To say something to the neighbours about using my parking space?

[someoneelsesshoes]

My house shares a parking area with the neighbour. Two space each, with my second space opposite mine and vice versa.

I have one car but if I have a visitor they will use my second space. Generally though I like having it as I can reverse all the way back and go when I do go out.

New neighbours moved in a few months ago and have 2 cars. However, they seem to have visitors every weekend and often during the week, and they’ve started parking in my second space.

AIBU to say something, or should I just let it slide if I’m not using it? I feel like putting a note through the door to remind them that is my parking space for this property and I’d like them to ask before using it out of courtesy. Would that be petty?

YABU - let them use it and stop caring
YANBU - they are CFs and I should put a note through

I’d just knock and mention it to them. Are there other spaces for them to park in?
also, Mumsnet law require posting threads to have a diagram 😂

If they haven't asked you if it's ok to use the space, they are CFs.

Is the space labelled? Do they know it’s your space?

Chat to them first, explain you need the space and you also have visitors so can their visitors park on the road

They would know as there are 4 spaces and 2 belong to each property. It’s clearly in the house deeds, which they would have had in all the legal docs

Penguin bollard

Not petty at all, it belongs to you.

Park your car diagonally across both spaces to block them from being used

This or penguin bollard as PP says

I think you need to nip this behaviour in the bud, at least raise their attention to this

I can’t quite work out the layout from ‘my second space opposite mine’. A diagram is clearly needed!

If it’s obviously your space and they know this, then knock and tell them not to use it. It’s perfectly reasonable to want your second space left empty to make reversing easier/for your guests. It doesn’t matter what you use it for, it’s yours. My next door neighbours have 6 vehicles and we have one. Each driveway fits 3 cars. They are not parking any of theirs on my driveway, because it’s mine.

I would speak to them. They are unreasonable to use their spaces AND your visitor space. Supposing you had a visitor that turned up to see you at the same time as theirs? Where is your visitor supposed to park if their visitor is using your space?

Are you happy for them to use it if you don’t have visitors? If so maybe say (letters are so passive aggressive between neighbours, just knock the door) I don’t need it all the time, if you have visitors just let me know and I’ll confirm whether the space is going to be free, you’re welcome to use it if so.

Good lord. Why would you be unreasonable? If they were coming in to your kitchen and using the kettle, woud you be worrying about saying something?!

why should she have to offer it up at all? This sounds like she is willing to compromise, which she shouldn’t be.

This, by “opposite” I envisioned it as one of you as blue and one as red? So how does blue get out if red parked?

If it’s not clearly labelled though visitors wouldn’t know and the neighbours may not think to ask everyone where they have parked!

It’s like that but there is space in the middle for the cars to drive through.

I wouldn't put a note through the door but would go around the speak to them. Along the lines of 'Hi CF at number 5, you might not be aware that that there is MY car space. I've noticed your guests have used it, so please ask them to stop because I have friends/family visiting too. Many thanks.'

I'd then get a large planter on wheels which has a lock on 1 wheel like the pic and have it across your 2nd parking place when you and guests aren't using it.

Its CF for them to have not asked your first before just taking the liberty of using YOUR car space.

It’s got nothing to do with compromise. It’s to do with being a normal person. Only on MN do people refuse to do anything to help their neighbours. In the real world people act neighbourly.

Don’t put a note through the door

knock the door and talk to them. Much less likely to cause a misunderstanding.

Put one of those bars in it that lift up and lock in your spaces they should get it then.

Tell them. Else, they will get used to it, and you won't be able to back pedal.

you have to tell them, but in person, not note through door. Will be much worse if they get used to it and you need to stop it later.

Why not park over / across both of your spaces?