a parking one with a note from neighbour

[KinkyAfro]

This is the letter left on DP's van yesterday. We live at 215, attached to 213, then there's a road and then 211 where note writer lives.

I'm having to sit on my hands so I don't write a response. AIBU to think this is a bit passive aggressive or AIBU to park van there?

[Message from MNHQ: We've had to remove the attached letter as it was a bit too identiyfing. We realise the rest of the thread will make little sense now to anyone new to the thread, but we're leaving it up so the OP can continue to discuss with those already on board].

Actually a van at the side of a house is probably more annoying than in front of the house. There's no escape from it in her back garden.

Another tip for the neighbour, if she is reading this, why not put lots of bird feeders just the other of the fence from the van! Or just throw some bread over the fence. There's nothing more satisfying than seeing birds crap on a nuisance local problem parker.

I'm going to go round in a bit and say we will do our best not to park there but on some occasions, it might be necessary in the evenings to park it there on a temp basis. I shall be perfectly nice and polite, I of course cannot predict how she will react but that's the best I can do.

Honestly OP she is clearly mental, but for the sake of keeping the peace, can you not park the van further down the side road - at least some of the time? It might mean a 20 second longer walk but perhaps that's worth it to avoid an onslaught of stroppy notes.

Anyway, thanks for all the responses, the thread is going to be removed shortly

I am gob smacked at how precious your neighbour is being over a bit of van daring to bare itself above her fence. She's very polite, but completely unreasonable when she already knows it's temporary. She must have few worries in life,

Of course Razzmatazz but often it's the only available gap

And please don't call her mental, that's really not nice

I've lived with a similar experience and it does get really annoying. To be honest the note is polite and in my opinion a reasonable request. If it isnt going to happen long term maybe just write a note back saying it will soon be sorted.

Ellie, we have already been to see her to explain it'll be 3 weeks max and only overnight. She's adamant it has to be moved

They park vans near where they live because it's where they live, how is that working from home?

I didn't say they were working from home I said they were running a business from their home. If they don't have a trade premises then that's what they are doing. It may affect their rates, insurance etc as well as being an annoyance to other residents who could go to the council about it.

It's nothing to do with snobbery, I am sure most tradespeople earn more than DH or I and are self employed to boot.

Where I live it's in the regulations of the estate that you can't park trade vehicles (obviously other than when the person is at the house carrying out their trade) so it may also be in contravention to that.

User - the van and 1 car will not fit on the drive. If van on drive then both cars need to be parked elsewhere. Including her mum's.

Also, for non thread readers - cannot park outside her mum's house as would block road (cars parked on other side). Cannot park across mum's drive entrance as would block immediate neighbours drive; been parked 6 nights at side of neighbour's house, moving each day (when at work) and 1 day when didn't move (off work).

Word of warning OP. If DMs neighbour is the pineckety/arsey (delete as app) kind. Once than van is logoed she'll be contacting his boss and he may get a telling off about parking it more appropriately. I've never done it but know of lots of people who have with their neighbours.

*that not than.

Lots of people have to move cars to get on and off their drives. It's a pain but they are your vehicles and I think your neighbour has a right to be miffed. They've been reasonably polite. Why not park a car there instead of a van. Won't that solve the problem?

YABU i HATE peoples sodding large vans parked -dumped- outside our home, especially when it belongs to someone who has a drive. part it in your own drive so you can stare at it or park it somewhere where someone else doesn't have to look at it ie at the end of a road where they may be ie a wall. they also make it hard getting out of a drive as they block views.

Ok, MNHQ have removed the note, the thread is staying

Can you not park van on driveway and your car by her house ?

I too don't, think she's being passive aggressive...seems anyone saying anything people don't like call it passive aggressive nowadays.

I'm sure your mum doe st want problems with neighbours and is from a generation that would go out of their way to accommodate someone if they can. She's going to be left there after you've moved out remember.

It is at the end of a road and it isn't blocking any driveways

Tradespeople shouldn't park outside their homes? Ive heard it all now. Little Englanders throwing their toys out of the pram cos they have nothing more exciting to do.

What about the thousands of self employed builders, plumbers, carpenters electricians and window cleaners up and down the country? The people we all need from time to time? Where are they supposed to park?

I think Silverbirch is the neighbour.

Oh dear OneMagnum, you really haven't thought about this at all have you? You are being quite daft.

It does sound like your neighbour is being a tad unreasonable; it seems there's nowhere else to park the van without doing actual damage to actual stuff, like to the grass.

A simple apology for causing her upset, but giving a date when you will be moving on so she knows that it's not a permanent thing, and that you are sorry for inconveniencing her - well, really that should be enough. Maybe some wine and flowers when you leave would mollify her better.

*I'm going to go round in a bit and say we will do our best not to park there but on some occasions, it might be necessary in the evenings to park it there on a temp basis.&

But why might it be necessary? You seem to be avoiding questions about why your dh can't park it somewhere else. I get it that he doesn't have to, but is it really too much for him to walk a little further to avoid pissing off your mother's neighbours? After all, she's the one who has to continue living near them.

I don't think it's just about vans being unsightly though, whether they be out the front of another persons house or around the side. Can other vehicles still access neighbour when needed OP? Could that he her gripe? As I've previously said. Our NDN parks a huge works van outside our house and leaves their space free for visiting family and friends. But an ambulance had to park miles out the way (an exaggeration I know) when I was extremely poorly once. I don't drive neither but for ages afterwards when I was feeling particularly shitty. Taxis couldn't even park outside or near my house to collect me.

I do agree with you OP that there's sod all she can do about it and you are legally parked but I honestly don't think the note was being passively aggressive.

There's actually a housing estate (not a posh one either) in our village where all the house deeds state that vans with writing on the side are not allowed to be parked either in the road or even in the drives!

If the neighbour has also complained about other neighbours parking an 'unsightly' caravan on their own drive, I'd be inclined to believe the issue was plain old snobbery exacerbated by people worrying that someone driving or walking past might think the van belonged to her (since it was parked outside her house).