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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

aibu to be pissed of neighbours parking in my parking space?

121 replies

Rebecca2014 · 05/11/2014 21:14

I rent a house and we have two allocated parking spaces that come with the property. I live in a very quiet area where it is not hard to find somewhere to park.

My ex was the only driver in our household so when he moved out, obviously the car spaces were empty all the time. The neighbours have not picked up on this and I noticed different people parking in my parking spaces. It is really pissing me off, just because it is empty doesn't give them the right to use my spaces?

Tomorrow morning if the car still there I be putting a letter on his car and if it continues to happen I will take it further. Aibu to be pissed of about this? shall I just let them use my parking spaces because I don't have a car?

OP posts:
angelos02 · 06/11/2014 10:34

I can see OP's point...I have a private driveway - big enough for about 4 cars. We only have one car. Should I let neighbours park there?

MrsCumbersnatch · 06/11/2014 10:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ImTheOneThatKnocks · 06/11/2014 11:00

Would all the posters who think the OP is being petty park in someone else's unused parking spot without asking Confused ?

As the OP has said, it's the fact the Nieghbours didn't even ask that is irritating her. I don't think that is petty at all.

IsabellaPong · 06/11/2014 11:08

Its not the fact they didn't ask. Its the fact they didn't come and bow down to her and let her control the situation. She's already said she will go and tell another neighbour to use it so she isn't arsed about the sharing or the actual space. It's the fact they dared use it without asking queen Rebecca2014.

Fwiw, I'm in the same situation re parking space and neighbours using it because I don't have a car. I've never once considered I should choose a neighbour who is worthy of the space and who will thank me and kiss my shoes like OP seems to expect.

ChairOfTheBored · 06/11/2014 11:14

I confess myself baffled by some of the responses on this thread. Of course the OP is right to be ticked off that people are using her space without asking her first. It's a basic suspension of all that is polite and pleasant to just use something of someone else's without asking first. She may well not have use of it right now, but it is hers.

Would any of you be quite so relaxed we're people to just park on your empty drive (after all, being empty means you didn't have use for it at that time).

I haven't used my gym membership for a while, doesn't mean I'd be ok with my neighbour helping herself to my pass.

youareallbonkers · 06/11/2014 11:23

Laughing at the people who say she isn't using them so she shouldn't mind. Would you mind randomers living in your spare room because you are not using it?

ImTheOneThatKnocks · 06/11/2014 11:43

Blimey, IsabellaPong that's a bit harsh. Confused Would you have asked your neighbours if the situation was reversed and you had wanted to use their parking spot?

IsabellaPong · 06/11/2014 11:45

What relevance does it have as to what I'd do if I drive? I've shared what I do in the exact same situation as OP. Slightly more on topic Wink

InfinitySeven · 06/11/2014 11:51

This happens to me...we have 2 spaces, and 1 car. Our next door neighbour also has 2 spaces, numbered like ours. All 4 are right outside our house. He parks in the middle, straddling one of his spaces and one of mine. I have no idea why.

We tend to park in the middle of our 2 spaces, because it leaves a bigger path to the door. It's quite tight otherwise, and delivery people struggle.

I haven't spoken to him. I've thought about it...an ambulance came for me last week and couldn't park because he was there, so had to block him in, which he kicked off about. I thought he'd park in his own space after that, but no luck.

It's rubbish.

HouseBaelish · 06/11/2014 11:55

If you're paying extra for parking spaces you don't need, can't you negotiate a lower rent at next tenancy agreement renewal and not have the space?

HighwayDragon · 06/11/2014 11:56

I posted a note on a car that did this to us yesterday, dp was at work till 5 and it was 9am but it's the damned principle of the thing, the woman knocked on my door with note in hand. She said 'oh I was just next door I assumed these spaces were for all the houses' erm no love, the two spaces directly outside my front door are mine, and the house you were visiting can fit FOUR cars on the drive

Siarie · 06/11/2014 11:58

I would leave a note, it doesn't matter if you don't have a car. You may want guests to come stay, or may get a car and by allowing it to happen people will think it's OK.

