Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Parking irritation

20 replies

mummybongo · 25/02/2024 14:40

I have a petty parking annoyance! We live in a quiet cul de sac of semi-detached bungalows. Mostly retired elderly couples, and we are late 40s with adult dd and teen ds.

Each house has a driveway that fits 2 cars (one behind the other) and there is plenty of parking on the road outside every house as well. Some have front gardens, others have converted their front garden into extra parking on their own property. So PLENTY of parking.

We have 3 cars, so we generally park 2 in our driveway and one on the road outside our house. The road isn't particularly narrow so although sometimes if there are other cars also parked on the road you have to pay a bit more attention when reversing out, it's nothing major and no one (apparently) ever seems to have any problems in the 20 yrs I've lived here.

The elderley neighbours who live diagonally across from us have started parking their small car on the road right outside our house. At first I thought it was just temporarily as they have a caravan parked on their extended drive immediately in front of their house, so perhaps they'd just been manoeuvring it and needed the car out the way.

But their car keeps appearing right in front of our house. Their main drive is empty all day and so is the road in front of their house, but they've now parked in front of ours for the best part of a week now, some days it's not moved at all for 36hrs or more.

So we have nowhere to put our 3rd car other than in front of their house! I know I should just go and ask if they'll move it, but I'm aware that no one owns the road space even outside their house, and although it's irritating it's not really a problem to just park over the road. But surely they won't want our car parked outside their house all day either?

Plus after a long day I can't really be bothered going to speak to a neighbour I've never spoken to before, it seems petty but I've got about 3 really serious family issues going on at the moment that are worrying me so this is just grinding my gears a bit.

I've actually waited for them to go out today and finally moved my own car back outside our house, but now feel that I can't move it or they'll be back in it! AIBU to be getting wound up by this?

They are apparently 'difficult' neighbours (I've never had any personal dealings with them, I've just heard from another neighbour) so although I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt I feel that they might be doing it on purpose for a reason I'm not aware of. If that is the case I'd much prefer it if they came to speak to me though. I'm wondering if we've somehow blocked them in or caused them problems getting out at some point? But I'm not a mind-reader.

OP posts:
LordEmsworth · 25/02/2024 14:43

Why is it a problem for you to park outside their house? I missed that bit. The only thing you say is that maybe they don't want you to; so what?

Brumbies · 25/02/2024 14:43

Is it a private parking space outside your house?

If not then not much you can do apart from park outside their house.

toomuchfaff · 25/02/2024 14:44

just park in front of their house... its not difficult, it's a space. Don't ask them to move, like you said - you don't own the space. Just park your car in the space that's left...

Original poster
mummybongo · 25/02/2024 14:50

No they're not private spaces, it's just a normal road. And yes there's no reason why I can't just park outside their house instead, which I will just carry on doing. I don't know, it's just - I feel like I've done something to upset them and they're trying to make some kind of passive aggressive point! I guess I need to just not give it any headspace unless they actually tell me what the problem is, if any. Or decide if it's too much of a problem for me and go and speak to them.

OP posts:
hedgehoglurker · 25/02/2024 14:53

I would assume that while you think your parking doesn't cause them an issue, it actually does. Perhaps they don't have sensors, or have a bad back and the extra checks to avoid your car causes them more pain. No-one can know what their issue is unless you communicate with them.

Park outside their house if necessary, as they obviously have no qualms about parking outside yours. Try not to worry about it.

Herdinggoats · 25/02/2024 14:54

My old neighbour really used to hate people parking on the road. His view was if you have three cars then you need a house with a driveway for three cars. You ask if you could’ve annoyed them. Is it possible that by constantly parking a third car on the road you have made the place look untidy? Is this their payback? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Cotswoldbee · 25/02/2024 15:01

You are possibly overthinking it
Some people are just "like that" so park outside their house (or elsewhere on the road) and get on with life.
They may ignore you, move their car back to "their" spot or confront you. If they do the latter it goes to show they are batshit so try not to get drawn into any kind of slanging match. Explain that with them parking outside your house, you are just making use of the available space outside theirs and then walk away.

