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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Parent from the school opposite parking on my drive

387 replies

LemonJelly76 · 10/12/2021 00:34

I'm not letting on my actual opinion on this, but I am curious to know what others think.

I live opposite a primary school. I knew the school was there when I bought the house. Most days my car is not on my drive because I am at work, but I have on a couple of occasions come home to find a car there.
I haven't approached the parent on these occasions and have just parked elsewhere until they leave

This parent regularly uses the drive (must assume I'm not in) for 10-15 mins each morning and afternoon. There is usually other parking available, but further away

Driveway is a shared drive for 4 cars, I own one of the spaces and there is a Private Parking sign up across all four spaces which was there before I moved in.

YABU - it's fine because you're not using it most of the time
YANBU - they're CFs

OP posts:
Staryflight445 · 10/12/2021 06:19

There’s an app you can use to charge people to use this type of thing.
Perhaps let another CF pay to use the space at those times 😉

Landlubber2019 · 10/12/2021 06:20

As a parent, we regularly receive reminders in the school newsletter reminding parents to be considerate towards neighbors when parking our cars. So I would contact the school.

I remember my mum found the local gym manager was using our home drive every Fri as a secure car park. This person was known to us and was not a friend! So my mum phoned the gym told them they had 10 mins to move the car or steps would be taken to have the car removed as an abandoned vehicle. It was collected and the woman was told in no uncertain terms that should they park on the drive again, there would be no phonecall! She was not known to have used the drive again but apparently all the neighbors had known and thought it strange that she would arrive 10 mins after we had all left. Shock

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 10/12/2021 06:21

I'm wondering if this is a reverse?

lebkuchenforxmas · 10/12/2021 06:25

Tell me more about the parking - can you park in any of the four spots or do you have an allocated spot? Do you know if any of the other people who are ofificially allowed to park there have told her she can use their space and she's in the wrong one?
I'd just speak to her & explain the situation, if she does it again, then bins or cones
When my DC were at primary, I would have been delighted to pay someone £20 or so a month to guarantee a parking spot. I only did pick up twice a week and it was always hideous.

tallduckandhandsome · 10/12/2021 06:30

Nothing to explain about the situation, she just needs to be told not to bloody do it again.

Original poster
LemonJelly76 · 10/12/2021 06:36

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats

I'm wondering if this is a reverse?
🤣 no, definitely not a reverse!

Thank you for all your opinions, going forward I have a few ways to try and address this.

For info, I do have a backbone, as stated repeatedly I wanted others take on it before progressing.
No I don't have to listen to my Dad but he is calm person and I have a tendency to over react and wanted others views to see if I was.

The row of 4 is to the left of my house, my drive is actually in front of my house and clearly belongs to this house

As for the other three they're usually full but it's a possibility she has permission and has got the wrong one.

Thanks everyone for joining in especially overnight ! If I come home again and she's there I will definitely be Having A Word 👍

OP posts:
TeloMere · 10/12/2021 06:37

Why care what anyone else thinks? Let them park or tell them not to, it's up to you.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 10/12/2021 06:54

@LemonJelly76
In which case please accept my apologies for doubting your veracity Grin

saleorbouy · 10/12/2021 06:57

They are being rude and commiting trespass. If they had come and spoken to you first and made an arrangement that's OK but to just assume an empty drive is there answer to parking because they're too lazy to park further away is just unbelievable. I would pack across the front of your drive so that they have to call to get out and then they can make their excuses.
I would also send on the reg and a picture to the school and the council.

Practicebeingpatient · 10/12/2021 07:00

@brushandmop

I have the same issue, everyone that does it, i take their rego plate and send it to the school. It's not the schools problem but they can talk to the council and get people out to ticket. Its also unsafe to have cars coming in and out of driveways when the school run is happening.
The council can't ticket someone parked on a private drive.
muddyford · 10/12/2021 07:02

The first time it happened, you should have left a note. Do that now. Then park behind and go away for a few hours. Rinse and repeat, as MN says.

TopTabby · 10/12/2021 07:04

So rude, I'd get the rage over this!

pilates · 10/12/2021 07:05

Leave a note on the windscreen. Of course it’s unreasonable.

SSOYS · 10/12/2021 07:06

Of course it’s not ok. If you don’t want to talk to the parent yourself, I’d report it to the school. We had a similar issue at our school re selfish parents blocking residents’ drives and the school took it really seriously- they rely on the goodwill of local residents.

Tanfastic · 10/12/2021 07:09

People that do this really piss me off, they are the same entitled arseholes who think it's also ok to take their dog for. Walk and not pick up their shit.

It astonishes me that people think this is ok but so many do 🤔

GoodPrincessWenceslas · 10/12/2021 07:10

@Mothership4two

From DAS Law, Aussiegirl:

If a car is parked on my driveway, can I block them in?

If someone has parked on your driveway and you were to block them in, your vehicle may be causing an obstruction to the public highway and this is a criminal offence. The owner of the vehicle could therefore call the police.

As Alana Morisette would say "isn't it ironic?"

I suspect this would only apply if the car doing the blocking was on the road. If it's also on the driveway I can't see how it would be an offence.
WaterBottle123 · 10/12/2021 07:15

I'd let them use it, if it wasn't affecting me. Who cares?

But I'm very pragmatic.

Idolovetrees · 10/12/2021 07:18

I am a parent who drives to school. I wouldn't dream of doing this. I always try to make sure I'm not parking opposite someone's drive but on it? Unbelievable!

Ionlydomassiveones · 10/12/2021 07:22

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Changemusthappen · 10/12/2021 07:24

The people on this thread saying 'it isn't affecting you, let it go' clearly have never been in this situation. It is affecting the OP, someone is using her property, she could come home early and not be able to park on her drive and that would be very inconvenient.

People are selfish and entitled, this is not ok. In the first instance, I would leave a note requesting that they refrain from parking there, outlining it is private property, they can not then claim they didn't know. If it didn't stop I would then block them in and not answer my door. As a last resort I would install a pengiun bollard.

ChimChimeny · 10/12/2021 07:28

I can't believe no one has mentioned penguin bollards yet! Install one on your drive and put it up every time you go out so the CF can't park there anymore

Hohofortherobbers · 10/12/2021 07:30

I would try and come to a financial agreement, have a look at the 'just park' app for pricing and approach her

Justheretoaskaquestion91 · 10/12/2021 07:30

I have the same issue, everyone that does it, i take their rego plate and send it to the school. It's not the schools problem but they can talk to the council and get people out

What you’re doing is a a huge waste of time. They won’t get tickets for this - for some reason it’s completely allowed to park on someone’s drive and no one can do anything about it! Our school run parking is awful and I wish I was a CF enough to do this 😆

DotBall · 10/12/2021 07:30

I was in exactly the same situation at our last house, came home to find someone parked on my drive (twice, different people).

I just sat behind them with my engine running, blocking their exit. They were both most apologetic when they hurried over with their kids and it only ever happened the two times.

Riverlee · 10/12/2021 07:32

Definitely unreasonable to be parking on your drive. I wonder if the previous house owner allowed her, and she just continued? With there being four car-parking spaces, I also wondered whether it looks like a public car parking area, but from your description, obviously not. Definitely time to have a word or note on her windscreen.