Had a similar thing in my old place, my neighbours used to park in each others spaces, got to the point where one moved out and the new person was really confused. In fact it had gone on so long the tenants in the apartment thought it was their space and when the new neighbour arrived they told them so and they continued to park in the wrong spaces.

Every time a new person would come the confusion would start again lol

ImTheOneThatKnocks · 06/11/2014 12:47

IsabellaPong. I was curious what you would do if you were the neighbours because you were so scathing about the OP. It wouldn't seem unreasonable to presume you are the type of person who wouldn't bother asking if you wanted to park in a neighbours unused parking spot.

I wouldn't dream of doing it which is why I don't think the OP is being petty.

IsabellaPong · 06/11/2014 12:58

Ah, its easier to do that and try and find an angle to attack at than assume I am a person who doesn't mind sharing what I'm not using which includes my parking spaces (like I've already said).

I wouldn't dream of picking and choosing which of my neighbours can use them which is why I think the OP is being petty.

Pipbin · 06/11/2014 13:00

Its not the fact they didn't ask. Its the fact they didn't come and bow down to her and let her control the situation. She's already said she will go and tell another neighbour to use it so she isn't arsed about the sharing or the actual space. It's the fact they dared use it without asking queen Rebecca2014.

They use something that belongs, or at least is rented by her. I don't think it is too much to ask someone not to do that.

If it's OK then I suggest we all go to Isabella's garden for a a belated bonfire night party. We shan't bother asking because she seems to think it's fine to use someone else's property without asking.

SirChenjin · 06/11/2014 13:05

YANBU

They should have asked. My driveway is empty during the day, but I wouldn't expect my neighbours to park their car on it, nor would I expect them to use my garden. The OP is entitled to use her parking space at the drop of a hat, as opposed to having to go and knock on doors until she finds the neighbour who's using her space and asking them to move it.

The neighbours are behaving like entitled (always wanted to use that word on MN!) arses.

Inselaffe · 06/11/2014 13:07

OP, we had the same issue with our one space. People from the flats nearby were using it as it's separate from our house but still clearly a private space (numbered, in front of our garage). I put out two letters, got fed up and asked a friend who wasn't using their car to park it there for a week. The other people got the hint and haven't done it again.

I was concerned about it becoming precedent and us losing our space, access to our garage (they were parking up close) etc. I wouldn't have a problem if they'd just introduce themselves - my first note said as much and said who we were and if they could leave a note or pop in so we knew who to contact if we needed them to move, but they ignored it.

IsabellaPong · 06/11/2014 13:11

pipbin, don't let the fact that a garden in use is completely different to a parking space with no cars stop your strange comparisons, will you? Grin

Pipbin · 06/11/2014 13:22

Are you in it right now? No, I'll be there in ten minutes then.

Pipbin · 06/11/2014 13:23

Actually, my neighbours never use their garden or seem interested in it. Maybe I'll park my car there instead Isabella.

GraceFox · 06/11/2014 13:25

Ooh there's a house down the road with a lovely empty front garden. Just a plain lawn, no awkward shrubs in the way of ds3 playing football. No gate, open from the street. The couple who live there are middle aged and they never use the space. Ds3 has friends coming over at the weekend - I'll let them play there.

Pipbin · 06/11/2014 13:45

They clearly aren't using it so why would it be a problem.

HappyAgainOneDay · 06/11/2014 13:45

What's the difference between an allocated space and a freehold space, please? It's not just because the allocated space is rented because we had an estate agent round to put our house on the market in 1992. Our garage was in a block in a forecourt at the back of the houses and we had a freehold space as well as our garage next to it. The neighbour's garage was the other side of it. The agent prepared particulars and described the space as 'allocated'. I put him right because I knew that it was also freehold - we'd paid for it. It's now another garage.

Are the flat / house numbers painted on the spaces?

SirChenjin · 06/11/2014 13:51

Isabella - Explain to me why my garden (currently not in use) is any difference to the OP's parking space (currently not in use) - and explain why my neighbours shouldn't use my garden whereas the OP's neighbours should use her parking space

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 06/11/2014 13:59

YANBU.

The basic law of common courtesy means that you ask before using something belonging to someone else.