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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Another parking one

34 replies

NancyCarolinesHeadtorch · 01/05/2017 05:09

Possibly am being U...

I've had terrible trouble since December trying to get a parking permit for my street. There is a waiting list and 'multiple occupancy buildings' (which appears to mean older buildings converted into flats) are being limited. I don't know why.

Anyway. I've been juggling parking when I'm at home, moving the car around during restricted parking times and sometimes using the pay and display. One day I was driving up and down the 2 nearest streets looking for somewhere to park when a man waved me into a parking area behind some flats and told me that as it's residents and visitors (signs up stating this) and that the residents only park at one end, I could park there when I had nowhere else to go.

This area us behind a large house converted into flats. There are- I think- 5 or 5 flats in the house. The end nearest the house is concreted and flat. The bit I park on is rough and muddy with lots of weeds. Plus is under trees so my car is covered in bird poo. There are only ever cars on the concrete bit and I am not blocking anyone in.

A few days ago a woman called to me from an upper floor window saying I couldn't park there as it's residents only. I said I'd been given permission. She said that's not the case as she owns her flag and 'downstairs' does too. I repeated that I'd been given permission and wasn't prepared to argue through a window. I went to walk off and said I'd ve leaving the car for now until I'd hopefylly spoken to the man who said I could park there. She said she'd call the police. I told her I doubted they'd be interested. She called me a cheeky bitch. I left.

I got home and felt awful. I didn't mean to be rude. I was having a tough day, but that wasn't her problem. I went back to apologise and explain about the man but there were a few doorbells and I couldn't figure out where she was.

So... I've carried on parking there for now and have heard no more. I genuinely don't feel that it's affecting anyone- no one ever parks at that end and there is plenty of room if there are other visitors (at least 3 more spaces). Plus I was given permission by someone who presumably lives there (I didn't ask, but surely he must!) And as the signs state 'residents and visitors' I counted myself as his visitor.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Ifailed · 01/05/2017 06:09

you are neither resident or visitor, so shouldn't be parking there.

CasperGutman · 01/05/2017 06:18

YABU. That's not what a "visitor" is.

And in any case he may just be another chancer who abusing the parking area!

luckylucky24 · 01/05/2017 06:19

If you are taking up an actual parking space then yabu as you are not entitled to the space. If it a grass verge then I don't see an issue.
That's not to say that I wouldn't do the same after being given permission.

FrancisCrawford · 01/05/2017 07:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LedaP · 01/05/2017 07:05

You dont know who that man is.

He, probably, cant give you permission to park there

You say he said 'when you cant park anywhere else' but are using it regularly.

Those parking spaces arent for you. You are neither a resident or a visitor to that building.

Its fairly obvious that yabu.

SkafaceClaw · 01/05/2017 07:25

Yabu.

We live in a block near a school and people think it's ok to park in our communal area. I understand the lady's frustration.

What happens when the guy tells other people it's ok to park down there as 'visitors'?

You know it's not on - Why keep doing it?

Ginmakesitallok · 01/05/2017 07:27

Some random bloke told you you could park there and you think that means you have permission?? YABU

CasperGutman · 01/05/2017 07:29

If it a grass verge then I don't see an issue.
Seriously? If you lived in a house converted into a couple of flats you wouldn't have a problem with random people from the neighbourhood parking on grasses areas of the private (albeit shared) land?

How about if you lived in a house? Would you mind people parking on that grassy bit next to your parking area? "Lawn" is what I think some people call it....

DontTouchTheMoustache · 01/05/2017 07:30

You say you are not blocking anyone in but are you making it difficult for them to manoeuvre? There are so many cars parked around my street that I find it very difficult to get my car out in the mornings and to reverse in in the evenings. Nobody is blocking me in but they do make my life more difficult so perhaps.this is why the woman is getting annoyed? This man that "gave you permission", unless he owned the property is don't see how he can give you permission?

fassbendersmistress · 01/05/2017 07:32

a man waved me into the parking area

Was his name Nicolas?

