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AIBU?

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Original poster

Just moved in - parking politics - diagram

54 replies

BlueRaspberry7 · 11/03/2023 09:52

We've just moved into a new house (diagram: house 2) with a drive and we have two cars (diagram: cars 2). Neighbour in house (1) also has two cars (1). Neighbour on other side (3) has no drive and one car (3).

All houses on the road have driveways - the road is free parking and there is a station nearby.

Neighbour (3) told us everyone in the road tends to park in front of their own house, but commuter parking for station can prevent this so it doesn't anyways work.

When we were moving in, neighbour 1 had their second car in front of our house. This is of course completely his right and probably what he is used to, as previous owner here only had one car.

He can't park his second car in front of his house due to narrower width of his house plus telegraph pole obstruction.

Day after big move in, we parked our2nd car over our drive way almost up to driveway 1 to do some unloading and left our car there a few hours. Neighbour 1 posted a printed note that night asking us to not park in front of our drive as it makes it difficult for him to turn right out of his drive. His note pointed out that the whole road is free parking so we can feel free to park anywhere. We moved our car right away once we knew it was a problem for him.

He continues to park his second car in front of our house, whenever we take second car out, as he has every right to.

AIBU for being mildly annoyed that his second car is nearly always in front of our house meaning he parks close to his house, while we have to park ours further down the road - and that he posted a note about us parking in front of our own drive?

As I write this, realise we should've knocked on his door on moving day and politely asked if he could move his 2nd car we could use the space at the front for a few hours.

Nb...Really don't want to get off on the wrong foot and have been friendly and introduced ourselves.

Just moved in - parking politics - diagram
OP posts:
Aftjbtibg · 11/03/2023 10:31

When the space in front of yours is free just park there; it’s a bit cheeky about the note as you can park in front of your own drive if you want but maybe they are a bit anxious/ have had bad experiences pulling out when they can’t really see. I wouldn’t enter into any kind of argument about it. When you bought the house I’d assume you knew that it might work out like this

Justalittlebitduckling · 11/03/2023 10:32

Really don't want to get off on the wrong foot and have been friendly and introduced ourselves.

Neighbour hasn’t been friendly, though, because he left a printed note rather than coming to talk to you. So I think that ship has sailed to some extent.

GoodChat · 11/03/2023 10:33

Your diagram looks like there's enough room for both you and him to park second cars on your drives. Is that not the case?

whowhatwerewhy · 11/03/2023 10:35

Parking on the road is first come first served.

Whichnumbers · 11/03/2023 10:39

Park outside your house and leave the car there for a few weeks without moving it, that'll get him in the habit of parking elsewhere. Once different habits are established you'll find they try to revert back again and then you play the same tactic again.

category12 · 11/03/2023 10:41

First come, first served.

It's not your spot, it's not his, and neither of you have any more particular right to it. Sure it's nice to be able to park close to your house, but meh.

I think he was a bit tight to complain about you parking in front of your drive on moving in day, but I guess he was worried it was going to be an ongoing thing.

Halsall · 11/03/2023 10:42

I may be not following here but I still don’t see what the telegraph pole has to do with anything in preventing CF neighbour from parking his 2nd car.

Youcunnyfunt · 11/03/2023 10:43

Parking on the road is first come, first served. So just park there when it’s free. It’s not “your” space.

and FYI you cannot park on a dropped kerb even if it’s your own driveway. Temporary unloading may be OK but not surprised your neighbour was annoyed about that!

Seeline · 11/03/2023 10:52

I can't see how you parking over your dropped kerb makes it difficult for him to exit his drive, whilst him parking his second car outside your house (nearer to his drive) allows him to use his drive for his first car?
Or have I misunderstood?

With both neighbours parking either side of your drive, I would have thought using your drive must be tricky?

Either way, just park where you want when spaces are available and legal.

StatisticallyChallenged · 11/03/2023 10:55

By parking where he is, isn't he basically doing exactly what he complained about you doing - making it difficult to turn right out of your drive?

Grumpybutfunny · 11/03/2023 10:58

Looks like you have space at the front to have a double drive out in. Could you park over the the path infront of your drive to make it easier for him to get out? Our last street nearly everyone parked well over the pavement so it was easier to get in and out. The kids played in the street most of the time so drivers had to be careful anyway.

category12 · 11/03/2023 11:00

StatisticallyChallenged · 11/03/2023 10:55

By parking where he is, isn't he basically doing exactly what he complained about you doing - making it difficult to turn right out of your drive?

It's a weak argument, when she's wanting to park there herself - what she's going to performatively move the car on the road every time she gets the other car out of the driveway? 😬

Okunevo · 11/03/2023 11:04

What size are the cars? Will one of your cars fit outside his house?

