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AIBU?

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Original poster

Neighbour won't park in their garage

160 replies

crystalcmps · 20/10/2013 19:24

Hello, I've browsed these forums for ages but now have a question I've been pondering for some time that I hope people can help me with.

We've lived in our house for 3 years. It's a terrace on a private road of about 10 houses. All the neighbours are friendly and mostly get on with each other.

The family on one side are usually ok, although have been driving me up the wall lately.

Since before we moved to the street, this family have insisted in parking in a space further down the street which really should be our space, as we are one of the few houses without a garage. However, we didn't let it get to us and just parked outside our house. I know it annoyed the previous owners.

Now, the family are renting a garage and still insist on parking in this space which I think seems rather unfair as they are using their garage purely for storage and could quite easily fit the car inside. I reckon it's simply because it's quicker for them to park in the space rather than having to open and close the garage door, but it means that they are effectively denying us of a space. There are no other spare spaces in the street so we have to park in front of the house which makes it hard to get in and out of the front door as we need to park right by the door.

Should I ignore things or have a word with them? Or are they entitled to do what they want?

Help greatly appreciated!

OP posts:
southeastastra · 20/10/2013 21:57

lol at the electronic games room Grin

NotYoMomma · 20/10/2013 21:58

a garage is wasted space imo

bundaberg · 20/10/2013 22:02

they're entitled to do whatever they like!

if the space they're using is marked as yours or officially belongs to you as part of your house then you are within your rights to ask them not to use it... but given that you can park right outside your own house I fail to see the issue tbh....

we've considered renting a garage just for storage too.

Sparklingbrook · 20/10/2013 22:07

I put my car in the garage every night. Lots in our street do, but some others have garages full of crap or old bangers classic cars they are doing up.

holidaysarenice · 20/10/2013 22:11

Drive up road, find empty space. Park. Repeat.

That is it. No over thinking, complicated arrangements or blocking access. End of.

Isabelonatricycle · 20/10/2013 22:15

(Stirring slightly) If when you get home first, they park in front of their garage, see what happens if when they arrive first and park in front of your house, you park in front of their garage.

timidviper · 20/10/2013 22:17

If it is a private road then you should check the deeds of your house as to who owns it. We have a private road at the back of our house and each house owns the stretch of road outside their own property to the middle of the road. In our case we have to allow access across that portion of road so cannot block it, fence it off, etc but we own it. If yours is the same then you own that piece of road and nobody should park on it as it would be private property

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 20/10/2013 22:17

Why not park in front of their garage - if their car isn't in there, you wont be stopping them getting it out will you Grin

Bahhhhhumbug · 20/10/2013 22:30

You have to park so close to your front door that it hinders your access ? - wow really? I have seen many and lived in a very small terrace and even the ones with no front garden always have a pavement width at least between their front door and the road. I cant believe you are complaining that you 'have' to park outside your own house. Surely that's what most householders in parking disputes complain about - being unable to park in front of their own house.

I would just look at the road for parking restrictions and then point to my valid tax disc if confronted by you l'm afraid.

Bahhhhhumbug · 20/10/2013 22:36

Bunda sorry just noticed you already said about the non-issue as already parking in front of their own house.

Financeprincess · 20/10/2013 22:41

Actually, I don't think the OP is being unreasonable. It seems a bit greedy of the people with the garage to use what is probably a scarce parking space when they could park in their own garage or even outside their own house. In my experience, people are pretty selfish with parking. I used to live on a cul de sac where all the houses had drives and garages. Nevertheless, one woman used to leave her rusty heap parked right outside my house, where it was all I could see from the front window. I had a word.

JackNoneReacher · 20/10/2013 22:44

YABU.

Yes they are entitled to park where they want. They don't want to park in the garage its inconvenient, just like parking outside your door is.

TravelinColour · 20/10/2013 22:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MidniteScribbler · 20/10/2013 22:46

Who on earth still uses their garage to park their car in?!

Errrr, isn't that exactly what a garage is for?

I'll never understand why people pile boxes of old crap they'll never look at again in their garage and leave their $50k cars parked on a street. It boggles the mind.

trixymalixy · 20/10/2013 22:48

So neither of you have more right than the other to the space on the road?

In that case yabu.

Parking in a garage is a right PITA. I don't know anyone that has a garage that parks in it every day.

Radiator1234 · 20/10/2013 22:49

It would annoy me too but YABU - it's not your space (unless you actually own the land) they are entitled to park wherever they want.

ivykaty44 · 20/10/2013 22:51

who owns the private road?

Anniemousse · 20/10/2013 22:54

I didn't mean to suggest your house was cheap, sorry.
But your house, with parking, would have cost more, IYKWIM.
It adds value to a house because it means youu have your own space.
If you don't have your own space, unfortunately, it's first come first served.

Scarynuff · 20/10/2013 22:57

You are complaining because you have to park right in front of your house? I've heard it all now.

tiggytape · 20/10/2013 23:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NaturalBaby · 20/10/2013 23:03

DH spent over an hour last weekend trying to park his land rover in our new garage. In the rain. At one point the roof of the land rover was off. He is beyond frustrated that he cannot park his car in his garage.

Forget about the garage issue. They could do all manner of things to make your life easier but it doesn't mean that they should.

Yes it's annoying, I've had my share of parking gripes and it used to drive me mad obsessing about my neighbour's parking habits, but we now have a detached house with our very own driveway and I'm pretty sure my blood pressure is significantly lower Grin.

deepfriedsage · 20/10/2013 23:07

I am sure your neighbours fantasise all sorts you could do to make their life easier too.

EBearhug · 20/10/2013 23:42

When I had a garage, I parked in it every day.

KippyVonKipperson · 21/10/2013 07:15

How about asking them if you can park across their garage when they park in from of their house. Explain that otherwise you have to park so close to your front door. They may agree, or even agree to start using their garage, it's worth a try, but if they say no you'll just have to lump it.

CrohnicallyLurking · 21/10/2013 07:34

I really can't see how space is so tight that parking in front of your house means it blocks access to your door. Even my SIL's terrace, where the road was so narrow everyone parked with 2 wheels on the pavement, had enough space to get a buggy out of the door. How does everyone else manage? (Presumably other people are parking on the road outside their houses, else there would be the whole road for you to choose from and this thread wouldn't exist)