Neighbour won't park in their garage

[crystalcmps]

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!

[sebsmummy1]

OP has explIned that there are no more garages available to rent.

[Scholes34]

Looking through a picture book when the DCs were young, we came across a picture of a garage. When I asked DD what people keep in a garage, her response was "bikes" - we do have eight in there at the moment.

I think it's unreasonable these days to expect that people use a garage to park a car. Our scout troop rents a garage for storage. There's no stipulation from the Council that it has to be used to park a car, but the rent would be half what it is if a motor vehicle was kept in it. We're thinking of buying a troop motorbike to keep in it, as it would be worth our while doing that before too long with the rent we would save .

[Beastofburden]

sorry- missed that there were no more garages to rent.

Still, nice though it is to park exactly where you want to, its a public street. Second the idea that you ask (nicely) if it's OK to park in front of their garage if its only being used for storage. With any luck they will say, "no, we'll park there".

[enriquetheringbearinglizard]

crystalcmps
I can understand your frustration with the situation as you've explained it, but I don't think you're going to get anywhere with any improvement in the situation unless you can arrange to get home earlier than the neighbours and take your preferred parking space.

You can't park infront of their rented garage because they're entitled to have vehicular access to it at all times.

I can't work out when you learned from your vendors that these particular neighbours were not amenable to working hand in hand with the parking situation, whether it was before or after you bought your house? but that would've been a red light to me. You haven't got a designated space, so I'm afraid it's pot luck for you and not likely to change. YANBU to hope everyone in the street might consider all the neighbours' best parking solutions, but you are being unrealistic to think it's ever going to happen unless there's a maintenance committee that you could raise the issue with? Unlikely I suppose or you would already have mentioned it. Perhaps you could start one?

[Bahhhhhumbug]

I think OP's done one so we may be all talking to ourselves but [undeterred] I cant understand why the OP thinks the space these neighbours are using is the one that 'should be hers' if it's not in front of OPs house (cos that's where OP 'has' to park instead) and OP also has no garage which she could claim the bit in front of. So why does OP blame this one particular neighbour and think they're using 'her' space if they are not parking in front of her house or (non existent ) garage.

[crystalmps]

Hi, just to make it clear that spaces are extremely limited on my street and in parking in this space when they have a garage, we have nowhere to park unless we park right in front of our front door which is extremely tight - trust me, and we have a pretty standard sized car.

[crystalmps]

Apologies for not responding today - been very busy at work.

(And of course when I came home, guess where the neighbours were parked?!

[SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood]

Why have you name changed OP?
And is there no pavement outside your front door? Surely it's illegal to park that much on the pavement if people can't evenwalk past, never mind pushchairs and wheelchairs?

[crystalmps]

In response to some earlier posts:

The garage they're is directly opposite their house.

The space they take is diagonally opposite our house. Nobody else on the street uses this space as they either have a space they always use or a garage. So it's basically our neighbour v us for this space. They are fully aware that by parking in this space rather than in or in front of their rented garage, we are screwed for parking. They just don't seem to care or think about it.

[crystalmps]

I'm on a different browser. Wasn't aware this caused problems with my names (first time I've posted on here, so still learning!

[crystalmps]

It's a private road so no pavement. I literally have to park up against the wall of my house, which makes it really hard to get in and out of the house. My Mum is visiting this weekend and I'm worried about how she'll cope if we still have to park there.

[KatieScarlett2833]

They don't have to care as it's not their problem.
Get over it.

[SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood]

It sounds a really badly designed estate. Do your neighbours have the same problem - or do most people have a garage?

[trixymalixy]

But surely then if you don't park in front of your house someone else will, if parking's so tight? At least if it's you then you can move your car if you need wider access.

I don't get why you feel that space should be yours "by rights", that's very entitled of you as by the sounds of it you have no more rights than anyone else.

Your neighbours probably think it's more convenient for you to park right outside your house than further down the road, but if you don't tell them then they'll never know. However that is likely to go down like a lead balloon.

[Strumpetron]

YANBU

don't understand why people can't show a bit of decency towards someone else.

[crystalmps]

It's far from an estate!

It's a mews terrace in a conservation area.

[crystalmps]

Thank you, Strumpetron!

I know it's not the end of the world, but if I was in their position, there is no way I would prevent them from having a proper parking space simply because I couldn't be bothered to park inside or in front of a garage I was paying for.

[digerd]

Agree with Strumpetron. VVV selfish attitude.

[Strumpetron]

I wouldn't dream of parking outside of someone else's house unless I absolutely had to, and even then I'd probably knock on and explain. I know no-one is legally entitled to the spot but I think it's just the right thing to do and makes sense?

You're right it's not the end of the world but people have complained about much less

[birdybear]

you seen not to understand what most people are saying. i am annoyed so am going to shout. IT IS NOT YOUR RIGHT TO TELL PEOPLE WHERE TO PARK. and, while i am at it, quite enjoying this now MOST PEOPLE LIKE TO PARK OUTSIDE THEIR HOUSE. They probably think they are doing you a favour, but as always, just moan on here about it instead of actually talking to them about it!

[BrokenSunglasses]

You are spectacularly missing the point.

The garage is irrelevant. They have chosen to rent it for storage, it's nothing to do with the parking issue. It's like me saying I bought a necklace and you thinking you have the right to dictate when I wear it. Completely and utterly irrelevant and pointless.

Do you know if they would even be allowed to park in front of the garage? They might not be able to.

You say that by parking there' they are screwing you for parking, but aren't you screwing them equally as much when you park there, what with the garage being taken out of the equation. You do prevent them from having a proper parking space, and would probably do it more often if you got in earlier than them.

When your mum visits let her out of the car with a front door key before you park. Then get the car out before she gets in. Easy.

[Scarynuff]

Actually I think you should speak to them and explain that you see a certain patch of road as 'your' parking space, so would they please not park there, then see what they say.

Just let us know when you've done it and I'll keep a look out for their thread in AIBU

[crystalmps]

They aren't parking in front of their house though? They are parking further away from their house and in doing so, preventing us from having a space.

So to repeat: by parking there, I don't have anywhere on the street to park.

[BrokenSunglasses]

So where do they park when you have the space?

[KatieScarlett2833]

I really hope you are my neighbour . The thread I'd start after you spoke to me about this nonsense would be legendary.
(waits hopefully)