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Neighbour’s car ruining neighbourhood

253 replies

sliverette · 27/09/2026 17:59

Would love to know what you all think of this. We live in a lovely little street, we all take pride in our homes. There is no off-street parking unfortunately. Recently an older man (early sixties?)left his car next to an embankment which faces our homes. The problem is, his car had broken down on a busy street and had to be towed somewhere. This was about three weeks ago. The man has been trying to fix it himself and has sometimes had the front grille off and even jacks under the front of the car (all wheels are on). A few of us have challenged him about it. One neighbour has explained that it looks unsightly and none of us here fix our cars in the street. His car is noticeably older than most in our street. His answer has been that there was no space for it to be left in his own road around the corner when the recovery vehicle rescued him. Three of us have challenged him. We asked him if he was even from our neighbourhood, as it’s just not done here! The latest time he got quite angry and said he was doing his best and was waiting for a part to arrive. We all feel he should get a garage to tow it away and fix it there. We have checked online and his vehicle is taxed, insured, and has a MOT. The repair he is attempting involves his getting under the car, but no noise involved, which is something I suppose! A few of us want to call the police about him. Three people have told him already that it’s unsightly with the grille removed, so he’s already been warned!

OP posts:
MellowSubmarine · 27/09/2026 18:43

A few of us want to call the police about him

Oh go on, give them a call and report back what they say.

Elm2 · 27/09/2026 18:44

Hope the part takes a few more weeks to arrive…

somanychristmaslights · 27/09/2026 18:49

This reply has been deleted

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somanychristmaslights · 27/09/2026 18:49

thislittlelife · 27/09/2026 18:41

Hyacinth Bucket, is that you?

Ahh cross post, this is the first thing I thought of too 🤣

Dorothyperky · 27/09/2026 18:50

What type of car? Older limited addition cars can often be worked on by the owner as they're not automatic transmission.

He probably can't afford a garage (£90 an hour in my Chichi town).

Let it go or when you sell up you'll have to declare reporting a neighbour to the police!

TeaIsLovely · 27/09/2026 18:52

sliverette · 27/09/2026 17:59

Would love to know what you all think of this. We live in a lovely little street, we all take pride in our homes. There is no off-street parking unfortunately. Recently an older man (early sixties?)left his car next to an embankment which faces our homes. The problem is, his car had broken down on a busy street and had to be towed somewhere. This was about three weeks ago. The man has been trying to fix it himself and has sometimes had the front grille off and even jacks under the front of the car (all wheels are on). A few of us have challenged him about it. One neighbour has explained that it looks unsightly and none of us here fix our cars in the street. His car is noticeably older than most in our street. His answer has been that there was no space for it to be left in his own road around the corner when the recovery vehicle rescued him. Three of us have challenged him. We asked him if he was even from our neighbourhood, as it’s just not done here! The latest time he got quite angry and said he was doing his best and was waiting for a part to arrive. We all feel he should get a garage to tow it away and fix it there. We have checked online and his vehicle is taxed, insured, and has a MOT. The repair he is attempting involves his getting under the car, but no noise involved, which is something I suppose! A few of us want to call the police about him. Three people have told him already that it’s unsightly with the grille removed, so he’s already been warned!

You all sound like a bunch of snobs. Must be a right old Curtain Twitcher Town where you live. The police will just laugh at the snobbery.

TheFormidableMrsC · 27/09/2026 18:52

You all sound utterly vile.

Robyn101 · 27/09/2026 18:52

Where do you live OP?
Just so I can make sure to avoid it like the plague

Littlebitpsycho · 27/09/2026 18:53

This has to be rage bait - the clue was the 'oh it's noticeably older than our cars' ohhh I'm SO sorry anything older than new range rover isn't acceptable to hyacinth bucket over there 🤣

If i knew where you lived I'd bring a couple of our 1980s Fords for a little holiday.

Get a life

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 27/09/2026 18:54

Oh my god! Not with the grille off overnight!

Perhaps you could get some horse blinkers OP, you could all wear them when you walk past so his poor car doesn't offend your delicate sensibilities

DoneAndNotDusted · 27/09/2026 18:55

Bilsonate · 27/09/2026 18:03

Is this a joke? Leave the man and his car be!