Sorry but that's not 'permission' and the flat owner has every right to object. It's a shame you are having such difficulty but surely you knew about the compromised parking situation when you moved in? I think you have to just keep hassling the council for a permit and suck up the inconvenience in the meantime.

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 01/05/2017 07:39

Yes I'm sorry because you sound very nice but I think YABU.

Louiselouie0890 · 01/05/2017 09:47

Yabu you are neither a resident or a visitor. I find it strange you would just take a strangers word as permission. I'd probably find it even more annoying that your were parking somewhere that wasn't actually a space

RainbowPastel · 01/05/2017 10:03

It's not his place to allow you to park there. You aren't a resident or a visitor. It's private property by the sounds of it.

NellieFiveBellies · 01/05/2017 10:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PeaFaceMcgee · 01/05/2017 10:09

YABU. You're not remotely the man's visitor in any sense. I get your frustration though. But if others in your position did the same, those residents would have no space for their visitors.

Solina · 01/05/2017 10:24

I think yanbu. We used to live in a flat with plenty of free parking spaces. Most of the time only half of them were taken up but during football suddenly 3/4 of all the spaces were full. We didnt care. I think as long as you are not taking space from someone who lives there and their visitors (you say there are plenty of free ones) I dont feel it matters at all. People in this country are so precious when it comes to parking spaces even if no one is using the spaces.

harderandharder2breathe · 01/05/2017 10:30

Yabu

You're not a resident or a visitor so you shouldn't be parking thete

MidniteScribbler · 01/05/2017 10:49

Dear god, no one can be this dense, surely?

apotheke · 01/05/2017 10:55

YABU and you clearly know this.

The mistake you made though is parking there all the time. My interpretation of your story is that the man took pity on you circling for ages that one time and told you to use the space as an occasional last resort.

If you had just stuck to that and only used it when there was literally no other option after circling, there's a good change that the woman resident wouldn't have noticed your car, no harm done to anyone and you have a good, last resort, back up. Now you can't park there ever again as she is 100% in the right.

Rossigigi · 01/05/2017 11:23

Sorry but you are being unreasonable you don't live there so can't park there no matter what a stranger told you.

Northgate · 01/05/2017 11:41

Agree that YABU, as you're neither a resident or a visitor.

The man who said you could park there, even if he is a resident, doesn't have the authority to give you permission to park there whenever you like. He doesn't have the authority to speak for every resident. Plus "at least 3 more spaces" isn't exactly "plenty". What if each of the 5 flats has one visitor each trying to park at the same time?

Guavaf1sh · 01/05/2017 11:56

Agree with all the YABUs

barefoofdoctor · 01/05/2017 12:16

Nicolas! Fassbendersmistress Ha!

RubixCircle · 01/05/2017 12:17

I live in a block of flats with 6 flats inside. Each flat only has one designated parking space out back. No other parking at all as out front is yellow lines and surrounding roads permits only. I live alone and do no have a car but my boyfriend does and he visits often. All other flats have multiple people and multiple cars.
I once took pity on the guy next door as I was on my way out and he was reversing back out as his (wife, friend or someone) was already in his space. I told him if he wanted he could park in my space today as I was out and didn't need it. He said thanks and I thought all good.
Suddenly, on an almost daily basis I had all different cars parked there, being left overnight and for days on end etc. I knocked on their door and no response. Put polite notes on their cars that disappeared but cars never moved. My boyfriend had to park a 15 min walk away when he came round.
Eventually I happened to catch someone parking there and the guy said he was just a friend of the people next door and he'd been told he could park there by the man. I told him to move it immediately as it was my space and I needed it later for my boyfriend. He kept insisting he had permission but it was my space! Anyway he eventually moved the car and I put a note through the door and told them no one can park there again now. Thankfully no one has.
So even though you think you have permission it could be you were given permission for a one off but are now taking the piss a bit.

Ifailed · 01/05/2017 13:19

People in this country are so precious when it comes to parking spaces

They are at a premium because there are too many cars on the road, and also because we have to pay for them, either through a raised rent if parking comes with a home, or at purchase.