Neighbours have decided that myself and NDN park some of our cars in another street to make it fairer for everyone. AIBU to ignore the request?

[SumoFarah]

I live on a street with unrestricted parking and few driveways. I know it might sound excessive but my family and NDN family have 7 cars between us. I can’t get a drive out in as the street is really narrow so I would need the space opposite to be empty in order to exit.

A neighbour on the street knocked on my and NDN to explain that our six cars take up too much space and means that:

1. neighbours who finish work late can never get a space so have to park on another street and walk
2. their weekend visitors can never get a space
3. on weekends they sometimes have to park in the middle of the road to unload their shopping and then go and find somewhere else to park

We we’re told that ‘they all’ think everyone should agree to use a maximum of 2 spaces to use as they wish and any further space needed should be used in the free car park about 1/2 mile away.

Also that the two teenagers (one mine, one NDN) don’t need cars as they are still in school so should have no need for cars anyway.

I get that parking spaces are at a premium, and can be frustrating when all the spaces are taken, but I don’t want myself or my dc to walk 1/2 mile in the dark (or the light, for that matter) just to placate the neighbours when there’s a space available. All our cars are pretty much used on a daily basis.

NDN told the messenger neighbour that it’s first-come-first-served. I do understand the annoyance but don’t agree with the suggestion because some houses only have one car and some houses don’t have a car, so should balance out in theory, but obviously doesn’t in practice.

Would I be unreasonable to ignore the ‘request’?

Suggestions welcomed.

You’re being a selfish dick. Surprised you needed us all to tell you this.

It’s a public highway, you can park where you like. Smile and carry on

I think there's a drip feed coming, surely!

I'm with the neighbours on this one. 2 cars per house is fair, and if your kids can drive then they can walk a bit instead of inconviencing everyone on the road. Our road is 2 per house, but one neighbour had 5 cars, they were very reasonable and parked 2 on the and the rest elsewhere. Being thoughtful of the neighbours stops a lot of petty arguing in later life.

If you’re a couple living in an area with poor public transport, with two adult children living at home and you all work or need cars for college, I can understand how you might end up a four car household. The NDN is irrelevant.

But that aside, for the sake of good relations, I would use your driveway and park at least one vehicle that is used less further away.

You can do as you like but no wonder they’re fed up; can you share a car with your teenager?

I think you may be my neighbour. Its so bloody annoying not being able to park near my house but I recognise you are entitled to own as many cars as you wish and park them legally.

Ignore the neighbours.

Sorry op but YABU 100%. 7 cars is ridiculous! We used to live on a street just like yours and it was awful, dh even managed to reverse into a car one dark morning and he’s been driving 30 years very well! There are far too many cars on the road these days. I don’t drive so I don’t contribute to it myself before anyone says double standards

I actually have a house rented out at the moment as I couldn’t sell it, and I got my agent to enquire about the number of vehicles prospective tenants had so as not to cause the neighbours a problem like this.

I see no reason why your young adult children shouldn’t park in the car park to free some space for your neighbours YABU

YABU

Ah you’re one of those selfish neighbours everyone hates . No you teenager doesn’t need a car. Use your drive and let your neighbours park on their road too.

Is it excessive? I have my car, dh has his, adult dd and DS each have a car and their partners ( who stop 4/5 nights a week) have cars. Thats 6 cars but we all work/have responsibilities and need cars. Luckily we have 2 drives that hold 4 cars. So worst case scenario is two cars on the street.
I agree, first come, first served.

I gave the total number of cars as we live next door so the messenger neighbour spoke to me and other offender together.

I accept that it’s unreasonable so I’ll find a solution. I have 3 cars in my household and will find a compromise that works for my family and fits in with the ‘two parking spaces’ limit.

Given your neighbours are already discussing it OP, I think it won’t be long before they make a stand and fill up the road with all the cars they can possibly muster, so that you have to park elsewhere.

Don’t underestimate the power of collective action!

We have parking issues in my street but understand that if someone has a legally taxed, MOT'd and insured car they can park it anywhere they like.

If we go away for a few days/longer then we will park further away so the normal spaces are still under the first-come-first-served rule.

I agree with your neighbours

Drip feed that it’s not actually your household that’s the problem…

although, please explain if you have a drive or not?

If you want to own 3+ cars in a single household you should have picked a property with more parking available.

I agree that 7 cars is absolutely taking the piss and that you haven’t considered your neighbours at all by parking some of your cars elsewhere to make room for everyone

I’m also very glad I don’t live on your street

as PP you are selfish and entitled

I hope this isn’t actually true because it beggars belief that anyone would think this is ok

3 or 4 cars for a household isn’t unreasonable, given the state of the housing market right now. I’m surprised your neighbours can keep track of whose is whose!

Sounds like a permit system might be a way to solve it, but that would obviously be for your council to manage.

You’re not BU I don’t think but you may have to park one car elsewhere just for neighbourliness. I get you - I often had to park 10 mins walk from my house and in the cold and dark it was a total pain!

We sometimes have up to six vehicles (my partner is area manager and fleet vans are dropped off/ swapped etc) but we park them away from our house on a non- residential street. Don’t take the piss.

To clarify, no drip feed, and I don’t have a drive.

I made enquiries about getting a drive laid, but the road is too narrow. The only houses on the street with a drive have a passing place opposite so the road is wider at that point.

OP you have 3 cars, assume you have one, your dh has one and your teen dc has one. You have a drive you don’t use. So if your teen doesn’t need their car every day, why can’t that be parked on the drive? You just need to reverse park it on the drive so getting off the drive isn’t an issue.

Your neighbour having 4 is a bit much but that’s their choice.

I'd try and be a decent neighbour if I were you.

Your neighbours are being unreasonable. We have 4 adults in our house and 4 cars. Our NDN has 3 adults, with 3 cars and 2 work vans. All of these vehicles are necessary. They get parked on drives and on the road. I'd be gobsmacked if other neighbours asked us to park somewhere else. Other houses with teens or adult children have 3 or 4 cars, and everyone just parks where they can. I wouldn't ask my neighbours to park elsewhere and wouldn't expect them to ask that of me.