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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want my neighbour to stop parking in my spot

423 replies

KangarooAtTheZoo · 25/08/2020 14:46

I have an allocated parking spot in a cul de sac. It's on the deeds to the house and we have the freehold so we own the parking spot. We don't own a car but we use the spot for visitors alot. A neighbour has started parking in our spot every day even though they have 2 spots and there are communal spots (his household have at least 3 cars I think). It started in the lockdown as we had no guests. I have left notes on the car and asked them not to park in our spot because our guests can't use it and it's blocking access for me to get my pram out when there is a car parked there (there is narrow paths and bushes either side). When I have confronted him he says just ask him to move his car when you have guests. But the last two times we had guests he didn't answer the door so my guests couldn't park there. And why should I be inconvienced by him parking on our property.
What options are left now? I assume police and council can't do anything? There is a property management company that manages the communal area because some people own half the property and pay half rent to this company but I assume because we own the freehold they can't do anything? Can I put a parking bollard on my spot? I'm also worried if it goes on for to long they can claim rights to the parking spot. Thanks for any advice

OP posts:
HyaluronicHippo · 25/08/2020 17:55

What did your sign say op?

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 25/08/2020 17:57

I think renting it out is a great idea OP. Particularly if you’re near somewhere with footfall - eg station. You could then block it out for the days that your guests come

You'd still need a bollard, though. Otherwise, you'd never have your own drive as it would always be occupied by legitimate paying customers on the days when you don't need it and by CF neighbour on the days when you do.

Plus, on the days you were renting it out, he would no doubt get there first and you'd have angry customers not being able to park where they'd agreed and paid to do so.

im5050 · 25/08/2020 17:58

Can you get a chain and a bolt the sort that has two pieces the long bolt and the u shaped big
Drill the u shaped bit into the ground then put the chain through the u shaped bit and attach to your wheelie bin with a padlock
A bolt would only cost a tenner from B&Q
This way he won’t be able to remove your wheelie bin

Ticketybooboo · 25/08/2020 18:01

Way over invested in this and have just been browsing Barriers Direct www.barriersdirect.co.uk/, thinking an arm barrier would be awesome. But seriously, get a bollard and try somewhere like Nextdoor (if you can stomach it) for some installation quotes. Good luck.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 25/08/2020 18:02

Moreover, although it could thwart CF neighbour and earn you some money, it does also then take away your spontaneity to use your own drive, if a friend or family member calls and asks if it's convenient for them to pop over today for a visit - you'd have to plan quite some time ahead.

Pobblebonk · 25/08/2020 18:02

Also if they try to ram the bollard with their car and damage their car and bollard are they liable?

Yes, they would be, if they damage the bollard and if you can prove they were responsible. You certainly wouldn't be liable for damage to their car.

occa · 25/08/2020 18:07

If it's brick you should be able to set a bollard by yourself without too much trouble. Extract a couple of bricks with a chisel or angle grinder then get some quick-set concrete and you're away.

But as someone upthread said, paying to get it installed is an absolute bargain compared to having to sell your house without the parking space or getting a solicitor involved or having to disclose a neighbour dispute if you're selling.

Atalune · 25/08/2020 18:10

If wheel 2 very heavy bins behind his car and block him in. And I wouldn’t answer the door until I’d properly pissed him off.

There was an old thread on here and someone blocked a guy in, a builder I think and then her dad had to come over. It was glorious. The builder couldn’t get off site and he was FURIOUS.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 25/08/2020 18:12

Also if they try to ram the bollard with their car and damage their car and bollard are they liable?

Yes, they would be, if they damage the bollard and if you can prove they were responsible. You certainly wouldn't be liable for damage to their car.

They certainly couldn't claim that you were to blame (or liable) for them damaging their own car, any more than they could if they drove into your wall or tree. It would hardly be difficult to prove who the culprit was, if the neighbour a few doors down had a big, nasty dent in the front of their car the exact same shape as your bollard!

I doubt he would try to ram it, though. I'm sure he would mutter and complain to anybody who would listen how 'selfish' and 'unneighbourly' you were, but he wouldn't persist with it - he's looking to make his own life easier, not more complicated.

perfumeistooexpensive · 25/08/2020 18:14

I've stuck my house number on my space with no more nails type stuff. At least it gets the point across to the CFs in my area. I don't live where anyone would pay to park but if I did I join one of those schemes for renting out my space and invoice people for using it.

UnfinishedSymphon · 25/08/2020 18:17

Why are people suggesting that OP rent out the space, she's trying to stop people parking in her not encouraging it

Somanysocks · 25/08/2020 18:19

Well he knows he shouldn't park there so let his tyres down every time he does, it won't cost you anything and will annoy him enough to maybe stop.

minnieok · 25/08/2020 18:19

Double check your deeds our new house comes with reserved parking but the parking space is leasehold meaning that you would not be able to put in a bollard without permission but also it's their responsibility to take the cheeky neighbour to task!

Tara336 · 25/08/2020 18:19

I had problems with people using my allocated parking space (I own the freehold) we stuck a private parking sign up and that seemed to cure it. However, I had suspected a neighbours parents were being CF and using my space when I was out, that was confirmed when I hadn’t parked in my space and was weeding my parking space with the garden waste bin in my space, CF couldn’t see me as cars we’re in the way and they went to swing into my space, they had to break sharply so as not to hit my bin and then face the embarrassment of being caught in the act (they were very embarrassed) they’ve never don’t it since 😂

Hippee · 25/08/2020 18:20

My friend had a space that was regularly parked in. She was able to put a sign up saying that the charge for parking in the space was £75 and she has legally claimed it a few times until people got the message.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 25/08/2020 18:20

@ohflourofscotland

It would be a shame if you accidentally spilled some nails that happened to fall so they were standing up and they happened to go into his tyres. So clumsy OP 🙊
Caltrops.

OP needs caltrops.

Not sure if they've been manufactured since he 1th century, but you never know . . .

SmellsLikeFeet · 25/08/2020 18:25

@KaptainKaveman

People are so CF-ish! why on earth can't they just stop parking on spaces that aren't theirs???

There was a terrific pic in the paper the other day of a wrongly parked car that was wrapped up in acres of cellophane by the irate space owner, OP could try that?

That was part of a prank It's on YouTube
unlikelytobe · 25/08/2020 18:39

I have an idea! How about an inflatable life size car which is secured to the ground and can be deployed from your home - up, down, up.... your guests can park on top of it but a sensor detects CF coming and up it pops like a bouncy castle.

Off to Dragon's Den now.Grin

Nat6999 · 25/08/2020 18:41

Buy a locking post from any shop that sells security stuff, have the receiver concreted in, then all you do is drop the post in & padlock it in.

Ishihtzuknot · 25/08/2020 18:46

I had this set up at my old house and everyone took turns using my spot for their second car or visitors because I didn’t drive. It drove me completely mad (no pun intended). I had friends block them in even though it inconvenienced people opposite, they got angry with the person in my spot. I eventually put heavy plant pots and rocks in my spot until I moved.
It’s the principle at the end of the day, they know you own it and they’re being CF for thinking they’re entitled to use it. Have a friend park in their spot when they go out, no one will know who owns the car and it might make him think twice about taking the piss in future. Or print up a fake solicitor letter and post it, it might be enough to scare them Grin

MintyChops · 25/08/2020 18:47

Has the utterly cheeky, self-important little bollocks come home yet OP? Please don’t let hm get away with this. “Ask him to move his car”? Fuck off, cheeky fuck-knuckle.

AcrossthePond55 · 25/08/2020 18:50

@SchadenfreudePersonified

I was thinking along the lines of a spike strip, but caltrops is even better!!!

@KangarooAtTheZoo Draw up a rental contract at £50 per day with a liability waiver and a 2 hour 'move your car we have company coming' notice and take it round for him to sign. 6 months payable in advance, of course.

ulanbatorismynextstop · 25/08/2020 18:56

He is taking liberties and disrespecting you. I suggest cheapest to most expensive approach, first ask them politely not to use your space again, secondly put up a sign saying private property, no parking, thirdly put cones up, fourthly apply to be able to fine people and put a wheel lock on their car only removing on receipt of payment. If that all fails get a proper bollard installed. Make sure you have appropriate signage up and maybe get a camera installed in case there's an altercation.

Dear me, some people are so rude, it's your private property!

Skinnydecafflatte · 25/08/2020 19:01

Can I just ask how come we’ve got this far into a parking thread and no-one has asked for a diagram?? I thought that was the law with these kind of threads?!!!

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