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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

car parked outside my house for weeks

190 replies

Ceci03 · 13/09/2021 22:09

I know I know, there's nothing that can be done, it's a so-called public road, although it's a very small little cul de sac estate. It's right outside my house, where I would park. There are 3 spaces. this car is in the one nearest to me. I live beside a school so it's manic twice a day and I often cant get a space when I get back from dropping ds so end up parking round the corner then moving my car when it calms down again. He's taking up a precious space for school mums too. Just having a moan I suppose. I checked and it is taxed so police wont do anything. I just wouldnt have the nerve to park right outside someone's house for weeks on end. Apparently he lives round the corner and it's been going on for years. Different neighbours have asked him not to but he's said h'es not breaking any laws. Trouble is there are only 3 spaces, and the rest of the cul de sac is no parking 8-9.30 and 3-5pm so if you have a workman in, or visitors there's one less spare space for them.

OP posts:
Twolostsoulsswimminginafishbow · 14/09/2021 11:25

There’s a car parked outside my house now. Apparently he’s lost the only set of keys he had and it’s currently been in situ for around six weeks. I’m ill, ill enough I have blue badges and it’s so frustrating that the way he’s parked (and with it being an estate car) it’s taking up three spaces. There’s not quite enough room to fit a car either side of his due to dropped kerbs. I’ve never considered it before but I’m seriously thinking about getting a disabled bay put in outside my house now because it might only be an extra twenty metres to my gate but it means I don’t go out as I struggle to and from my car. I know right now there’s nothing I can do but it does piss me off.

SirChenjins · 14/09/2021 11:30

@Macncheeseballs

Perhaps it's more entitled to own a car you never bloody drive, what's the point of him owning one, its just a big ugly block of metal dumped outside someone's house
I completely agree. If I ruled the world I’d make it that unless you were able to show proof that you drove your vehicle in and out of shared spaces for the majority of the year (or couldn’t due to ill health) you wouldn’t be able to assume that shared space for your own personal use.
Firingpingpongs · 14/09/2021 11:33

Had this recently. Though legitimately parked it meant we struggled to get our van in and out of the drive. I put a polite wee note on the car, a few days later it was moved and the polite wee notice was put through my letter box with an equally polite wee notice apologising. Not everyone is an asshole about parking.

19lottie82 · 14/09/2021 11:37

I’m pretty shocked at all the people who suggest and / or condone vandalising the car. Wow.

Especially in comparison to thread where someone hasn’t been charged for an item in shop for example, and don’t realise until they get home…… 80% of posters hare happy to shout THIEF!!!

Wow morals on MN are fucked up 😂

tinylittlepiggy · 14/09/2021 11:38

So where does everyone who is annoyed at not being able to park outside thier own home / in thier own road park when these spaces are taken ???

tinylittlepiggy · 14/09/2021 11:40

*Their obvs!

LolaButt · 14/09/2021 11:40

There should be a difference between normal car parking on the road and storing a vehicle on the road.

I don’t know how that would be tracked etc but I still think there should be a difference and long term storage on a public road shouldn’t be allowed without a very expensive permit.

LlamasintheFog · 14/09/2021 11:41

I do think the fact this guy is running a business from his house changes, if not the law, certainly the morals of it quite a lot. We had a guy locally who was parking around 20 cars at different spots around the village, often near to junctions, as he was too tight to rent land as a forecourt. He was basically shamed enough via the local Facebook page into renting some land. Clearly many won't care but having your name openly mud among hundreds of your neighbours would stress a lot of people out enough to stop.

Ifailed · 14/09/2021 11:46

OP, if you wanted a place with a designated parking space why not rent one?

queenatom · 14/09/2021 11:47

I can count on both hands the number of times I've successfully parked outside my own house. About 5% of the houses round here have driveways and I'd be prepared to bet that at least some houses have more than one car so it's a total bunfight to get parked most days.

You don't own the road outside your home, it's annoying I'm sure but unless there are restrictions which he's in breach of I think you just need to live with it.

Booknooks · 14/09/2021 11:51

@Ifailed

OP, if you wanted a place with a designated parking space why not rent one?
Ah yes, everyone can afford to/has the means to do this. Silly OP, can't believe you didn't think of this yourself.
SirChenjins · 14/09/2021 11:55

@Ifailed

OP, if you wanted a place with a designated parking space why not rent one?
Perhaps the person who has assumed a public parking space for their own private use for weeks on end without moving their car should rent one - and leave the public spaces for public use.
Droite · 14/09/2021 12:05

How clear is the evidence that he is running a business from his home? If it is clear then it could well be taking that issue up with the council, given that he's using council-maintained roads in a residential area for the purposes of his business.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 14/09/2021 12:07

YANBU to be annoyed. It IS annoying. My Dad has a similar situation to you - lives next door to a school, has a space outside his house which he likes to use. New neighbours across the road use his space whenever they get the chance. He has a driveway but he's late 80s now, it's more of a risk for him to get into it than it used to be, and it often has another car parked on it (family car). He gets very upset when he can't park in what he sees as "his" space outside his house, but as you've found out, there's nothing he can do.

