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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think I should be able to park on the communal driveway?

62 replies

RagamuffinAndFidget · 29/10/2013 16:03

Sorry for yet another parking post but I'm genuinely struggling to work out who's BU here! And sorry if it gets a bit long and boring..

I live in a block of six Housing Association flats (we moved in mid-2010). We have a communal driveway with space for eight cars which is partly in front of the flats and partly down the side (four spaces at the front and four at the side). I haven't had a car until very recently as I only passed my test at the beginning of this month, so I obviously haven't used the communal driveway until now. I have, however, paid the £2 a week paving/driveway maintenance charge that makes up part of our weekly rent. Until I got a car there were only eight cars in the block (the other three two-bed flats have two cars each, and the two one-bed flats have one each, if it makes any difference) but now there are nine, so we're short by one space.

The way the parking has worked up until now is:
Flat 1 used one front space and one side space.
Flat 3 used two front spaces.
Flat 4 used one front space and one side space.
Flat 5 used one side space.
Flat 6 used one side space.

When I bought my car I was chatting to some of the neighbours and one of them actually told me that they would 'kick off' if they came home to find I'd parked in their space. Another said I should just park on the road because everyone had 'their' space and I shouldn't mess with things. I kind of feel like I should be able to park on the communal driveway because there are enough spaces for every flat to have one car, with two left over, and I've paid for the HA to completely ignore maintain the driveway, even when I wasn't blimmin' parking on it! So for the last few weeks I've been playing Car Tetris, just parking where there's been a space and hoping no one comes to my door looking for a fight about it.. and now one of the neighbours has been getting quite aggressive about it, saying that I've got no right to just get a car after three years (even though they've only lived here eighteen months, if that's relevant) and start using everyone else's spaces. Are they right? AIBU to think that I should be allowed to use the driveway? I can see why it's irritating when they've all parked easily for however long, but I've got a right to have a car and park it too haven't I?

OP posts:
ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 29/10/2013 16:06

Yes, YANBU. You have just as much right to park there as anyone else.

Sparklingbrook · 29/10/2013 16:06

Is one of the spaces allotted to your flat?

I think the neighbours ABU especially the ones with 2 cars.

Original poster
RagamuffinAndFidget · 29/10/2013 16:08

Sparkling The spaces aren't allocated. I did ask the HA if this was something they could do because I thought it might help if everyone had at least one numbered space, but they said they don't allocate parking spaces. They did agree that I should be able to park in a space though but said there wasn't really anything they could do to 'enforce' that.

OP posts:
MaidOfStars · 29/10/2013 16:08

YANBU in the slightest. I don't know how HA stuff works - do you have a contract that is likely to be the same as everyone else's? If so, check the parking allocation and highlight the appropriate sections to them if they challenge you again.

MaidOfStars · 29/10/2013 16:09

If the HA can't enforce your right to park in a space, they won't be enforcing anyone else's right to park in a space.

Do you usually win at Car Tetris?

eurochick · 29/10/2013 16:10

If they're not allocated then it's first come first served. Tell them to jog on.

bundaberg · 29/10/2013 16:10

wtf? they've said you have no right to a space?/

well that's just bollocks. shame the spaces aren't numbered.

i would keep doing what you're doing right now. if there is a space free then use it!

maybe speak to the HA if other residents keep having a go at you, and get somehitng in writing that says they're for all of you

Sparklingbrook · 29/10/2013 16:10

There had better not be any 'kicking off' Angry

I think you have to just park where there's a space and brave it out.

Sidge · 29/10/2013 16:12

You can park in any free space and if a neighbour gets aggressive about it then call the police.

No resident has any more rights over another to park in any given space if they aren't allocated . First come, first served.

Original poster
RagamuffinAndFidget · 29/10/2013 16:13

Sometimes yes, sometimes no Maid.. it depends on the time of day and whether some of the neighbours are at work, etc.

I tried to reason with them and say that perhaps one of the Dads who have small cars and don't usually take the children out could park on the road (which is only about ten yards from the front door of the flats) but they said that wasn't fair because they were all used to having 'their' spaces. Which I can totally understand, I would probably be annoyed in their situations too, but I would also accept that it's probably safer/easier for someone who is only getting themselves in and out of their car to park on the road than for me to park there and have to faff about with two small children, sometimes two dogs, shopping, etc..

