Neighbour complaining about my parking

[nightmareparking]

Diagram attached, it’s shit sorry!

I moved into my flat in October. It’s a block of flats. There is off street parking available, but it’s not allocated to anyone and is on a first come first served basis. Some families have several cars and others, like myself, only have the 1.

Shortly after moving in, I encountered difficulties with parking. I usually finish work later, and by the time I get home, most of the spaces are taken. I began parking on the street adjacent to the flats, but it got damaged in February (likely by a group of kids as other drivers in the village have experienced similar issues). Subsequently, I resumed parking outside the flats again.

Occasionally, I find myself parking on the corner (highlighted) when there are no other spaces available. I understand that reversing past can be challenging for some people, but with careful and slow driving, it is possible. I have done it myself. When I returned home on Sunday, the son of my neighbour approached me and asked if I could avoid parking on the corner because his elderly dad has difficulty reversing past. I apologised and explained that I typically park there because there are often no other spaces available when I get home. I also mentioned that I can no longer park on the street because my car was damaged the last time. He agreed and asked if I could avoid parking there when possible.

I returned home this evening and he approached me again voicing his complaints. I proposed that his dad could park on the corner if that worked better, and I could take his spot (highlighted) at the front. But it seems he wants / needs to park closer to his flat. I’m feeling a bit lost about what to do and he refuses to talk to the other neighbours, even though they have several cars. It feels like I’m being pressured to park on the street. I’m 26 and he’s in his 40s (I know him a little through a friend), which makes me feel a bit intimidated.

Should I just go ahead and park on the street, even if it risks my car getting damaged again? AIBU to park on the corner if there are no other spaces available?

I’m on friendly terms with a couple of my neighbours, who also own a car, and they frequently reverse past my car. It might be worth to talk to them and see if my parking is bothering them as well. I believe they would be honest if given the chance to express concerns.

I’m just trying to figure out if my parking is an issue for everyone (since nobody else has complained) or if it’s just this particular neighbour.

Can you mount on the curb/grass a bit? It shouldn't obstruct the pavement by the looks of your photo, and gives people more room to reverse past.

I don't think your wrong though, you have every right to park there as to others that live there. Don't be bullied into moving!

You are too close to the corner. The highway code says it is not illegal but say you should leave 32 feet from a corner. You risk your car being hit if a larger vehicle tries to get past.

Sorry I think you're out on the street again to me. The parking is first come, first serve - not allocated. Even tho there are no yellow lines, it's on/too close to a corner and clearly not intended to be used as parking. Others may also be parking on the street when it is full, you just don't see it. You were unlucky your car was vandalised but that's not a sufficient reason not to do it. There's nothing stopping the same thing happening here so no difference really. Back to the street I think!

Just a thought.can you ask the management where you live to put numbers corresponding with your flats in the boxes like some places do? To hat way it's more equal and fair to you

I was in a not very dissimilar situation once, in London. I’d leave my bike chained to the very thick tree. I got a note saying coukd I please chain on the other side of the tree IN CASE a buggy needs to pass. I tried, it was difficult and I’d get covered by tree bark and ants haha. The pavents were wide, I measured the space remaining after I’d park my bike and it was wide still, more than enough for buggies and wheelchairs. So I restarted chaining my bike there. A relatively old (and rather posh) lady once approached me and started to talk to me about this (she was the author of the note), I said - these are my reasons, this is the measurement. She left me alone. She sounded like she is used to be this posh lady who was used to getting her own way, but when you politely but assertively state your reasons, they often go away.

If the parking is always full but that one spot always left empty than that suggests it's not a parking spot or is widely recognised as making it dangerous to pull out/looks like it should be illegal. The people who live there can better judge if that's a legitimate parking space and if they all avoid parking there, then I think it is you at fault.

The whole set up sounds really dangerous, reversing out of a side road is just awful. Is there nowhere a bit further, but less dodgy to park? I'd try talking to neighbours about parking in general rather than about this one spot.

In that case if others park there as well I don't get the issue. Sounds like an elderly driver who has trouble reversing these days and maybe shouldn't be driving anymore. Unless the son is telling everyone who parks there not to then it sounds like he is just singling you out because he knows you.

