Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Legal matters

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have any legal concerns we suggest you consult a solicitor.

Neighbours own the road of course!

168 replies

Itsfridaysmiles · 22/09/2023 08:01

Probably trivial but is getting a real pain.

Residential on street parking, no restrictions at all. If neighbours can’t get parked exactly at their front door they box me in in by double parking against my car, meaning their car is parked parallel to me so close we can’t even get in drivers doors.

There is also a car in front & behind so I have to wait for them to move, they are parked as they should be.

We have been blocked in and knocked to ask them to move and they don’t answer the door. I usually end up walking .

Its deliberately being done now. I know this as this family have been awful to me since I moved in my home 2 years ago.

What can I actually do?

OP posts:
daffodilandtulip · 22/09/2023 20:21

QuinionsRainbow · 22/09/2023 17:26

The police will tow them if they're blocking you in

What planet are some people on?* *When I had a legally parallel-parked car (with sidelights on) written off at 2 am one winter night by a hit-and-run Prat who didn't even stop to pick up his front bumper and spot-lights, the only way I could get the police the least bit interested was to suggest that I make a 40 minute bus journey to the "local" police station to collect an Incident Report. When I got there, they were about to close for the day, and I had to go home with the form, and return next day to submit it. And that was the last I heard of it.

I said this upthread ... neither the police or council care around here. The amount of times I've had to run to do the school run last minute because I've been blocked in my drive. The neighbours tell me they can park where they like, the police tell me to ring the council and the council tell me to ring the police.

Wittyend · 22/09/2023 22:34

Where is OP to confirm the wonderful diagram? We need updates please!

Itsfridaysmiles · 23/09/2023 10:13

I can indeed confirm I am the yellow car that is blocked in by neighbour car on the outside, usually parked so close I can’t even walk between the cars!

Spoke with police yesterday and they have said to phone next time it happens and they will send someone round but only if there is someone available.

They have also said as a few others suggested, photos, dates & times to build up a picture of the behaviour.

Thank you to everyone who replied, sorry it took so long to get back on, I was on a double shift.

OP posts:
WhatapityWapiti · 23/09/2023 10:50

Welcome back OP! Glad the police are being helpful.

A few questions:
Where is your house in relation to the neighbour’s? ie are you immediately next door, or a few doors down, other side of street etc?
Is there parking on both sides of the street?
Does the neighbour’s double parking reduce your road to a single carriageway at that point? Presumably it doesn’t block access completely.
Do any other neighbours ever park in the offending spot?

To be honest, none of these questions really affect advice to go to the police / take photos/keep a diary and you’ve already done that. But I’m just fascinated by their behaviour!

icannotsay · 23/09/2023 13:20

Police won't and do not have time for that

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 23/09/2023 14:01

It seems a bit strange that when you knock they refuse to answer the door - after all them boxing you in is so that they can get the space when you move your car.

Id keep walking and leave your car parked in the spot for days at a time, this will frustrate them more than anything else.

Yes, this is what I don't understand. Surely, they must 'give in' at some point and move, otherwise there's no way that OP can ever move her car out of what they believe is 'their' space - unless the cars in front or behind move, I suppose.

I'd be inclined to contact the fire brigade (non-emergency number) direct and tell them you're worried about fire safety in your road. You could even play a bit 'simple'. Ask them to come out and advise whether they would be able to find a way past the car that very frequently parks there (no need to say why they park there).

Fire brigades in general seem to (very wisely) invest a lot of time in measures in the community to educate and advise so as to reduce or mitigate fires in the first place, to prevent the likelihood of tragic losses of life and homes.

Of course, they will confirm that they cannot safely get past. Their normal course of action, if necessary, would be to bulldoze the car out of the way with the fire engine - which invariably writes the car off (with no hope of an insurance pay-out to the owner), but naturally also slows down the engine in getting to the fire.

I'm sure that, if they report the car to the police, they would take it very seriously. Of course, the police/fire brigade may go and 'strongly talk to' the neighbour themselves. Either way, it's somebody 'official' dealing with them and stopping/punishing their dangerous behaviour and not you having to endanger yourself.

How embarrassing for the stupid PA neighbour to have to be officially informed/cautioned that, if you park blocking the road, it blocks the road!

rileynexttime · 23/09/2023 17:16

@Itsfridaysmiles when you can could you clarify whether emergency vehicles, refuse lorries etc can pass down the road when you are boxed in as per @FallingAutumnLeaf 's masterly diagram. Which I reproduce below.

Neighbours own the road of course!
Ýsette · 23/09/2023 18:33

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 22/09/2023 09:14

Honestly?
I would just not park there. Life is too short to try and reason with the unreasonable.

Fuck that!!! Why the hell should she be intimidated?

Helen1625 · 23/09/2023 18:53

.

Helen1625 · 23/09/2023 18:56

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 23/09/2023 14:01

It seems a bit strange that when you knock they refuse to answer the door - after all them boxing you in is so that they can get the space when you move your car.