OP posts:
roundtoit · 29/10/2013 16:14

1st come 1st served. You have as much right as anyone in the building to park in any space available.

HaroldLloyd · 29/10/2013 16:14

So someone with 2 cars is going to park 2 cars out front and kick off if you park?

That's totally unreasonable. Park in the car park, unashamedly. If anyone says anything be very very firm that you have as much right as anyone else to put your car there.

Cheeky fuckers.

candlelight2012 · 29/10/2013 16:14

You are not being unreasonable however you are sticking a shitty shit into the equilibrium so fur will fly

However you have as much right to park there as anyone else so stick to your guns and park where you want

Original poster
RagamuffinAndFidget · 29/10/2013 16:15

x-posted a lot, sorry..

The HA did say that if I felt threatened or if the neighbours were aggressive towards me then they could send out a letter asking everyone to avoid anti-social behaviour and to remember that parking spaces are for everyone. I don't think it would make much difference though.. if they're going to get annoyed about it, they're going to get annoyed aren't they?

OP posts:
Mojavewonderer · 29/10/2013 16:15

YANBU. Park where there is space and tell them to jog on. You've paid your money so your entitled to a space. They can get stuffed.

Original poster
RagamuffinAndFidget · 29/10/2013 16:17

I may just show them this thread.. MN Jury is better than any lowly Housing Association Wink

OP posts:
HaroldLloyd · 29/10/2013 16:17

If they say anything say

"I've checked with HA who said in the absence of allocated parking they will just have to be shared & the only way I can see to do this is first come first served"

Any nonsense, complain and get that letter issued. I think it would help.

Cheeky buggers. Can't get over that.

HaroldLloyd · 29/10/2013 16:19

I think I have PMT.

I feel disproportionately angry on your behalf and want to come and patrol your car park giving out "funny looks" Grin

Original poster
RagamuffinAndFidget · 29/10/2013 16:19

I think what's (completely unreasonably) annoying me the most is that the ones who are doing most of the complaining are Flat 3 who have two cars parked on the front part of the driveway (which is right outside my living room window). I think, really, it should be one front space for every flat and then whoever's left can park down the side. But I know that's just me being picky..

OP posts:
Original poster
RagamuffinAndFidget · 29/10/2013 16:20

Harold Feel free! If you spent half a day doing that it would be more interest than the HA has ever shown!

OP posts:
bundaberg · 29/10/2013 16:21

yeah do show them the thread!

if anything you deserve a space more than them, cos they've had a long time doing parking outside and you've had no time at all Shock

did their parents never teach them to share nicely?

bigbluebus · 29/10/2013 16:24

They should be grateful that you haven't had a car for the last 3 years and they have therefore had the benefit of the space. But unless the tenancy agreement states allocated parking spaces then it is just 1st come 1st serve and I would report any threatening behaviour to the HA and then the police/CSO if it continues.

There is a HA development across the road from us and the parking spaces are all around the back of the houses. It is amazing how territorial people are about their spaces, but what amazes me more is the number of untaxed, seemingly abandoned cars which are illegally occupying spaces meaning that some of the residents have to park on the pavement. Visitors have to park on the road at the front due to the locks on the back garden gates, meaning they can't get to the back doors, so the road becomes a chicane at certain times of the day. Strange design.

I am so glad I have a double drive and can get 3 cars on it at a push.

samandi · 29/10/2013 16:24

If spaces aren't allocated then anyone can park in the spaces. In theory it seems reasonable that every flat should have at least one space, but if there aren't allocated spaces then it's just who gets there first. Your neighbours are certainly in the wrong for thinking they should be able to have "their spaces".

Fleta · 29/10/2013 16:25

The usual arrangement would be ONE space per house and TWO visitor spaces.

Of course they're being unreasonable and you're perfectly at liberty to park your vehicle. They're aren't "everyone elses spaces" they're for the use of the residents - of which you're one.

If they're getting aggressive I'd contact you're HA

caruthers · 29/10/2013 16:25

One neighbour of ours had two cars and had a space earmarked for their sons girlfriend when she came to visit every night, we didn't have a car at the time so parking outside our house wasn't an issue.

However we did buy a car and parked it outside our house and lo and behold there was a knock at the door..."Can you move your car please?" the neighbour asked. I asked why and he said that his sons girlfriend needed to park there.

I told him to go away (Or something similar).

Parking issues can make rational people totally irrational but stand your ground and park in an empty slot if it's available.