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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think next door neighbour is being a Petty Patty over parking?

144 replies

Popchipsrfab · 17/04/2025 15:23

Hi Hivemind! AIBU to think that next door neighbour ( passive aggressive social worker) is being a Petty Patty by knocking on our door last night to complain that recycling and food recycling bins are placed over about 20% of the paved area that she states she owns between the passage/ driveway between our 2 houses. This passageway is an access to our garage and our other neighbour's garage. Long story short..she also complained about not being able to park outside her house yesterday as my partner's car was " taking up 2 car parking spaces" and he ought to park more considerately. FYI my partner moves his car onto my parking space to deter other road users from parking there during the day..so when I get home I can recharge my electric car under the kitchen window..not specifically to annoy Petty Patty next door...although it obviously has, as today she has backed up to within one millimeter of his car despite there being ample spaces on the road to park on..she parks in my ' spot'. She has also removed said bins from in front of partner's car in order to park in front..as I say within 1 mm of his front bumper! These were moved by me as a result of her complaining about where they were left. They are a 3 car household..we own 2..and I am out of the house from 7.30 - 5pm.
Now I am dreading going home as she is still parked there and partner has said he will go and knock on her door and demand she moves it if it's still there when I get home and need to charge my car for tomorrow..
First world problems I know..but is it just me?? What to do next??

OP posts:
fatgirlswims · 17/04/2025 16:02

You’re the most unreasonable and entitled person I have ever read on a parking thread.

why would you by an electric car if you cannot reliably charge it I.e from a private parking space not a public road.

I’m team petty patty!

I’m so glad you are not my neighbour you sound like a nightmare.

OP mentioned she was a social worker to further prejudice the woman’s as along with teachers they seem universally unliked or people believe the should have higher moral standards than normal— they should doff their cap and make way for the everyone else.

utterly abhorrent. Move your bins!!

Hercisback1 · 17/04/2025 16:03

No one has ownership of the road, but you can be considerate, especially in an area where permits are going to be needed. Parking so that one car blocks 2 spaces is selfish.

beesandstrawberries · 17/04/2025 16:03

So it’s road parking and instead of it being anyone’s game, your partner parks in two spaces to ‘allocate’ it for you. That’s selfish.

and you put your bins on their land and act like they’re the problem?

im glad you posted on here because hopefully you can get out of your victim mentality and realise that you are the problem and make changes in your personality. you sound very entitled

UndermyShoeJoe · 17/04/2025 16:05

Permit parking unless numbered still won’t give you a spot outside your house.

You’re the problem neighbour here not her.

UndermyShoeJoe · 17/04/2025 16:07

While we are here though op. Are you sure in your boro your allowed to have a cable running over a public footpath..

Petty patty here would report you for that just to find out 😉

Hoppinggreen · 17/04/2025 16:08

Pople who "reserve" spots on public roads are Twats

Sirzy · 17/04/2025 16:10

Popchipsrfab · 17/04/2025 16:00

Ok..well I moved the bins as I understand it needs to be left as access. She has taken 6 months to point out she owns the small piece of land between tbe houses..so I'm not sure why now it's suddenly an issue? No driveway to park on..and no one has ownership of any parking area as it is a public road. It is soon to be permit parking only anyway so in future we will have to pay for the priviledge of parking..or arguing about it.

No one has ownership of the road but it’s selfish to purposely take two spaces in order to reserve one. Surely you can see why that pisses your neighbour off?

CamillaMacauley · 17/04/2025 16:13

Doesn’t matter why it’s taken her six months to tell you the bin thing was an issue. If it’s her land, it’s her land. Maybe she’s just really nice biting her tongue for six months?

CamillaMacauley · 17/04/2025 16:16

And having an electric car with no drive is never a great idea. But ultimately not her problem. You’ll have to use a public charging point if you can’t get parked close enough.

TheMumEdit · 17/04/2025 16:17

I’m with the neighbours. They’ve done well to bite their tongue this long. Parking in between two spaces to reserve one is unbelievably entitled

LolaJ87 · 17/04/2025 16:20

CamillaMacauley · 17/04/2025 16:16

And having an electric car with no drive is never a great idea. But ultimately not her problem. You’ll have to use a public charging point if you can’t get parked close enough.