Id keep walking and leave your car parked in the spot for days at a time, this will frustrate them more than anything else.

Yes, this is what I don't understand. Surely, they must 'give in' at some point and move, otherwise there's no way that OP can ever move her car out of what they believe is 'their' space - unless the cars in front or behind move, I suppose.

I'd be inclined to contact the fire brigade (non-emergency number) direct and tell them you're worried about fire safety in your road. You could even play a bit 'simple'. Ask them to come out and advise whether they would be able to find a way past the car that very frequently parks there (no need to say why they park there).

Fire brigades in general seem to (very wisely) invest a lot of time in measures in the community to educate and advise so as to reduce or mitigate fires in the first place, to prevent the likelihood of tragic losses of life and homes.

Of course, they will confirm that they cannot safely get past. Their normal course of action, if necessary, would be to bulldoze the car out of the way with the fire engine - which invariably writes the car off (with no hope of an insurance pay-out to the owner), but naturally also slows down the engine in getting to the fire.

I'm sure that, if they report the car to the police, they would take it very seriously. Of course, the police/fire brigade may go and 'strongly talk to' the neighbour themselves. Either way, it's somebody 'official' dealing with them and stopping/punishing their dangerous behaviour and not you having to endanger yourself.

How embarrassing for the stupid PA neighbour to have to be officially informed/cautioned that, if you park blocking the road, it blocks the road!

This is actually a really good suggestion which may well work. I've used the non emergency number for the fire brigade for an issue with a neighbour (they left a pan to burn and it filled our house with putrid smelling smoke) they came out to us, then went to see the neighbours. They also did a follow up visit as they noticed a further safety issue and read the riot act to the neighbours. I think they may well help in this instance.
Thanks
Reply

LubyLooTwo · 23/09/2023 19:19

Sounds like they are obstructing the highway. Call the police so it gets towed away and impounded in a car pound.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 23/09/2023 19:34

I agree that just not parking there and letting them get away with it is exactly what they want. Bullies should never be allowed to win, just for a quiet life.

Apart from anything else, how do you know they won't then up the ante and keep pushing, to demand you give in further? CFs very rarely stick with their initial demand, if they think they can push for more.

Stepbystepfan · 23/09/2023 19:39

daffodilandtulip · 22/09/2023 08:49

Where do you all live where the police care about parking?! Mine just tell me to log it with the council.

Same! Then the council say to report it to the police 🤦‍♀️

daffodilandtulip · 23/09/2023 19:39

@Stepbystepfan also same!

pollymere · 23/09/2023 20:31

I would be calling the police and saying there is a car dangerously parked in the middle of the road. The green car is causing a potential obstruction for a fire engine or ambulance. I'd be tempted to be calling 999 actually as it looks really dangerous. Definitely be taking photos and do check MOT/Tax. It's also harassment if they are blocking just you. It's very aggressive parking. Hopefully if the police visit them with a warning it should resolve.

Mellowautumnmists · 23/09/2023 20:55

Are you still blocked in?

likethislikethat · 23/09/2023 21:00

If Mr Plod is not available, leave it 5 minutes and phone them back, telling them not to bother coming round now because you've shot and killed the person who parked the car illegally.

In less than 2 minutes you'll have 5 cars of Mr Plods round.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 23/09/2023 21:21

It's also harassment if they are blocking just you. It's very aggressive parking. Hopefully if the police visit them with a warning it should resolve.

Is it not also straight-up illegal for them to block you in and stop you from getting on to the public highway?

It is when somebody blocks you in to your drive (although not if they block you from being able to get on to your drive) - to the extent that, if somebody parks on your empty two-car tandem drive, YOU are actually breaking the law by pulling in behind them and could be in trouble for depriving your trespasser of access to the road.

MonkeyChiselTree · 23/09/2023 21:26

This is definitely harassment so follow the police's advice and take photos, write down dates and times and call them.

DonVanVliet · 23/09/2023 22:23

Just drive out through them..

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 23/09/2023 22:29

Just drive out through them..

How exactly?

Icepinkeskimo · 24/09/2023 01:09

Ýsette · 23/09/2023 18:33

Fuck that!!! Why the hell should she be intimidated?

Exactly!!!
Where do you live OP? My brother has a Sherman tank I could ask him to call round as I understand you are in desperate need of two pints of semi skimmed milk and a packet of digestives. He won’t mind dropping them off…

SarahBlackshaw · 24/09/2023 06:17

That's a fantastic diagram that's how I pictured it too x

Ukrainebaby23 · 24/09/2023 06:25

Our council has a section for anti social behaviour, I don't know what they do, its not just for council tenants, may be worth looking into

GoodVibesHere · 24/09/2023 07:17

That's not even parking, it's 'leaving your car in the middle of the road'. Take photos and report to the local council via their app.

That diagram is excellent! I was puzzling over the situation and the diagram brought it to life. We should have that poster on every thread, like a court artist showing us the scene via a sketch.