SilentlyCorrectingYourSpelling · 25/02/2024 15:10

" I feel like I've done something to upset them and they're trying to make some kind of passive aggressive point! "

So what if they are? If they haven't the balls to tell you if there's a problem, then just assume there isn't. Carry on parking outside their house and ignore. If they are trying to make a point, they'll get bored first.

Original poster
mummybongo · 25/02/2024 15:17

hedgehoglurker · 25/02/2024 14:53

I would assume that while you think your parking doesn't cause them an issue, it actually does. Perhaps they don't have sensors, or have a bad back and the extra checks to avoid your car causes them more pain. No-one can know what their issue is unless you communicate with them.

Park outside their house if necessary, as they obviously have no qualms about parking outside yours. Try not to worry about it.

I agree that any of these things could possibly be a problem for them, and if they'd told me I would certainly have tried to make it easier for them. But as it stands I have no idea because they've not said anything.

We've had 3 cars and been parking outside our house for several years now so it's not a new thing. The car we generally park on the road is a tiny Fiat too, so nothing hugely intrusive.

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 25/02/2024 15:23

mummybongo · 25/02/2024 15:17

I agree that any of these things could possibly be a problem for them, and if they'd told me I would certainly have tried to make it easier for them. But as it stands I have no idea because they've not said anything.

We've had 3 cars and been parking outside our house for several years now so it's not a new thing. The car we generally park on the road is a tiny Fiat too, so nothing hugely intrusive.

Show quote history

I suppose you’re both potentially exactly the same then though aren’t you, because neither of you are willing to just go and speak to the other? You’re saying that they could have come to you if your parking was causing them a problem, well equally you could have gone and spoke to them about their car being outside of your house. Neither of you have done it🤷🏻‍♀️

It takes one of you go go make the first move so why don’t you just pop over when you can see they are home for a quick chat? There’s nothing worse than an awkward atmosphere with neighbours!

Original poster
mummybongo · 25/02/2024 15:27

True, if they do it again after today I'll go over and find out if there's a problem and see if I can solve it without too much drama Wink

OP posts:
Greenpolkadot · 25/02/2024 15:33

Just park outside their house,
Cant you make sure that one of your cars is in the space outside your house?

KissMyArt · 25/02/2024 15:38

But you don't have to go and speak to them after a long day.

Choose another day and time to speak to them about it?

NerrSnerr · 25/02/2024 15:42

Maybe they just genuinely prefer that space. Maybe they think it's better or easier for some reason.

choirmumoftwo · 25/02/2024 15:43

Are all 3 of your cars away from home at the same time? If not, could you park one on the road outside your house at all times, even if that leaves an empty space on your drive for a while?

BristolBloke · 25/02/2024 15:47

Is their car blocking your drive in any way? Because, if not, you have absolutely nothing to discuss with them. It's a public road so they have as much right as anyone else (including you) to park there.

Interduty · 25/02/2024 16:56

They are just being difficult then - I wouldn't bother speaking to them about it, probably what they want! As you've already said they have every right to park there so what can you say?

Just park outside their house when they are parked outside yours, and when they aren't - park outside of yours. What can you do? Hopefully one day they'll get bored of this silly game and just park outside their house again...

isthesolution · 25/02/2024 17:13

I'd just park outside of theirs? If there's a problem I'd let them raise it. But maybe they find it easier/more convenient for some reason to have that spot.

dapsnotplimsolls · 25/02/2024 17:14

It does sound like they're trying to make a point. Just park outside their house.

PennyPugwash · 25/02/2024 20:05

OP they're trying to make a point.
As a PP has said about a neighbour of hers thinking if you've 3 cars, you should have space for 3 cars.
Some people get really wound up by this type of thing.
I like on a very narrow road and some of the neighbours are at odds with multiple car households.
It's wild... and highly entertaining 🍿

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread