is she a CF or am I in the wrong?

[Anonforthis2]

A family member has a huge four wheel drive car. For the past couple of years she has chosen to work in a fairly remote location because it comes with free rent and other benefits. It's about a 5 hour drive away. Where we live you do need a car to get around really, buses are few and far between and it's a big walk to the train, not having a car pretty much means every day getting around town is a hassle.

She now wants to drive the car here in August, her next visit to our town, and leave it on our lawn for 3-4 months until she comes back, to avoid having to drive it back but still have access it to it during her next trip.

We have a fairly large front lawn, there is room for it and it is legal to park on the lawn, if you avoid the nature strip.

I don't want the car dumped here for 3-4 months. At all. I hate the thought of it, I think it will be an absolute eyesore and more than anything I just think it's a fucking cheek to even ask.

Am I being unreasonable? Partner is unsure and not sure how to say no.

This is a genuine question. There have been issues with her overstepping and being cheeky and entitled a few times over the years, so I may just be emotionally reacting to all of those past events instead of this request.

Surely that would ruin your lawn? I wouldn't be wanting that either. Fine if I had a free spot in the garage or driveway, but not the lawn.

Sigh. Another thread with a glaringly obvious answer.

We don't have a spare spot, the garage is converted into a gym and the carport fits our two cars. She can't park behind us as we couldn't get out.

Yes, it will ruin the lawn, very definitely. We can re plant it when she finally moves the car, I had been thinking of planting a different sort of grass anyway, so although it would look awful when she moves the car it probably will then just be scarified and re planted.

Agree on the condition you can use it - That will likely be enough to dissuade her.

If you end up with it, just park it on the road, she'll never know.

Just say it’s not permitted under xyz restrictions. Say she’ll have to leave it on the road somewhere. Anyway, if she leaving it unused for that length of time, will the battery not need to go on some kind of trickle charge, or is that not necessary these days?

Uh, just say no! If for no other reason than you will be seething for four months. The thing with folks who make cheeky requests is that they must also get used to having those requests denied.

Why are you worried about saying no?

Unfortunately she knows I'd never drive anyone else's car, I am a bit anxious about driving and only drive my own car, though it was a good idea :) You're not wrong about parking on the street, but another family member lives fairly close by and will probably see it and report back to her.

I am not worried about saying No, I definitely would tell her no. My partner is less sure. I just want to know if I am being fair or unfair before I push for a definite No.

She does have a trickle charger, we bought her one 😅. I strongly suspect she will ask my partner to keep the battery running and drive it up and down a bit every week and otherwise care for the car, but she hasn't mentioned that yet.

My other concern is that if we give in to this she will want to do it again and it will happen a couple of times a year. Should have mentioned that.

You would be happy to, at £100 a day, cash up front.

Thank you for the responses so far, I might ask to have this down as it is pretty outing and she can be a bit difficult, it would kick off if she saw this. I appreciate the 34 "YANBU" responses so far and happy to know at least I am not just being mean spirited.

She wants to leave it on your land specifically so that when the inevitable happens and the battery dies repeated, you two mugs will help her jump start it.

If she parked it on the road somewhere she would not get that level of service and would have to get the AA out every time.

I refuse the believe there isn’t a single road space between you and where she needs to be. Fine one, suggest it to her, watch her refuse as inconveniencing you is part of her plan.

Have I misunderstood - is the situation that: because she doesn't want to drive one 5 hour journey, she thinks it's reasonable her car is on your lawn for 3-4 months?

Just say no.
Other alternative is ask your partner to move his car from the carport and park behind her car and then move his every time you want to get out. He might find it easier to agree and say no.

Maybe let her know that car storage services exist and aren't all that expensive. A quick google and email her a link to a storage service near to you.

Just say no, my lawn isn't a car park. How rude of her to ask for permission to destroy your garden.

No way. If she wants to leave it near you, she can pay for garaging somewhere. I could see her car becoming a permanent fixture. Do you really want to look at it every time you leave the house?

Yes it's cheeky, no, I wouldn't do it.

She needs to use long term parking of the paid variety.

Yep, that's about the size of it. She finds the drive tiring and it is not a nice drive really, to be fair. But yep, the idea is she will only have to make the drive once, she will then get a lift home on this occasion as her partner is coming up with his car too on this occasion and have the car here for later 😂

It’s your lawn, not a parking space. I can’t actually
fathom someone being so entitled they think they can use your front garden to park for months on end! Of course you say no.

I think you should read this thread, and allow it to inform your answer,

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/legal_matters/5551209-how-to-get-relatives-car-off-my-property

that's actually not a bad idea... Thank you!

Thank you, honestly it's nice to know I'm not just a being a grumpy cow 😃