Exactly, or get your husband to move his car when you get home so you can park in front of your house to charge your car. You do sound VERY entitled OP.

HuffleMyPuffle · 17/04/2025 16:21

Parking threads require a diagram. Come on OP!

But seriously, you sound like the one in the wrong

Maybe she's only just found out she owns the land

MethodHandbag · 17/04/2025 16:21

Does your charging cable go across the pavement, road or someone else’s land?

KrisAkabusi · 17/04/2025 16:23

Popchipsrfab · 17/04/2025 16:00

Ok..well I moved the bins as I understand it needs to be left as access. She has taken 6 months to point out she owns the small piece of land between tbe houses..so I'm not sure why now it's suddenly an issue? No driveway to park on..and no one has ownership of any parking area as it is a public road. It is soon to be permit parking only anyway so in future we will have to pay for the priviledge of parking..or arguing about it.

I was expecting this to be a reverse as the OP is being so obviously unreasonable, but apparently not. You're putting your bins on her property, and your argument about nobody owning the parking on a public road doesn't hold any water when your husband is deliberately taking up two spots to hold 'your' space.

The hivemind has spoken, you're being an arse.

coxesorangepippin · 17/04/2025 16:24

Yabu for saying petty patty

Coconutter24 · 17/04/2025 16:26

Popchipsrfab · 17/04/2025 16:00

Ok..well I moved the bins as I understand it needs to be left as access. She has taken 6 months to point out she owns the small piece of land between tbe houses..so I'm not sure why now it's suddenly an issue? No driveway to park on..and no one has ownership of any parking area as it is a public road. It is soon to be permit parking only anyway so in future we will have to pay for the priviledge of parking..or arguing about it.

and no one has ownership of any parking area as it is a public road.

YABU you and your partner is too. He needs to use one space and stick to it! This whole thing has started because YOU are being a “petty patty”

Seeyouincourtkeithyoutwat · 17/04/2025 16:30

Patty is not the petty one.

PhilippaGeorgiou · 17/04/2025 16:35

It's a long time since I've been able to say this, so I am going to savour it as a defining moment in life.

I'm with the social worker 😀

mummyh2016 · 17/04/2025 16:45

Oh god are you one of those irritants who charges their electric car at home despite not having a driveway?
If you don’t have a driveway you take it to a charging point to charge. You don’t extend a cable over the path/road to your car. It’s ridiculous and dangerous.

INeedAnotherName · 17/04/2025 16:47

Need a diagram.

But if your partner is using two parking spaces on a public road then he is a twat. And it seems you are enabling his twattism.

GeorgianaM · 17/04/2025 16:48

You're in the wrong just for having an electric car . 😉

aramox1 · 17/04/2025 16:49

Yabu to use the phrase'petty patty'

Twinstudy · 17/04/2025 16:51

Why doesn't your partner just park in front of the house and then move when you come home if you need to charge there? What's his excuse for needing to be outside your house? You sound like awful neighbours to be honest

Whaleandsnail6 · 17/04/2025 16:54

So it isnt "your parking space" at all.. it's a public road and you have decided you own the right to park right outside your house just because you chosen to have an electric car?

Yabu...your need to charge your car is your problem and does not mean you own that space.

Your partner will be hugely unreasonable to "demand" she moves her car , and if I was her, I'd refuse.

Staringatthestars · 17/04/2025 16:54

You've just said that nobody has ownership of parking spaces, however you think you and your partner can save spaces, even though you're out for hours and hours of the day?
You're the one who chose an electric car without anywhere to charge it. How is that your neighbours problem? How do you charge it? Have the cable running over the pavement? If so, I'd be extremely careful that nobody trips and injures themselves as that will be your fault.

You're being so unreasonable. Stop saving spots for the majority of the day and find an actual electric car charger to charge it through the day whilst you're at work.

Well done Petty Patty for bringing these entitled people down a peg or two! Team Petty Patty!