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!

Its easier to manage if you don't allow any neighbours to park there, ever. There will almost always be someone who abuses it.

It's really difficult to visualise this. I can't see how the spot she parks is separate from the rest? Is she actually parking on what would clearly be your drive? Can you put gates across the area? I'm trying really hard but I just can't see how anyone would know it was your property as it just looks like a place anyone could park, or is she stopping you getting off your drive?

That doesn't stop you moving the fence. There are ways of fitting it to paved ground.

Gah! I've looked at both pictures and still can't work it out. Is the area completely enclosed with a fence and she's parking on the end of your drive? Otherwise there's not really anything making it obvious that's your property. Are you absolutely sure the deeds are correct because that does seem an odd set up?

I can't work out how her parking there makes it difficult for you to get on and off your drive?

Is there something that separates it from the main parking/turning area?

Could you pop a note through saying you had been thinking about renting the parking spot for sometime and would she like first refusal (at a completely extortionate rate so she won’t take it up)

A few largish stones or bricks painted white and laid along your boundary?

Obviously her car isn’t being rammed by other cars turning round so you could put pots or bollards there

Just in relation to this point you posted @ifherbumwereabungalow :
"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."

Just because she only has one space and you have the luxury of being able to park 2 cars (or maybe more), it still doesn't make her problem yours to resolve.

I'd be having some sort of conversation with her and saying that she's actually parking in your space.

Better yet, you park in it and as you've also said, get your son to pass his driving test soon so he can get a car to park in it too (but that's a longer term goal not something to sort out your issue in the immediacy).

Hiya I have the same problem, outside my house I have a large boundary to park 3 cars but because it's not tarmacked people think it's a public spot to park. There's a thin white line showing the boundary line but people either ignore it or just don't see it. My problem was not neighbours as they knew but randomers visiting in the area so I had no idea who's cars were parked there. We have since bought a red sign from Amazon for 4 quid that says private - no parking and partner drilled it on the house so it's much more obvious now. But it really does grind my gears, irritates the life out of me!! Definitely need to nip it in the bud as they'll just expect it to be there spot from now on. What if u ever move? Not fair on the new owners either.

pattihews · Yesterday 21:51

I would send her a brief fact-based note enclosing a copy of the deeds with your boundaries highlighted.

Yes, that seems like a good idea and she will know perfectly well, as her husband has apologised. As others have suggested, contact the management company as well.

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions and advice. I'm not sure if my neighbour is on here and saw my post as the car is gone, for now. I've also managed to get a grip on myself, again thanks to your posts, so I really am grateful!

Using your second diagram, would there be any way that you could get something like these installed where the dotted line is:
www.postsandchains.co.uk/gallery/
Leave sufficient gap (probably somewhere on the bend) so that you can park at either end of the area. Then hang signs saying 24hr access required/Private Parking or something from the links.

Maybe a polite sign on your fence stating private parking space or private land? Bollards were good suggestion too!

Just put a few pots up close to your boundary where she parks. Just means she'll think twice when she parks. You'll not be stopping others turning but it will make her parking there a bit tight.

Ooh, I like this idea. Thought she had got the message but she’s just this minute parked there again! Calm thoughts.

Go out and tell her to get off your driveway. Alternatively go out and start taking heaps of photos of her car. That should make her paranoid and have her running out to move it.

Could you get it sprayed. Properly like the boundary line plus a parking only for house 48 or whatever. Or like a pp posted those little chain style marker fences.

I do think you need to ask her to stop parking on your DRIVEWAY and make it clear that's what it is not just a bit of free to use road.

Go out in the middle of the night and spread a couple of tins of cat food on her bonnet and windscreen. The birds love cat food.

She'll never guess it was you, of course!

Can you not put a sign-up, like this?

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/964159742/personalised-private-parking-metal-sign?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_d-home_and_living-other&utm_custom1=k_Cj0KCQiAx6ugBhCcARIsAGNmMbhKD2qszD-Q6NYzbWAeYsYLpwNwOcFEVgGg3sBUTU4bZRV4hJgF4hsaAveWEALw_wcB_k&utm_content=go_12603364216_125103415372_508719249352_pla-303628061739_c__964159742engb_102858184&utm_custom2=12603364216&gclid=Cj0KCQiAx6ugBhCcARIsAGNmMbhKD2qszD-Q6NYzbWAeYsYLpwNwOcFEVgGg3sBUTU4bZRV4hJgF4hsaAveWEALw_wcB

Yes, OP - melt the paint off the offending car with a fierce lazer stare of fire 😁

My mums house has a sort of situation like yours, she has some plants/big rocks put on the area and no one parks there anymore 🤷‍♀️

Like a previous poster suggested I think you need to check carefully if you are allowed to park there before getting cross or talking to her. It may need to be kept clear for access/turning etc or it may be that anyone can park there. Either is common with new builds.

@SparkyBlue - this level of rage is completely normal at pre menopause and menopause. It does help to get stuff done though, so embrace it! Good luck with your neighbours.