didnt pay much attention at the time but something about havign no dropped kerb or something along those lines. SO anyway then he lost not only the parking space he seemed to claim outside everyone else house (they had three cars) but also everyone then parked right over his keep clear notice as well.

Dirtydishesmakemesad · 08/11/2011 18:46

ah cross posts with other people :)

tethersend · 08/11/2011 18:48

Paint 'Keep Clear' outside your house.

KittyFane · 08/11/2011 18:50

Your DH should park outside your house when he gets home so they don't park there.
I know it doesn't solve the problem as to where you park but by parking across the road and leaving your house free your DH is giving them another parking space (unintentionally).

Original poster
Whysoserious · 08/11/2011 18:53

I've never mentioned it to them hence asking on here what people think - I wouldn't want to cause a rift if I'm just being awkward and unreasonable.

I just think if that was my house I would park outside my garage and then let my husband find a space wherever in the street when he got home (or vice versa if he got home first).

I'm happy to park wherever in the street and do not want to convert my garden into a driveway. I just think the fact that they always leave their 'guaranteed' space clear and then park outside mine is basically like saying 'i dont care if you can't ever pal outside your house as long as me and the wife have got our cars right outside ours.' which I consider very unneighbourly. It's like hogging the road.

If anyone EVER parks on the 'keep clear' sign - for a delivery, dropping someone off etc they get very annoyed - but it's just because they want to park there, not because they want to get in the garage.

I assume the keep clear was painted on the road when the garage was built - before the current owners were in there believe.

OP posts:
mariasophia · 08/11/2011 18:53

No yabu - they are really greedy, i would park outside the garage if they are outside yours, prepare yourself for a robust exchange of views though, can they report you for blocking access to the authorities ? who painted the keep clear sign ? did they need permission to do that ? and is it a dropped kerb ? its a minefield honey

KittyFane · 08/11/2011 18:54

Or as others have said, park over the keep clear sign and when he asks you to move say you'll swop places with him.

AFuckingKnackeredWoman · 08/11/2011 18:55

get a real old banger and dump it in front of the garage and then park in your space. Tell then you will remove it when they play nicely

poorbuthappy · 08/11/2011 18:58

Is it a dropped kerb?

CustardCake · 08/11/2011 18:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Whysoserious · 08/11/2011 19:00

Haha good advice IggyPup especially the last bit.

The keep clear looks official and it is obviously so that cars can get into the garage. A car is NEVER parked there therefore they do not need the road keeping clear. It is stuffed full of stuff and a car wouldn't even fit it there.

However, I am happy to keep the 'keep clear' free and feel they should respect this by just parking there themselves, leaving the second car to find a space with the rest of us. Rather than acting like they own the effing road and parking right outside my house EVERY day.

I am often tempted to park there and say I will move of they need to get in the garage of course, but I know they would be arses about it.

Grrrr just wish people would be more considerate!! Sad

OP posts:
BendyBob · 08/11/2011 19:01

Can you check with the council as to whether the Keep Clear sign is all above board? If it's not then stuff 'em; I'd be parking on it whether they liked it or not.

squeakytoy · 08/11/2011 19:04

but is it a dropped kerb? thats the important bit...

Honeydragon · 08/11/2011 19:05

either the space should be kept clear or it shouldn't. ergo they should not park there either. Phone the council and ask if it needs removing, or park in it too.

fwiw your neighbours sound like annoying tossers Grin

Original poster
Whysoserious · 08/11/2011 19:07

It's a dropped curb yes - it's been done properly and I suspect the previous owners of the house parked in it and used it as a proper garage - fair enough. And fair enough of they want it keeping clear but STOP BEING GREEDY AND PARKING OUTSIDE MY HOUSE WHEN YOU HAVE A SPACE THERE ALREADY.

I woUldnt mind them parking outside my house if they already had parked outside theirs and then the second car to arrive parked outside mine - its just the greedy way they keep their 'guaranteed' bit of the road clear and then park outside mine.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 08/11/2011 19:08

Ok, so if it is a dropped kerb, you cant park in front of it. Simple as that really.

If you dont have a dropped kerb outside your house, then anyone can park there.

I agree, they are behaving selfishly, but the law is on their side and there aint nothing you can do. :(

RomanKindle · 08/11/2011 19:09

Is there a dropped kerb? If not park there. They might be pissed off but so are you! If there is a dropped kerb then, although it's selfish of your neighbours, there's not a lot you can do about it. Other than ask them not to park outside your house.

Original poster
Whysoserious · 08/11/2011 19:10

Dropped kerb rather. I'd like to curb their unneighbourly selfishness though Angry

OP posts:
LittleMissFlustered · 08/11/2011 19:13

If there's a dropped curb and a keep clear sign that is legit, even they cannot park there legally. Let the local warden know:o My friend got done for this repeatedly >_