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AIBU?

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:

Report

crystalmps · 21/10/2013 20:18

They park in front of their garage. Or in front of a neighbour's garage (who is rarely about).

impecuniousmarmoset · 21/10/2013 20:20

"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."

Seriously?! I'd like to see people's faces if you tried that on our street! I get to park in front of my house after maybe one trip in thirty, and that's a generous estimate.

crystalmps · 21/10/2013 20:21

I honestly don't get this "they can do what they like" attitude. If there were plenty of spaces in the street, it wouldn't be a problem, but it isn't.

I could choose to play music really loudly during the day, but I don't as I am considerate and care about others.

Sparklingbrook · 21/10/2013 20:22

I couldn't live in a street where there was a hoo-har over parking spaces. It would be too stressful I think.

crystalmps · 21/10/2013 20:22

It's not about parking in front of my house. It's about having a space at all!

crystalmps · 21/10/2013 20:22

I wish I didn't, Sparklingbrook!

Anyway, I appreciate everyone's comments. Very helpful advice.

BrokenSunglasses · 21/10/2013 20:23

Why don't you ask if you can park in front of the neighbours garage? You could rent the space!

KatieScarlett2833 · 21/10/2013 20:23

No, if you play music loudly the rozzers will come round and sort you out.
If you phoned them re this issue they would point and laugh and talk about you in the tearoom.

crystalmps · 21/10/2013 20:24

Ok, bad example KatieScarlett but I wish people thought about others a bit more.

birdybear · 21/10/2013 20:27

unless you have a drive, or a designated parking space that is in the deeds of your property, you have no right to park anywhere! what don't you you understand!?

BrokenSunglasses · 21/10/2013 20:29

And if they park in front of their garage or in front of another neighbours garage, then they don't have a space to park on the street either.

It has to be first come first served with the highly desired parking space. When you don't get there first, you park somewhere inconvenient.

Why do you think it's more inconvenient for you to park in front of your house than it is for two people to have one of their neighbours parking in front of their garages?

Sparklingbrook · 21/10/2013 20:31

I think it's time to get the cones out......

magicberry · 21/10/2013 20:32

have you thought about asking them nicely and explaining the problem?
You know YABU, unfortunately there is no rule against being a bit selfish in life.
I can appreciate the irritation and those who are loudest in condemning you probably haven't experienced the annoyance of communal parking. Ultimately it was this which drove me into the burbs and my own drive

Lweji · 21/10/2013 20:32

Could you transform your front lounge/living room into a garage?

MaidOfStars · 21/10/2013 20:39

Have read this whole thread and think I understand the positional information.....

OP, you have my sympathy. I understand your annoyance. As you look from the front of your house, you see their garage with empty space in front, plus their car occupying a non-garage space that would be ideal for you to use. Your neighbours are sprawling out, inefficiently using space when it's at a premium.

However, as sympathetic as I am, I don't see that you have any right to the non-garage space and I can't see any legitimate claim to address with them. Could they be more aware? Yes. But are they obliged to be more aware? No.

crystalmps · 21/10/2013 20:49

Thanks, MaidOfStars, I think you've summed it up perfectly.

Irritating? Yes. Selfish? Probably. But I appreciate that they are well within their right to do this.

Strumpetron · 21/10/2013 21:00

It's the entitlement that annoys me. 'Oh they don't legally own it so ill use it, as well as the space I own, because LEGALLY I can'. Instead of 'oh I've got this space here, I'll go here so the neighbours can use that space'

I just don't get what's happened to people looking out for each other and just being considerate.

trixymalixy · 21/10/2013 21:15

Or perhaps they don't see their garage as a "space", perhaps they bought it to store stuff in? It would never cross my mind to park in our garage.

Mim78 · 21/10/2013 21:19

Yabu. Please please don't get into a row with them about parking spaces. They are all free for anyone to use. This is a really small problem but I have seen disputes about parking spaces escalate into big feuds.

Scarynuff · 21/10/2013 21:19

OP does anyone else ever park right outside your front door in that awkward spot that you don't like to use?

IrisWildthyme · 21/10/2013 21:28

YABU I'm afraid. Sorry I know it must be annoying but vast numbers of people with garages don't park in them routinely - it is unwelcome hassle to get the car in and out when you have a busy life. When we had a garage, we only put the car in it when we were going away for an extended period without the car (i.e. very rarely).

Unless there's something in the deeds linking a particular space to your property, there is no such thing as an on-road parking space that "should" be yours. If you can park legally outside your front door that's fine. You don't have a fundamental right to park in your favourite space.

LilMissSunshine9 · 21/10/2013 21:33

I have a garage with my terraced house - I tried to get the car (skoda) in, had to take even the odd few boxes at the back out to get it in and when I did I couldn't get out of the car - luckily I have a driveway so it sits outside the garage. But it astounds me that my immediate neighbour manages to park his Jag in his garage and get out - I swear his garage must be bigger than mine but it doesn't look like it....

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fortyplus · 21/10/2013 21:37

YABU - your neighbours are probably moaning about you - and why you try to park somewhere else instead of right outside your own front door.

BrokenSunglasses · 21/10/2013 21:56

It's the entitlement that annoys me. 'Oh they don't legally own it so ill use it, as well as the space I own, because LEGALLY I can'.

But they're not using a space they legally own when they can't park in the space OP is talking about.

When OP or anyone else parks there, the neighbour parks either parks on someone else's property, or is blocking their property. Not sure which, don't think it matters either way.

For all we know, the garage that the neighbour rents doesn't include any clause that he is allowed to park in front of it. When Neighbour parks there, it might be one of those things that is a minor irritation to the owners of the property is attached to, but it's something they put up with because they understand parking space is at a premium.

Or maybe it's a minor irritation to the other neighbour OP mentioned whose drive Number One Neighbour uses when OP has the space.

Maybe it's not unlike the minor irritation OP puts up with when she has to park so close to her front door.

The entitlement you mentioned belongs to the OP, because she thinks her minor irritation is unacceptable and it should be forced onto others. Others who have already sorted their own parking issues out, or others who are in exactly the same predicament as her, but who just happen to get home from work earlier.

Worriedthistimearound · 21/10/2013 22:03

It really is something you should have considered when buying the house ie that there wasn't enough parking for the amount if houses. Would you feel the same if they rented a garage around the corner?

We have owned, I think, 5 houses with garages. We have never once parked either car in the garage. We have also owned a mews house and waited until one came up with an allocated space. It cost 15k more than one without.

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