A parking one!

[Scottishchicken]

Prepared to be told AIBU on this one.

We live in a street with old houses so majority of driveways are not big. Most people in our street have one car on drive, and if they have two, one in front of house. We have two.

My partners is on the drive and mine on the road. Neighbours across road now have 4 cars - two adults and the two sons have one each. Last car was got 6 months ago.

There is room for all 4 on their drive as previous owners had made room by giving up the garden. Before other son got the car they would park three all on the drive. Then he got his car and it was 4 on drive or 3 on drive and one in front. I should add their neighbour doesn't drive and had offered for them to use his drive whenever they want.

Now the son has suddenly taken to parking outside our house, with no one parked outside theirs and then the other three on the drive as usual.

I am now hardly ever able to park at ours, instead parking in front of our next door neighbours (one car house). We don't have the room or luxury to make a bigger drive.

I appreciate it isn't the end of the world and know you can park where you want etc but am I the only one that thinks is odd?

AIBU - Nothing you can do and no big deal
AINBU - I'd be annoyed too

Can you park outside theirs?

Maybe a odd decision for them, but no it really wouldn't bother me.
Can't you park in front of their house?

@Roguebludger I could! Maybe I will... Bit petty but hey! 😂

It's not petty, if they are using the space you normally use, then just use theirs, they can't really moan at you about it!

Is there room to park outside the 4 car house without blocking a dropped kerb, or hindering those parked in the drive exiting?
If parking outside means he has to move every time one of the others wants to come or go, I can understand him parking elsewhere.

Can't really say without a diagram.

A 3D model would be even better, although I do acknowledge it would take you a bit longer to produce.

It's not petty. It's only petty if you think they have a bigger claim to that space, or that it will annoy them in some way. It may not. It's probably just marginally more convenient for them to park in front of yours for some reason, and they just don't think about it because no one owns the road outside their house.

Do you know the their neighbour well? Could you ask very nicely if you could possibly park on their drive as was offered to the other family?

If it’s road parking he is entitled to park there so nothing you can do but equally I do think it’s inconsiderate (assuming there is a lack of parking on the road)

I am in the minority here so far judging by the poll but I wonder if the voters have ever had this happen to them. I live in a narrow street. Some houses have a driveway big enough for two/three cars, quite a lot have dropped kerbs. It’s a small enough street that everyone knows each others ‘comings and going’s’ so you know if someone has small children, elderly, mobility issues. My driveway is on a steep hill (only one in the street) so to any reasonable person they’d understand why I couldn’t safely use it with young children. Once I was getting building work done and the neighbour across the road left a third car from their household parked right outside my house for weeks, blocking access. It actually was another neighbour that said, you do realise she can’t get proper access to her house. They’ve then ‘played parking wars’ for years. Parking family cars right outside my house when the rest of the entire street is clear. Others in the street have then left their cars for days on end right outside of my house. It does piss me off! I’ve asked friends and family if they think it’s ok to leave a car for extended periods of time right in front of someone else’s house and none of them think it’s ok. It’s not something I would ever think is acceptable. Parking for a visit or short period of time, absolutely. Using a space directly outside someone’s house for extended periods of time, no.

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles
Apologies if this is a bit crap. My cars are purple lines, and other neighbours in other colours. We live ona wide road so there is loads of room for cars on both sides and a lot of the road is like this. You can see they have the whole front of their house which is larger and their neighbours (yellow x) to park, but choose to stay outside mine.
I reply to the person who mentioned if he needed to move to let the other car out, the one parked further back like at the side of the house only moves like once a month if even, so not a daily issue.

Yes just park outside theirs instead, if they get annoyed about say you’ll swap with their son.

@Theemeperorsnewclothes I've luckily never experienced this before but this is what's it's turned into for us. Have you had any other issues with them? We've never had any real dealings with them so there shouldn't be anything behind it but it is pisisng me a bit off now too!

My driveway is on a steep hill (only one in the street) so to any reasonable person they’d understand why I couldn’t safely use it with young children.

@Theemeperorsnewclothes sorry, I don't get it? Why do young children stop you using a steep drive?

Yeah definitely start parking outside theirs if it’s available. I find it weird that he doesn’t

Sounds to me like they're sick of having to move cars around. So the 1 who usually parks blocking the drive doesn't and leaves the road clear for the cars on the drive to move off.

I agree, if they're just over the road and the closest free space is outside their house, just use it.

You know rules. A diagram is required!

@Scottishchicken we were ok up to that point, I was always civil. I have tried to remain civil however they are very passive aggressive. I looked out the window once and the mother and two adult daughters were laughing while trying to get the car as close to mine as they possibly could and then noticed me at the window (there’s been lots of other incidents like this- never from my side). The grandparents have given me hassle for being parked in front of my own house. Sadly, I’d say be prepared from some more nonsense coming your way. In my opinion, decent people aren’t trying to invade other people’s personal spaces. Right outside your house, is your personal space. Fair enough not legally, but morally most people think it’s not ‘fair game’ to invade someone’s personal space… just because they can.

Sorry. The diagram didn't show on the first read of the thread!

@TTPD they can’t safely get out the door without it swinging back on them because the driveway is so steep. Believe me, I have tried and it’s very dangerous. A few sore ones from the doors swinging back.

Just go and tell him in a nice way.

I know everyone loves to say it’s a public road so they can do what they want but I completely get what you mean.

We are on a dead end street and there has always been an unspoken agreement that everyone parks outside their own house. One day earlier this year the house opposite us started parking outside our house (and our neighbours technically as they aren’t good at parking 🤣) while the space outside their house remains empty.

I parked outside their house because it really was the only other place to park without blocking drives or going to another street (we’re on a very short dead end street). Eventually they stopped but we still have no idea why they did it for a couple of weeks! So odd.

I think it’s these little things we all do that just creates a nice place to live. It’s nice to know you get to park outside your house. Makes taking the shopping in easier and you can see your car for peace of mind.

Its not nice when someone goes against these little unspoken agreements

@Coffee23 this is it - it's an unspoken act of decency! I completely understand visitors etc but this is bizarre. Will have to try just parking outside theirs. Maybe one of the parents will say something to him!

We are mid terrace. Our neighbour parks outside our house - even waits until the space is free, even moves it from in front of their own house to park outside ours. Utterly bizzare and makes us laugh as it’s so strange. She’s even gone out at midnight to move her car 6ft!
There is literally no way no to the bizarre things people get up to.

@Scottishchicken just park in front of theirs!