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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

A parking one!

54 replies

qwertyuiop098 · 20/11/2020 16:18

We have recently moved to a terraced house with limited residential permit parking on our street. We have permits but as there is almost never a space on our street we are often forced to park in a street coming off ours where there are no parking restrictions.

We do our best not to park in front of anyone else's house as we appreciate it will be annoying for them. I have a small car and it has had a note left on it requesting that I don't park there in the past. I have responded by letting them know I only parked there as I couldn't in front of my own house, I will do my best not to park there in the future but legally I can park where ever. Since then I've parked elsewhere and it's been fine.

The problem now is that my partner is a mechanical engineer and has been parking his commercial van in a street going along the side of a house - not in front of their front door and they have no windows coming down that side.

He has had a note on his van to say that residents have been turning a blind eye to his parking but now it's been going on too long as there is a covenant in the deeds of the houses on the estate forbidding the parking of commercial vehicles. This is despite at least two white vans being parked outsides people's houses, one for a small gardening business.

I do understand that it's frustrating for people to see a van but what other option does my partner have when we can't park outside our own house? We now don't know whether to ignore it (as it seems online it's unlikely to be enforced) or to respond to the note-writer.

OP posts:
FedUpAtHomeTroels · 20/11/2020 16:30

Is there a covenant in the deeds saying no commercial vehicles can park? If not carry on as you were. Parking is at a premium, just cause your newer then them doesn't mean you can't take a spot when it's available.

lljkk · 20/11/2020 16:32

Ignore the notes until someone can produce a copy of the 'covenant'.

CarlottaValdez · 20/11/2020 16:33

Covenant sounds like bollocks if it’s a public road.

D4rwin · 20/11/2020 16:36

Ignore. Ignore. Ignore.

Sirzy · 20/11/2020 16:37

Ignore them.

You are parking legally. If people don’t want other people parking outside their house then don’t buy a house without off road parking!

Walkerbean16 · 20/11/2020 16:38

We have a covenant that we can't park a commercial vehicle on our drive. That doesn't mean others can't! You haven't signed any contracts.

Nottherealslimshady · 20/11/2020 16:45

He can park on any public road. They're being ridiculous. If you're possessive about your "parking space" then you need to live somewhere with lots of parking available

Laiste · 20/11/2020 16:46

Is he parking on a newish estate? A lot of them do have restrictions on commercial vehicles parking overnight. Perhaps the two white vans which park outside houses belong to the residents of the two houses. Perhaps an allowance is made for vehicles belonging to residents?

It's a tricky one. There may well be something they'll produce in writing.

Laiste · 20/11/2020 16:48

It's something to do with the estate being on private land. The ones which have rules about who parks there.

There was a loong thread about this a few months ago. From the resident's point of view.

rwalker · 20/11/2020 16:49

A few housing estates near use have a covenant about vans they have to be on your drive not sure who enforces them though.

switswooo · 20/11/2020 16:50

He has had a note on his van to say that residents have been turning a blind eye to his parking but now it's been going on too long as there is a covenant in the deeds of the houses on the estate forbidding the parking of commercial vehicles. This is despite at least two white vans being parked outsides people's houses, one for a small gardening business.

YANBU. Sounds like they want to have their cake and eat it too! Why is it ok for them to park their own commercial vehicles there?!

CoffeeRunner · 20/11/2020 16:50

It doesn’t sound like a new build estate - but is it?

There are lots of new builds here with covenants banning the parking of commercial vehicles & caravans/motor homes etc.

If no evidence can be provided, the homeowner is probably just trying it on. I understand nobody wants to look out at a work van all the time - but you say this one isn’t visible from the houses?

PuppyMonkey · 20/11/2020 16:53

Well what are residents of that street supposed to do if they need a tradesperson to come and do something in their house? The covenant means they can’t have them park their van outside? Hmm

wowfudge · 20/11/2020 16:55

It will be the householders who have this covenant on their properties - it can't be enforced against you afaik. Christ, parking in the area is clearly tricky already without these people objecting to someone deigning to park on a street they don't live on. They'd have something to moan about if they were being blocked in, dropped kerb parked over, etc., but really, what a bunch of curtain twitchers.

movingonup20 · 20/11/2020 16:56

We can't park commercial vehicles (or camper vans) on our estate, even on the roads without yellow lines. The roads have not been adopted by the council. They may be correct. Also permit parking where I used to live was strictly no commercial vehicles. Really if you need to park two vehicles, one commercial, you need a proper parking arrangements eg pay for off road parking

CoffeeRunner · 20/11/2020 16:56

@PuppyMonkey

Well what are residents of that street supposed to do if they need a tradesperson to come and do something in their house? The covenant means they can’t have them park their van outside? Hmm
It tends to state parked overnight or similar. Tradespeople visiting is fine.
qwertyuiop098 · 20/11/2020 17:02

We would be happy to but there isn't any paid off road parking nearby.

OP posts:
Ideasplease322 · 20/11/2020 17:03

@D4rwin

Ignore. Ignore. Ignore.
There is actually the same covenant on my driveway- I only remember because the solicitor made a big deal about it.

I would never enforce it

TheTeenageYears · 20/11/2020 17:04

There was a covenant like that in a house we lived in. Can't remember if it just applied to the drive - I have a feeling there might also have been covenants about street parking too. It was a new build area and applied to everywhere on the development which was no where near any other houses so not the same as your situation. If there are no signs up stating no parking then I would ignore - you haven't signed anything so it's not your issue.

Whoknowswhenlockdownwillend · 20/11/2020 17:14

Don’t engage in any way with these people until you actually see some documentation saying his van can’t be parked there.

Just don’t ever feed the parking monster.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 20/11/2020 17:26

I don't believe a convent that they may have agreed to could be applied to a third party.

Assuming it is not a private road then any one could park there.

Your partner could consider having a 'company' sign made for his van (you can get magnetic ones) that says something like 'Alcock & Bow Locks' for when he parks there.

(I wonder what they do when a tradesmen or delivery vans needs to stop there...)

RB68 · 20/11/2020 17:26

if the road is adopted by the council the covenant would not apply to anyone not living on that street as the covenant would be on the houses and their driveways. If its not adopted its effectively private land HOWEVER the hoops they would have to go through to stop you could be ridiculous so the main impact s if he is say a local electrician working for a local firm and they get bad rep for it. Park it at work and find his own way home is the answer there

MotherExtraordinaire · 20/11/2020 17:30

The covenant isn't your issue as you're not a home owner there and given there's no legal restrictions, it's irrelevant.

Moistmolly · 20/11/2020 17:34

It's often easier for an aggrieved party to kick up a fuss with the company that owns the van, than enforce any covenant.

How sympathetic is his boss, and will his boss back him up?

ImNotCutOutForThis · 20/11/2020 17:37

Tell them you want to see the deeds or they can report it. Which they will get no where.