OP has said several times that when she manages to find a space elsewhere, other people park in that spot.

Expecting people to reverse out round a bend on to a road and throw a parked car in to the mix sounds ridiculous. Carry on parking there but don’t moan if your car gets hit. It’s not a parking space and neighbours have told you they find it tricky to manoeuvre round it in a polite manner. What more can they do?

A google Earth image would be clearer. The actual photo makes it look very tight indeed - especially if people are having to reverse.

I’d ask the other neighbours if you parking on the corner, is an issue for them. If they all say it’s fine then it’s the elderly neighbour’s problem.
Having said that, if it is causing issues and it is a bit tight then I probably wouldn’t park there to be honest.
I’d be as worried about my car getting damaged there, as I would be about it being on the road.

It’s not that simple to do that in retrospect. I bought a flat with a parking space and my neighbour bought an identical flat without a parking space. This was in a busy city. My flat cost £27,000 more than hers did, because of the space. Parking spaces are outlined on the deeds of a property. You can’t just go spray painting numbers and handing them out.

The yellow lines appear to end so no restrictions on you parking there and if it is "passable with care" then they can't stop you from parking there. I would gently explain that and be sympathetic but continue parking there. If he has any further concerns or disagrees tell him to report to Police/Safer Neighbourhood Team for their professional opinion and if you are wrong you will then park elsewhere but until then you will continue.

So is the son saying that his Dad can reverse in a straight line but struggles to do curves or bends? If an ambulance can get past you then he is being unreasonable. The yellow lines start further round so you are not doing anything illegal and he is the only person to complain.

If the son approaches you again I would state that other residents have multiple cars causing a lack of parking situation and it isn't your fault his Dad isn't a competent driver.

Come on. You know it's not a proper parking space. If it was then you'd be at the same angle as everyone else in the row.

If you can’t turn your head around properly or judge distances correctly then you shouldn’t be driving!

@Letmecallyouback that’s not what I said. I said I don’t know if it is a proper parking space or not. I agree it’s shit, but there are no road markings or yellow lines to suggest that it isn’t a parking space. I can’t be 100% certain though. None of the other neighbours have complained, I haven’t received a ticket from the traffic warden, the police haven’t asked me to move. Other people park there when I don’t. Is it ideal? Of course not. Would I rather park somewhere else? Absolutely.

I wouldn’t park there. If a large van or a bin lorry was to get around , your car would be smashed?

From your diagram I think it's plainly obviously this is not a proper designated parking space whether or not you say you don't know if it is. There must be other places away from the main road you can park where the car will not get damaged.

@Letmecallyouback unfortunately not, only the road that I parked on previously where my car was damaged.

So in the entire village, there's not a single alternative place you can park? No side roads, no other streets, no nothing?

Can a fire engine get around that corner unhindered with you parked there? Bear in mind they aren't going to mess about door knocking in an emergency.

@Letmecallyouback no there isn’t. The flats are directly behind the dual carriageway, so unless I park miles away and walk, which would be a nightmare with shopping, in the rain, etc. I don’t think it’s particularly fair either to expect me to do that, given other people have several cars and I only have 1. I can’t comment on a fire engine as it’s never come up, but an ambulance got past fine before.

It seems ridiculous to me that car no.1 (usually the neighbour complaining?) Has to reverse past 6? 8? 10? Cars - what an odd set up! But as you said if you're parked in "straight" spot them sometime else will park on the corner and it doesn't cause an issue, then continue to do it.

1. It's not illegally parked
2. You've a right to be there
3. No one else has an issue with getting past, in fact an ambulance was fine with it
4. Sorry, but if there is no other parking spot then that's where you'll park.

P.S. did the ambulance have to reverse out?

Also, if others do the same when there are no spaces, has he complained to them too? Seems like he sees you as the easy target. Take photos next time of others who park the same as you, show them to the intimidating man next time and say, sorry unless there are clear guidelines I will continue to safely park there. Another issue is that you are a young woman returning to her home late at night, you want to park as close as possible to your flat. He can move his car for you and park on the road then!!!