Me and my partner have recently moved into a new house. Parking on the street is limited, but not an impossible situation.
Our neighbours across the road have two large cars and a driveway big enough to accommodate both. However, they only ever have one car on the drive and instead use the street parking for their other car. We do not have a driveway so have to rely either on the street parking or the back lane.
As they are opposite us it stands to reason that when they park on the street it’s directly outside our house, or as near enough as can be. Before I go any further I’d like to point out I’m totally aware that as long as the car is taxed they can park anywhere they like on the street and there’s no laws to stop that. I don’t have any real issue with that and them parking outside our house (however annoying it is at times and inconsiderate IMO given they have a drive!).
While we’ve been moving in it’s been a bit of a struggle lugging sofas and furniture halfway up the street as we can’t get outside our house for their car, but we haven’t said a word and never intend to raise it as an issue.
Today, however, has really p*ed me off. I went out in the car early this morning to run an errand and when returning I parked up as near my house as possible, behind their car. In fairness, I did park close to their car because from our perspective we don’t want to annoy off our adjoining neighbours by constantly parking outside their house. However, it wasn’t unreasonably close and there was room to get out.
They came and knocked this morning and asked me to not park so close to their car in future. I asked if they wanted me to pull back a bit if it was difficult to get out, but he just told me he’d manage but not to park so close in the future. He was going on about how they’ve lived here for a few year and haven’t had a problem with parking. I think what he actually meant by that is the previous owners of the home didn’t have a car and so they never had any to deal with other cars using that spot.
I did suggest that he had a drive and if it was an issue for him he could fit both cars on there. He then told me that I could park in the back lane, which I guess I can but equally he can park on the drive so I suppose they’re both moot points.
I did feel like pointing out the inconveniences it causes us when his car is constantly right outside our house (particularly when moving all our furniture in, for elderly relatives coming to visit etc.), but I don’t think he really cares and at the end of the day he is legally entitled to park there. It just annoys me that after not saying a word or complaining to them in an attempt to keep peace, they’ve come and taken issue with us parking outside our house and near their car which they chose to put there.
Me and my partner are a young couple and really don’t want to cause rifts, we’re tried to be really considerate and notify our neighbours in advance of any work being done and have parked courteously however annoyed inside I might feel about not getting a spot near our home! I did offer to move the car but I think he just wanted to have a go.
Am I the one in the wrong? Should I just park in the back lane to keep the peace?