It's a parking one!

[Liverbird77]

Get the popcorn out and settle in, ladies!
Right.. We have recently started renting a house. Every house has an allocated parking space. This is in a small sort-of car park, accessed from the road, which is at the end of a cul de sac. The issue is, one of the neighbours has a second car and parks it by the wall of the car park, directly in front of our space. Their allocated space is next to ours, and someone else has a space on the other side. The presence of this car is making it impossible for me to reverse in. Husband can but has to go very slowly. I think they are cheeky fuckers and the car should be moved. We risk pranging it when we drive in. My argument is that if you want two cars, live in a place with two spaces or park on the street (several streets over). My husband is more sympathetic. Thoughts please?

How do you drive in to the car park itself, op? It looks like it would be easier driving straight in, right to the back, then reverse into your space. You may have to go forward again but there's plenty of room by the fence for you to do that (from the photo anyway).

I'm a rubbish parker so I'd be screwed. I'd ask them to move it every single time. They'll soon take the hint.

Have you ever mentioned that its problem? They may not actually realise. Does it affect anyone else who might join forces with you?

Looks to me like it’s a problem for the other two who use that car park as well. It’s in everyone’s way.

Think you have to speak to them first, nicely. And then see what they say.

I'm not great myself at reversing but if you drive up to the brown fence, lock fully to the right, parallel and about a foot and a half away from the parked cars, you should be able to reverse into your space easy enough. Having said that, if you are not comfortable, then you are not being unreasonable in assuming your space that is yours should not have an accessibility problem because someone parks in an undesignated parking space. My neighbours do this to their across the road neighbours. We are in a cul de sac, they park on the road outside their house. The road is narrow. They have a driveway, they powerwash once a week and are very very anal about the front of their house, I think they don't want to dirty their drive by putting the car in it. The other poor sods have to do a less than easy reverse out of the drive each and everyday.

I think the best solution is to ask them to swap spaces, say you are afraid you will hit their car and let them negotiate their own car everyday

If I were the red car driver it wouldn’t have crossed my mind that it would be difficult for you to park. 😔 There looks like there is lots of room, however you are making it an awful lot more difficult by driving in front first. It would be much easier and safer to always reverse in. I get that your car doesn’t have great visibility but even so...

However, there is no harm in asking for there help. Perhaps if they made sure that the car parked alongside you is parked as far to the left as possible that would help.

Their not there

I used to park in a space that had concrete walls at the back and both sides and was only 6 inches wider than the car. As no doors could be opened once parked I’d reverse in with my tail gate open and climb out of the boot. I’ve also been driving 23 years now, but that was when I was in my early 20s.

So from that perspective YABVU for not being able to get your normal car reversed into that space. You’re being more U for having a white car in the UK, a convertible and a Saab.

Buy a banger to park in your space and do your best to not avoid bumping into it every time you park.

I wouldnt have any problem getting in or out of your space but tbh I never drive in, always reverse.

There’s more comments on here telling Liverbird77 how they could easily park in that space and there’s bags of room.........how very very helpful/Braggy. I bloody bet when all of the cars are there you couldn’t but I’m sure you all get a frisson of superiority for telling us all about your superior driving skills.

I would knock on their door and ask for their phone numbers.
Then , every time I came in and the cars were there I would phone them to move their car....or sit with my hand on the horn.....or maybe ask to swap spaces.

I would certainly be contacting the management company/landlord to see what they can do.
I would have to do everything I could to sort this because I know that one day I would come home, loose my rag and deliberately bash their car with - my car/a conveniently placed wheelie bin/ my massive handbag/ or if the bastard cf neighbour was there, then their face.

Issues like this drive you mad. I’ve got a ‘ people walking over my drive’ issue ATM ( which I did post about, with diagram!) which will be sorted ( thanks to advice from the superb women on here) as soon as spring comes!!

I could get in and out of that space without too much bother - but frankly I’d want to be able to do it without any bother if the person causing me to concentrate had no right to be there in the first place. The question is what kind of relationship do you want with the owner of the red car? I’d proceed accordingly.

@TittyGolightly OP didn't ask about her style of car and your extreme prowess at parking in a concrete box. More fool you for not complaining about a parking space where you can't open your doors

OP didn't ask about her style of car and your extreme prowess at parking in a concrete box. More fool you for not complaining about a parking space where you can't open your doors

It was at work. Car park very over subscribed and run on a first come first served basis. I didn’t want to have to get up at 6am to get a parking space. This one was guaranteed to be free even if I arrived at 9:55am.

You are not wrong at all OP! That's very awkward and certainly out of order by the neighbours. Could a polite letter from all the car park users be arranged?

No update op? Please come back. Some of us have a very sad life and live for mumsnet parking threads. just me then?

Yes, I used to live somewhere where this kind of parking occured.

I had a 20 year old car. I didn't mind the scratches and dings at all.....

I'm dying to know if the pp who thought they're her neighbour really is...

Get double lines put on.
It’s obvious you cannot swing out in reverse when boxed in by other cars and with insufficient room to back out fully.

Arghhhh OP I completely sympathise with you! I would let them know that they can't park there!!! Having a similar situation where I live in a house with 4 flats - everyone has their own garage and a space in front of the garage. One flat has decided that their two cards both have to be parked outside, completely blocking the path to my front door. So far I am just heavily pregnant, so have to really squeeze so as not to walk on the grass, but once I have a buggy to push I will be telling them in no uncertain terms they need to move as I don't want my buggy churning up the grass/mud in the flat! Some people are not very considerate!

It’s obvious you cannot swing out in reverse

Which is why she needs to reverse in.

Not sure why you're struggling to reverse into that space, I think a little practice with getting the angles right and you will be fine op.

Pria, why should she?! It's not one of the allocated spaces and they should not be parking there.

There’s nothing to stop them parking there though. Legally it’s fine!

Yes they are an absolute pain. It’s not a big enough car park to do what they are doing.
in tricky situations like this I reverse into the carpark so you need less of a swing. Not that you should have to but it might help