AIBU to object to a neighbour reserving shared parking spaces with cones?

[CoastalGrey]

I own a property in a small busy town where like most places, parking is an issue. I have my own drive but only big enough for one car. The road is unadopted and not in great shape.

All of the houses on my side of the road are privately owned, opposite is a row owned by a housing association which has its own parking, next to that are some ‘free’ spaces and on my side off-road space for 2-3 more cars.

It annoys me that people who don’t live in the road often park here, contributing to the poor condition but I realise I can’t do much about it. What really irritates me though is that one of the HA tenants (who doesn’t even own a car) has appointed herself parking controller and constantly puts cones in the ‘free’ spaces for various people. This means if I have a visitor they often can’t park easily or nearby. She has actually offered to ‘save’ me one but that’s not the point - it has nothing to do with her where people park!

I accept that I bought a house with limited parking but AIBU to think someone who has access to the HA reserved parking if they need it should not be attempting to control where everybody else can park. I’m not keen to get on the wrong side of her but it doesn’t seem very fair. Is it even legal to do this?

Move the cones into your boot snd park in the space. If anyone challenges you just say that they have no right to reserve the spaces.

i live in a similar situation except I don't have my own off street parking space so I do sympathise with your situation, however I don't think there is much you can do about this without causing your neighbour to get the hump. She obviously has a lot of time on her hands and is in direct proximity to the space so you need to ask yourself whether this is worth causing a big feud over. The answer is rarely yes as disputes with neighbours can be horrendous.

I would just take advantage of the fact you're cordial and let her reserve the space for you when you need it, it's not 'fair' but you can use it to your advantage and it's better than starting a big row. If she ever complains about how often you use it etc use the opportunity to point out that she shouldn't be in control of it anyway and maybe she will then stop doing it?

It will be the owners joint responsibility to maintain the road. Do look at getting something drawn up to make sure that the housing association are tied into their share.

I live in a very similar street. People only put cones out if they are having a significant delivery and then they usually flag on the WhatsApp group. If anyone else tries it, they get moved.

We viewed a house on an adopted road, which residents paid the maintenance for, and no one was allowed park on the road. We parked on there when we went to view it and were asked by the EA to park on the drive.
Those cones need to go missing, and no, it’s not legal to reserve spaces. You know that, she knows that, everyone knows that 🙂

As many have said, just remove the cones.
It’s no more your business than hers beyond it affecting your friends/family being able to park when they visit. They should remove the cones and park. That’s it. The end.

Same.
Every. Single.Day.

You should have been told when you purchased your house if the road was unadapted and you shared responsibility with the other houses. I decided not to buy a house on an unadapted road once my solicitor did a search to check.