It’s a Parking One…

[ifherbumwereabungalow]

Apologies in an advance, long term lurker, very infrequent poster. I am also peri-menopausal as all hell and seem to be permanently simmering with rage.

Image shows deeds to our house. The red line encompasses our property line which extends the same width as our drive around the back of the fence at the rear of our property. Our neighbour has started parking within the area, overnight yesterday and tonight. We’ve fallen out with another neighbour whose son started parking there regularly, even though we sent a very polite note saying that we didn’t mind occasionally but could he please ask first.

Neighbour who has now started parking there is in a slight huff with me because she had parked a hire van in such a way as it blocked me entering the parking area and I had to ask her to move it, hence the sudden choosing to park within the space. We only have one car nowadays due to us both working from home so the area only really gets used when we have visitors.

I would like to ask her politely not to use the space without checking with us first but, as stated, we have been burned by doing this before. We are very polite, quiet and considerate neighbours but I feel like this means people think they can walk all over us.

Can anyone suggest a way of wording a note that is polite but firm? I am aware that this is a non-event is the wider scheme of things but it’s really winding me up!

How would they know it's your property ? Is it grass or paved ?

You need to park there. She isn't likely to park on your drive

Absolutely understand and I am normally more than happy to tackle stuff face to face but with my current mood fluctuations I am concerned that I will unnecessarily lose my cool or burst into tears.

In answer to another poster she does have her own spot but each of the smaller houses only has one designated spot and they have two cars.

I think the suggestion of speaking to the management company and also maybe getting one of those signs might be the way to go. Thanks to all who have contributed, if you could all assure me that this level of permanent rage is perfectly normal for women in their 40s I might even be able to give myself a stern talking to and then chill the fuck out!

@ifherbumwereabungalow the deeds should reference the dotted area and state any restrictions e.g. joint responsibility for maintenance.

I would also try and get a copy of the Land Registry plan and register. www.gov.uk/get-information-about-property-and-land/copies-of-deeds

The register should set out any rights/restrictions over that section of your property.

I would guess you own the land but others have a right to pass over the land. In which case your neighbour can’t park there.

HTH

What do your deeds - and neighbours deeds say about it? Likely they have access over it to reach other parts of the parking area. Important to know what it says they and you can and cannot do. Are you even allowed to park on it?
Is the rest of the parking area also formed of parts of other peoples gardens/drives?

@ifherbumwereabungalow yes all totally normal Im afraid. I find my rage getting a bit better now thank god.

It will be an offence to clamp, tow, block-in or immobilise a vehicle without lawful authority on private land under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.

Park there yourself? For a bit anyway, till she stops.

Or, every time she does it, go and say you need the space and can she move.

Or, paint cross hatchings on it.

Or, put up a sign saying "no parking".

Or, all of the above.

They have access directly in to the parking area and their garage/parking bay from their back gate without needing to cross the area marked within our title deeds. I will definitely take a closer look at ours as well to see if there are any restrictions.

I feel like the Incredible Hulk 24/7 at the moment so the sooner it passes the better!

If we're allowed to suggest breaking the law, then OP should just murder her. Alternatively, we could suggest solutions that remain within the boundaries of the law.

I'm not going to murder anyone but I may unleash the killer 'look' that I inherited from my mum.

I would just either write her a note or speak to her and say 'I am happy to discuss whether it is convenient for you to use the parking space behind my house whenever you feel you need to, but need to you ask each time in case we need it at that time, or if it will block us in.'

Can't you move your fence to your boundary? Might that help?

Start parking in the spot where she usually does whilst you calm down, check things out and think through a long term solution?

It's all paved beyond the fence I'm afraid.

Yes, I think I might do that while at the same time encouraging the teenager to pass his driving test and buy himself a car to fill the spot.

Do you need a delivery of any sand / skip / compost?!
would be a good time to have it delivered there

Can you paint some cross hatching on the paved area to denote it's not open parking?

could you ask the local rugby team to move her car? (happy to help with your bingo card)

great diagram by the way

The area being in your deeds does not mean they don't have a right to park there. You need to explicitly check for this. New builds often have this exception for visitor parking spots despite it appearing to be your land.

Tell her to park on her own land or the road.

I second the suggestion of parking in the spot she's been using. I hope she won't have the nerve to try and park in front of your garage instead.

I would send her a brief fact-based note enclosing a copy of the deeds with your boundaries highlighted. I might say something along the lines of 'XXX, I'm not sure whether you realise this, but as you can see from the attached copy of our deeds, you've been parking your car within the boundary of our property and in one of our parking spaces. I'd appreciate it if you could find an alternative place to park. Cheers, Ifherbumwereabungalow.'

Great name by the way.

Can you not just put a no parking sign on your fence? Or is that too easy/have I missed something obvious?

I get it but just because the deeds say it's your land it downs mean there isn't an entitlement to park there.

Lots of new builds are like this. The reason being that they don't want to leave a parcel of land unowned but they specifically have a clause saying that there is a parking space for everyone or visitors to use.

You need to check the specific deeds/contact/part transfer of title deeds.