Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this note I am about to leave for a neighbour U?

68 replies

eggwhitesandsugar · 26/01/2014 09:39

We bought a house with a parking space. Official spaces are at a premium here (one per property). We only sometimes need our space for a friend's car - mostly we park in front of our house. Sometimes there isn't room in front of our house so we also need the space. The space is around the corner from our house, so a) not convenient and b) not immediately obvious it belongs to our house although it clearly belongs to 'a house' as it's in front of a garage.

Since the end of the summer someone has been parking in our space regularly. We left a note in October (AIBU said I was NBU then) asking for some contact details - we don't mind them using their space when we don't need it but we want to be able to get them to move if we do need it, since we paid for the space with the house.

Their response was to park directly opposite our house for the next two weeks, but at least we could use our space again!

In the last week they've been back there. There is space away from the immediate area by our houses and they should have a space of their own as well directly in front of their flat. We have already once needed to use the space and not been able to do so, hence note #2:

"Hi,

This is the parking space that belongs to [house no.]. As we explained in the last note we left we don't always need it and don't mind so much when you use it.

However we do need to be able to contact you and ask you to move your car when we need the space or to move large furniture from the garage - this has already happened once and we couldn't contact you and had to park elsewhere. That was quite annoying as we bought the house with a space and had already asked for your details.

Please can you pop your details (name/number) over, or knock on the door and say hi.

Thanks,

[Eggs & DP]"

Is it too U? Are there tones of Hyacinth Bucket?

OP posts:
sooperdooper · 26/01/2014 09:41

I think that's fine, hope they get in touch

Hassled · 26/01/2014 09:41

I think it's fine. I sort of feel you won't get a response though, if you didn't last time, but it's worth a shot.

Your third note should say "park here again and you will be towed".

Dunwhingin · 26/01/2014 09:42

It sounds fine to me
If the persist is there a permit system/ council sept u can utilise to get them out of it?
Tbh if they are the kind of people who don't care about these things you may not get a response this time either..
Good luck

OTheHugeManatee · 26/01/2014 09:42

I think it's excessively reasonable. You should just ask them not to park on your property. Anything more nuanced will result in them taking the piss.

Roshbegosh · 26/01/2014 09:42

It sounds perfectly reasonable to me but they will not like it. I am not sure about the friendly "say hello" thing. It would all be very embarrassing.

Catsize · 26/01/2014 09:43

Think you are being more than reasonable. You do not have to let them park there at all.

Tulip26 · 26/01/2014 09:43

I wish I could park outside my house. Nine vehicles between three of my neighbours, two of whom have drives they don't use, it makes me get very cross. Always seem to park in my space when I have heavy shopping, it's like they know I'm coming! The note is not U at all, they are being twats.

SeraphinaSparklePants · 26/01/2014 09:43

Not unreasonable at all.

They need to give you their details, or stop parking in your space.

You sound nice, and are being a good neighbour to allow them to use it all.

They are overstepping by ignoring you.

Familyguyfan · 26/01/2014 09:44

I'm afraid I'm a bit more territorial than you. I'd keep it short amd sweet.

Hello

This space belongs to house x. It is required at all times. Do not park here again or your vehicle will be towed.

Thank you

Not sure it's the best course of action but it's what I'd do. I think your niceness and compromise is inviting them to ignore them.

AnitaManeater · 26/01/2014 09:45

They shouldn't be parking there full stop. I'd get a lockable bollard installed and leave it up when your car isn't there.

nilbyname · 26/01/2014 09:47

You say you don't mind sometimes a, but then sometimes you do.

I would just keep it simple, not up do use sometimes. Tell them they must not park in your space. End of

LIZS · 26/01/2014 09:47

Agree , I think you are muddying the waters by saying you need it sometimes but they can use it at others. Just state that it is your allocated space and please could they park elsewhere in future.

HowJustHow · 26/01/2014 09:48

Familyguyfan

I think I'd be more inclined to leave something similar to yours too. Grin

DameDeepRedBetty · 26/01/2014 09:48

You've already done 'nice' and not got anywhere. I'd do Anita's lockable bollard as soon as possible.

BlackDaisies · 26/01/2014 09:49

I think your note is too nice! (Eg saying you don't mind them parking there). You've already had to leave one note, so I would now leave one saying something like " As we have already requested contact details should you wish to use this space occasionally, which you are unwilling to provide, we are now asking that you do not use this space again in future. If you park here again we shall seek non emergency police advice."

cjel · 26/01/2014 09:49

My first thought was to get a lockable bollard as well. It doesn't matter how often you use it and you shouldn't have to ask.

nilbyname · 26/01/2014 09:50

Sorry, typos.

Not be to used at all, don't confuse things with saying they can use it sometimes.

Davsmum · 26/01/2014 09:51

I think if people have a drive they should bloody well use it and not take up spaces on the road.
People do not own road space outside their own houses but they will moan if people park outside their houses.

I think you are being too reasonable with whoever it is using your driveway. It would be a lot more simple if you used your own drive and established with them that they should never use it.

HoratiaDrelincourt · 26/01/2014 09:52

I think YABU because inconsistent.

"We don't mind if you park here unless " reads as "feel free to park here".

Clearer, and completely reasonable, would be: "This space belongs to . If you would like to negotiate renting or buying it from us, please let us know. Otherwise, please refrain from parking here."

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 26/01/2014 09:54

Agree with everyone.

They are being cheeky barstewards and you are being extremely reasonable.

jerryfudd · 26/01/2014 09:55

Like others on here I would not be willing to inconvenience myself at having to ask permission to use my own space. You've already tried to be reasonable so just tell them to shift it now and never use again. If you can get a bollard I would.

CSIJanner · 26/01/2014 09:56

Same car? Shove that! Short and sweet.

This parking space belongs to number x house. We have previously asked for consideration and contact details - you blew it. Do not park here again. It's private land.

And then go out and but yourself a nice lockable bollard...

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 26/01/2014 09:58

Bollard. They've had their chance.

Original poster
eggwhitesandsugar · 26/01/2014 09:58

Thank you - wasn't expecting so many replies! I will use BlackDaisies response minus the police threat - it's a private road so don't think the police will be bothered, also there's no way DP would let me get police advice!

Davsmum We actually use the space for a friend who lives in the street - there is ample space in front of our house/to the left of our house (garage etc. and squeezed parking is to the right and around the corner - twisty road) so we are not normally inconveniencing anyone by parking there. Friend's family circumstances changed dramatically this year - he was made redundant and the only job he could find requires a) a car and b) for him to work away in the week. We let him use our space at weekends or he wouldn't have anywhere for his car - his wife uses their space for their original car that she needs during the week.

OP posts:
MrsCosmopilite · 26/01/2014 09:59

I think you're being very polite and neighbourly, but I'd lose the bit about not always needing the space. It is the space allocated to you, whether or not you need it. Otherwise they will assume it's okay to to park there, and carry on doing so.