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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To find neighbour's request entitled and rude

123 replies

frillybiscuits · 17/11/2015 14:16

I moved into a council property a couple of months ago (maisonette, house turned into two flats). My upstair's neighbours own a taxi rank so take up all the available parking spaces directly outside the flat with 5 people carrier type taxis and 1 estate one, which means we have to park on the other side of the culdesac which has a massive grassy island in the middle of it. We struggled like hell to move our stuff in. I'm 32 weeks pregnant and have bad SPD so struggle walking far distances at the best of times, and I would love to be able to park outside my own home anyway.

One day there was a space infront of our flat because one of the taxis were being used and we had some more boxes to move in so it was ideal. I didn't think this would be a problem but the next morning we got a knock on our door. It was the upstairs neighour, he asked my OH to move his car so he could park his taxi outside. OH not wanting to get off on bad terms with new neighbours he moved his car. Now I am thinking what the hell. They can't tell us where we can and cannot park our car, especially when we're going to be lugging a child/travel system/loads of shopping out of it. I imagine he likes to park them there for security reasons but it's still really rude and inconsiderate of the other residents. The parking spaces aren't assigned to certain flats/houses but taking up all 6 spaces? Now that's just taking the piss. Please tell me i'm not BU.

OP posts:
Becstarlenski · 17/11/2015 18:01

He has no right to ask you to move your car, no harm in contacting the council too see where you stand. Your in your rights to park in an available space.

Peanuts2000 · 17/11/2015 18:02

YANBU. Have had problems with parking at our old house, was an ex council house that we bought, the neighbours were original council tenants who unfortunately had bought their houses, they thought only them could park outside their house even though it was council land. One of the reasons we moved, agree with the others, phone the council, report the taxis but don't give your name! If it is a public road you can park there if you pay road tax unless it is a disabled space. Can also check with the police but understand you don't want any hassle.

Peanuts2000 · 17/11/2015 18:04

With past experience, find people get very territorial when it comes to parking and because you have just moved in they are trying to assert authority.

Oldraver · 17/11/2015 18:05

Is he trying to say he owns a taxi 'rank' outside your flat ? as I'm sure there is no way hell a council would sanction this in a residential area.

gamerwidow · 17/11/2015 18:11

Definitely rude and entitled op. My dsis had similar with her taxi driving neighbour. They have a space each and share the 3rd space in front of their properties. The neighbour had got used to always parking his taxi there and was miffed when she got a second car and the space became first come first served. Tough luck for him she just ignored his complaints and you should do the same.

toastyarmadillo · 17/11/2015 18:20

Definitely call the council

Grapejuicerocks · 17/11/2015 18:26

Place marking. I love a good old parking thread.

Pipbin · 17/11/2015 18:27

If he is running such a shoddy set up then I doubt he has a licence or pays business rates. I do hope all his cars are insured and MOTd. Very easy to check up.

Snoopadoop · 17/11/2015 18:34

In my experience people who have lived in a place for a long time like to essential assume they 'own' certain spaces because they have always parked in that particular space. In theory these spaces are often for anyone. When newbies come along, the oldies like to kick up a fuss, but they often have no right to.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 17/11/2015 18:58

I'm not sure why people are misunderstanding the OP - OK, she used the word "rank", but then clearly went on to describe someone running a taxi business & parking his fleet outside his (and the OP's) house.

I agree it's not a particularly successful taxi business if they never move though! Do you know whether he owns his flat or rents? If a council tenant like you, he may well not be allowed to run a business from the premises. If he owns I suppose he can.

Are the spaces all private parking for the two flats or a public road? If they are private for the flats then you need to ask the Housing Officer who owns the spaces. It would be unusual for the council not to own them if they go with a council property but I suppose there is a chance he actually does own both his flat and the spaces too. Albeit a remote chance.
If they are owned by the council, I would definitely ask your Housing Officer to phone him & make it very clear that he needs to be letting you use one!

If any are spaces on a public road just use them & don't move your car. He's got a bloody cheek if he's taking ownership of half of a normal road!

Potatoface2 · 17/11/2015 19:23

if he is legitimately running a taxi business then he needs to have a current hackney carriage licence.....if he hasnt, then he is a rogue taxi business which is illegally transporting passengers for cash without the correct insurance for this.....he can be prosecuted for this....and if its really a rank it will be marked as a 'taxi rank'....and also im not sure you can run a business from a council property (not this kind of business anyway)....contact council and look up hackney carriage licencing rules for your area....its not as easy as just buying a car and starting a business!

ICantSpellNoffink · 17/11/2015 19:32

What was your DH thinking! Shock. He sounds way too nice.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 17/11/2015 19:47

Place marking.

Someone in our village owns a load of taxis and isn't allowed to park his taxis on his estate. He has to park them on the other side of the village and walk home!

CFSsucks · 17/11/2015 20:11

I can't believe your DH actually moved the car! WTF was he thinking of?!

BolshierAryaStark · 17/11/2015 20:50

I also can't believe your DH moved the car, it'd have been met with this Hmm & a 'errrrm no, I'm not going to do that' from me, followed swiftly by a 'fuck off' if he'd persisted...

TheAussieProject · 18/11/2015 09:14

Preparing popcorn as I wait for the council response...

Lolimax · 18/11/2015 09:20

Oh and me! Let us know :)

TwinkleCrinkle · 18/11/2015 10:52

Marking my place...

Good luck op!

northernsoul78 · 18/11/2015 11:37

Yes update please.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 18/11/2015 11:54

It sounds like he has some serious cheek!

RiverTam · 18/11/2015 11:59

Shamelessly waiting for an update. What a cheeky fucker.

ILiveAtTheBeach · 18/11/2015 12:01

How can he be running his own company, and be entitled to a free council house?!

Justaboy · 18/11/2015 12:08

Theres nothing at all to stop you running a company from your council house or anywhere for that matter. But its not quite that simple. Your company could be just doing paperwork no more disturbing then most any activity. Running a cab outfit could be done from home too, answering a phone and giving jobs out over a phone can and has been done BUT from home with cars coming and going and parking all hours causing a disturbance a different matter.

You could be making explosives as a "company" but not a very neighbourly thing to do;!

MrWriter · 18/11/2015 12:22

Oh goodness, he sounds like an entitled prat.

We lived in a flat an each of the flats had 1.5 spaces each (half a space Confused) it was a first come first served bases and it said in our agreement that no commercial vehicles were to be parked there.

Have you contacted the council yet? [nosey emoticon]

SoupDragon · 18/11/2015 12:24

Are these parking spaces in the road or on a driveway?