To be fair, it's not going to be a problem much longer for him, as he's not going to be fit to drive for much longer either - so his car will be on the drive. He'll still be annoyed by it though!

Dguu6u · 14/09/2021 12:10

Perhaps report as an abandoned car at your council or on fixmystreet website

Under certain circumstances it’s also illegal to park cars for sale on a road www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/158365/can-a-car-trader-park-his-cars-all-over-our-residential-road-

StarryStarrySocks · 14/09/2021 12:12

How annoying. Get a Sharpie and write "move your bloody car you selfish twat" (or the phrase of your choice) across the windscreen.

Planty13 · 14/09/2021 12:16

@scarpa how embarrassing for you Hmm people are allowed to be annoyed at things that inconvenience them even if they do accept its legal and allowed

Whammyyammy · 14/09/2021 12:19

@StarryStarrySocks

How annoying. Get a Sharpie and write "move your bloody car you selfish twat" (or the phrase of your choice) across the windscreen.
How is legally parking a car on a PUBLIC road anyway selfish? Wheb you visit family or friends in other areas, do you park on public roads in residential areas? Of course you do. So somewhat hypocritical
WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 14/09/2021 12:25

I do. I'm not allowed to park on my road for more than 20 mins so I park down the side street. I can easily go a couple of weeks without using my car as I cycle most places. I'm not in the slightest bit mortified, why would I be? It's a public road.

This was exactly me for a couple of years when I was at uni. Didn't need to drive very much, but I lived on a major road with no parking allowed. I was even moved on by the police one evening when unloading a sofa from the car, although the pub across the road was allowed to have their massive delivery lorries parked there for hours with not a word ever said.

So many people without drives but with public parking nearby outside will call those who do have drives selfish for not using them (or for having more vehicles than will fit on them), as they seem to think that the public spaces near their homes are morally theirs; but then, when you raise the point of people who live in houses/flats with no parking at all allowed anywhere near, they will often shrug and say 'I don't care - not my problem'.

The common consensus seems to be that, if you buy/rent on a road with double yellows, it's just tough and you should have moved somewhere with parking; but if you also don't have a drive but happen to have free public spaces outside your house, they're morally for your use only.

Wilkolampshade · 14/09/2021 12:25

@Dguu6u is exactly right and has posted useful links OP, try them!
We have just had a car removed from outside our house, on a public road, in good condition, taxed and MOT'd, local parking permit in date. I reported it to the council who stuck a removal notice on it within 48 hrs and it was gone a wekk or two later.
Whether the owner was contacted or not, or if there even was a registered owner, I just don't know...
Try your local council first. Search for '(local council) abandoned vehicle'....

mrsm43s · 14/09/2021 12:30

@Ceci03

I mean, really, how many of you would have the balls to park directly outside a person's house for weeks and weeks? Me, I'd be morto, even if it is 'legal'.
I would have no qualms about legally parking in an on-street parking space if I needed to do so. I would not be "morto" about it, why on earth would I?

I would, however, be "morto" about buying or renting a property with insufficient parking for my needs and then expecting other people to inconvenience themselves in order to accommodate my decision to do so. So selfish!

If you want guaranteed parking outside your house, pay for a property with sufficient private parking for your needs. If you do not wish to do this or are unable to, you must accept that you park in the nearest available space, and you do not have any priority whatsoever for the spaces close to your house. To expect to be given priority for public spaces is CFery.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 14/09/2021 12:37

Wilkolampshade

How on earth did that happen, then? Did the owner receive a rebate on their VED, if they were singled out and denied the standard right that all other vehicle owners are permitted?

Sounds like plain old bullying to me - and rather entitled on your part. For environmental reasons, I would have thought we wanted to encourage people not to use cars all the time for unnecessary journeys.

LittleMysSister · 14/09/2021 12:53

How is legally parking a car on a PUBLIC road anyway selfish? Wheb you visit family or friends in other areas, do you park on public roads in residential areas? Of course you do. So somewhat hypocritical

Come on, you must see there's a difference between dumping an unused car for weeks in a small cul-de-sac with only three available spaces and parking in a public road for a limited time when you visit a friend or relative?!?!!!

LittleMysSister · 14/09/2021 12:57

I would, however, be "morto" about buying or renting a property with insufficient parking for my needs and then expecting other people to inconvenience themselves in order to accommodate my decision to do so. So selfish!

Do you really believe this?? Someone with a massive house and driveway, with multiple cars, is permanently taking up one of only 3 parking spaces in a small residential cul-de-sac where they don't even live, and it's OP who's out of order?

mrsm43s · 14/09/2021 13:04

@LittleMysSister

I would, however, be "morto" about buying or renting a property with insufficient parking for my needs and then expecting other people to inconvenience themselves in order to accommodate my decision to do so. So selfish!

Do you really believe this?? Someone with a massive house and driveway, with multiple cars, is permanently taking up one of only 3 parking spaces in a small residential cul-de-sac where they don't even live, and it's OP who's out of order?

Yes.

On road spaces are first come, first served. Simple as that.

If you want a reserved space, you need to get a property with sufficient parking for your needs. You cannot take a property with insufficient parking, and then try to dictate who may or may not park in the on road spaces and for how long, as if you own them.