I’ve been living in a house for 2 years, I live alone and own my property and also the parking space in our shared car park. Every house has one numbered space and there are 2 visitor spaces to make 8 spaces total. The adjacent road has no restrictions so is usually okay to find a space too.
My neighbour also lives alone but has 3 grown children and grandchildren that visit a lot.
It started when her son parked in front of her space (not in an actual space) which meant I couldn’t reverse out of my parking space, the car park is quite tight. I knocked on the door and asked if they could move and that they could park in my space overnight as I was going out. She told me I should reverse into my space and then I could get out easier in future but I have a dog who rides in the boot which is why I park forwards. I thought it was cheeky to tell me how to park when her visitor was the one blocking half the car park.
This happened at least 3 other occasions where I had to knock because various of her visitors blocked me in or out. Because they all visit at once they use all the visitor spaces and still park wherever they want in the car park.
I was going on a 2 week holiday and said her family could use my space to be nice. From then she would always ask me if I was going out/away. She will stand in her door way and watch me put a bag in my car and ask me when I’ll be back, she doesn’t say ‘can we use your space’ but I know that’s what she’s asking. I will reply and say oh I’m in an out really and she will ask ‘are you here tonight?’
Over the summer twice I came back and found 2 kids ride on car things in my space, parked very neatly, as the grandkids had been riding around in the car park. It is funny but also taking the p, I had to get out my car to move the toy cars so I could park.
Recently I came home from work and her visitor was parked in my space again, I knocked and she said ‘oh sorry you put your bin out on Tuesday (2 days early) so I assumed you would be away on bin day’.
Last night I got home and again one of her visitors was parked in my space, and in every other visitor space. I knocked but nobody was home so I messaged her and she said ‘really sorry, we are at xyz pub just settling the bill will be back in a sec x ‘ the pub is less than 5 mins walk from my house but it took 22 minutes for them to come and move it so I could park in my own space.
I find it hard to be annoyed because she’s always so smiley and apologetic and so are her family but they never park in the other neighbours spaces. I think they know I won’t confront them. How do I tell her I’ve had enough without causing a problem?! I’ve heard them yelling at each other through the walls before and I’m concerned they could be quite volatile and I don’t have anyone in my corner to support me.