StatisticallyChallenged · 11/03/2023 11:05

category12 · 11/03/2023 11:00

It's a weak argument, when she's wanting to park there herself - what she's going to performatively move the car on the road every time she gets the other car out of the driveway? 😬

Show quote history

My point was isn't he a raging hypocrite asking her not to park in a way that makes it difficult for him to turn right, whilst he parks in a way that makes it difficult for her to do the same?

If he doesn't want someone parked to the right of his driveway entrance, he shouldn't park to the right of other people's either

Shewhois21 · 11/03/2023 11:05

CharmedUndead · 11/03/2023 10:25

You have no special claim on the spot outside your house. None. I know it's irritating, but on street parking is first come-first served. Make your peace with it.

True but the neighbour doesn't either, so the point of their note is moot.

NormasJeans · 11/03/2023 11:16

If you have space to park two cars on your drive, can you apply to the council and pay for the rest of your drive to have a dropped curb? We had similar issues and this is what we did.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 11/03/2023 11:20

Had similar with my previous neighbour, although she wouldn't park in front of her own house because she didn't want it spoiling her view 🙄. We started parking in front of our house when the space was free and she went ballistic. It was the start of a vendetta against us and we ended up having to move.

Unless your neighbour is a complete arsehole like mine was, I'd start parking in front of my own house. Agree with @EyesOnThePies about what to say if he starts being a dick.

Brotherlove · 11/03/2023 11:20

He's a CF.
Doing to you what he's asked you not to do to him.... obscuring your view to get off the drive.
Put the same note on his car as he did on yours

Sockloon · 11/03/2023 11:28

Park in front of your drive and on it, tell him to do one.

On our street we all have no drives, but we have an unspoken rule and all of us park Infront of our houses and tend to have our own spots it works out well. No issues every one now gets along.

We do get new people and it settles down, but telling people not to park in front of your own house fuck that.

SpookyBlackCat · 11/03/2023 11:30

I'm probably misunderstanding but I think the neighbor wants to park on the street but the OP parked over her dropped curb. is that right? I don't think you can park over your dropped curb, but of course you can park where he/she usually parks if the space is free, so I do think YABU to be annoyed about this.

SpookyBlackCat · 11/03/2023 11:32

Also, it's really not worth getting wound up over parking. It's such a minor thing but people get so wound up over it. A relative of mine got into a massive dispute over parking in front of his house and it was just such a waste over the sake of walking a few extra meters.

WombatChocolate · 11/03/2023 11:37

It’s difficult to tell from a rough diagram.

On some roads, the way certain driveways are positioned, it can be really difficult to get in or out if people are parked in particular positions across their own drives or on the road. In the same road, other driveways might be positioned so they don’t have these issues. In this sense, although people might have equal numbers of driveway spots or dropped kerbs or spaces outside their house, actually they don’t all have equal amounts of USABLE space.

It could be OP’s road is like this. Yes, she has a driveway that can be parked over, but if by doing so it prevents someone else being able to turn into their drive, then really she can’t park across it. The question is whether it prevents access or just makes it a bit more tricky. The neighbour might have to accept more tricky, but possible access. He shouldn’t have to accept not being able to turn into his drive.

The trouble is, some people are better or not so good at parking and more or less able to cope with minor obstructions. Wanting totally clear access without anything anywhere nearby isn’t viable and you can’t ask neighbours not to park, to enable you to have that.

These things are always tricky, especially when you move in and people have established patterns of parking that worked for them and now can’t continue because new people have more vehicles. However, the existing people often can’t just demand to park as they did before, if it restricts others unreasonably.

So that’s the Q OP….by parking across your driveway, is it really the case that he can’t get into his driveway? If that isn’t the case, I’d keep parking across it. If you decide that’s the case, I’d speak to him about it and say that’s what you’re going to do because he does still have access, and like him you don’t want to have to park significantly further away.

Regarding the space outside your house, I’d accept that he can park there, as can you and it will continue to be first come, first served.

Fortunately, it doesn’t sound nearly as bad as it could be. You seem to suggest there are other spaces both if you could use not far away at all. Sometimes you’ll just have to use those and walk a few steps. Try to not get annoyed about it.

Schnooze · 11/03/2023 11:42

First come, first served. You’d have a point if he could park outside his own house but chose not to.

Hochjochhospiz · 11/03/2023 11:53

First come first served. That's all there is to it. I'd park outside the house every time the space is free.
Neighbour 3 told you everyone tends to park in front of their own house. That was their nice way of telling you not to park in front of their place.....even though it's first come first served.

WonderingWanda · 11/03/2023 12:00

Widen your driveway to fit both cars on, pay for your drop kerb to be extended the whole width of your house and then he won't be able to park there and you will have 2 parking spaces.