Was just about to say this!

anrom1969 · 27/09/2026 19:00

If this is your only problem in life then you are truly blessed, close your curtains, look the other way when you walk past.

somanychristmaslights · 27/09/2026 19:00

If your whole road doesn’t have off road parking Op, doesn’t sound like you live in a great area anyway. I doubt he’s bringing down the tone of the street.

cartagenagina · 27/09/2026 19:01

Clutches Pearls

Jimmyjumpy · 27/09/2026 19:02

"None of us here fix our cars in the street", " looks unsightly", "noticeably older", "challenged him", "its just not done here". What's your name Hyacinth Bouquet (spelt bucket)? You are a SNOB.

takealettermsjones · 27/09/2026 19:04

I think you should call the police; they probably need a good laugh.

Aethelredtheunsteady · 27/09/2026 19:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Of course it's made up - they stopped making Keeping Up Appearances 20 years ago.

LER83 · 27/09/2026 19:12

Would like to think this is a joke but sadly I have just moved from a street exactly like this. My poor neighbour has had no end of abuse because she has been fixing up her car, even though most of the time she's doing it inside her own bloody garage and is so quiet you barely know she's in there! He dp even got racial slurs thrown at him! Some people are seriously unhinged!

Port1aCastis · 27/09/2026 19:19

Where do you live? Need to know so I can get my old rust bucket Ford towed to outside your house and leave it there. Wouldn't like to live on snob street with you though

LondonLass2026 · 27/09/2026 19:23

Just be thankful it's not permanent if it's that bad. Personally, as pps have said, I'd be out there with tea and biccies, asking if he needs a hand. In fact my partner has done this many times as he's good with cars.

ThreadGuardDog · 27/09/2026 19:23

ForGreenHiker · 27/09/2026 18:05

I see that rage baiting is now on Mumsnet!

Either that or this is just pure snobbery. He’s an older man in his sixties and OP says the car is ‘noticeably older than most in our street’. OP hasn’t even considered that he may not be able to afford to get it fixed, otherwise it would have been towed to a garage. OP how about offering to help the poor man instead of harassing him about something likely beyond his control. Pathetic.

SuffolkBargeWoman · 27/09/2026 19:25

This is a LOCAL street, for LOCAL people.
We'll have none of your riffraff here

HalzTangz · 27/09/2026 19:28

I'm glad I don't live on your street, the car has broken down, is road legal, and is under repair, yet you are all hanging up on him. It's a public street, the police will laugh at you. The guy is doing nothing wrong

TheDreamyFinch · 27/09/2026 19:28

sliverette · 27/09/2026 17:59

Would love to know what you all think of this. We live in a lovely little street, we all take pride in our homes. There is no off-street parking unfortunately. Recently an older man (early sixties?)left his car next to an embankment which faces our homes. The problem is, his car had broken down on a busy street and had to be towed somewhere. This was about three weeks ago. The man has been trying to fix it himself and has sometimes had the front grille off and even jacks under the front of the car (all wheels are on). A few of us have challenged him about it. One neighbour has explained that it looks unsightly and none of us here fix our cars in the street. His car is noticeably older than most in our street. His answer has been that there was no space for it to be left in his own road around the corner when the recovery vehicle rescued him. Three of us have challenged him. We asked him if he was even from our neighbourhood, as it’s just not done here! The latest time he got quite angry and said he was doing his best and was waiting for a part to arrive. We all feel he should get a garage to tow it away and fix it there. We have checked online and his vehicle is taxed, insured, and has a MOT. The repair he is attempting involves his getting under the car, but no noise involved, which is something I suppose! A few of us want to call the police about him. Three people have told him already that it’s unsightly with the grille removed, so he’s already been warned!

I’m afraid you lost me when you said his car is considerably older than others in the street and also when you said ‘it’s just not done here!’
Snobbery at its best.

Seziah · 27/09/2026 19:29

This can’t be real. You can’t call the police because someone has removed the grille on their car 😂. No wonder he’s getting angry, he didn’t want to be on your road in the first place!