Neighbours being funny over parking

[seabrooks1945]

We moved into our new home 3-4 months ago. It’s a beautiful house in a nice, quiet area with good schools. The only issue is the parking situation. We have a driveway that can fit 1 small car. I park my car there, and my husband has to park his bigger car on the street right in front of me, blocking me in. So far, we’ve just been shuffling the cars around to get in and out, but with work, kids, school runs, and all the activities, it’s becoming a hassle. My husband recently started parking on the road outside our neighbours house to make things easier, but every time he moves his car, they park their car there instead. They used to always park in on the driveway until now, so it feels a bit suspicious. Are they sending us hints? Do you think it’s a good idea for us to have a conversation about it? How would you go about it?

Regardless of reasons why or how fair it is or isn’t, the message is loud and clear - they don’t want you parking outside their house. You can play musical cars with them but it will only lead to unpleasantness and that’s something you might want to avoid.

They know what they are doing and are sending you a hint.

If you are expecting them to stop then you are being a CF.if you're gonna clear the air and maybe apologise if you've offended them or caused them problems with their parking then go ahead.

But they don't want you to park there. And are allowed to park their own car their. So don't expect the situation to change.

I agree, a diagram is needed to picture this properly. Especially why your DH can’t park outside of your house.
Having said that, it’s a bit petty of your neighbours to not use their own drive when they previously have.
We have a driveway for one car and my adult child tries to park their car on the road in front of our house but it’s not a given that that is always possible. It’s a public highway 🤷🏻‍♀️

Of course they're being petty and passive aggressive. Obviously, the right response is to politely, and innocently, ask them if you may park on their drive since you've noticed they're not using it...

Commenting so I can see the diagram 🍿

She has told us only the small car can fit on the drive?

Some people don't like cars being parked outside their houses for various reasons. Sometimes its because it makes it difficult to get out/restricts visibility.

Sometimes its because it takes what they consider is "their" space for visitors.

Sometimes its because they don't like the asthetics and consider that bit of the road theirs.

But at the end of the day the bit of the road is usually public, and provided someone is parked safely then it is first come first served and you can't really complain about it if they park there (and they can't really complain about it if you do).

Maybe playing "hunt the space" is less of a hassle than swapping your cars over.

And bear in mind some people out there really don't have enough things to do with their time all day, and will spend the whole day watching and be out like a shot to take "their" space when they get the opportunity.

Re why husband can’t park outside their house- maybe people are already parking there. I think we are all expecting some provincial cul de sac but it could well be be a busier road

While you can park where you want if no restrictions, it's horrible having cars block a view. And I presume any guests of theirs will not be able to park outside their own home?

I just think park outside your own place, you bought a house knowingly with room for one car. If can't widen your drive using some of any garden out front, I think it's kinder to play musical cars in your family for the most part.

Thanks, misread it as one car.

There is an available parking space on their drive, I'd use it! 🙂 And if they don't like that then they can park their car on it and you can park on the road space. They don't own the space outside their house so have no say over who parks in it.

Why cant you park in font of your own house?

I think this may be the issue - DH’s larger car may obscure the view into the road and make it difficult for them to manoevre in and out, esp if they are perhaps not confident drivers or elderly?

I would personally drop them a gift and a note saying - “we notice that you’ve been parking your car on the road and fear it is because we have been parking there? We had to find somewhere to park DH’s car so I can get in and out for the school runs as the drive isn’t big enough for both cars. We are really sorry if this has inconvenienced you or made it difficult to get on and off your drive - it wasn’t our intention. We will do our best to find somewhere else on the road to park going forward. BW Mr & Mrs Seabrooks”

Neither does op.

So they are perfectly entitled to park on the road if they want.

I would just keep parking where it's most convenient for you to park, they don't own the road outside their house and could use their drive. It's up to them if they want to be silly enough to keep wasting their time moving their car. There's no need to speak to them, really, if they are really exercised about it, they can come and talk to you, but what are they going to say? "We don't want to see your car parking on the public road outside our house"?

Yes that’s what a diagram would help with. I understand he blocks her in T-shaped when he parks outside their own house, but why is there room for his car outside the neighbour if they also have a drive.

Anyway it doesn’t matter really. Diagram or not, they can park there if it’s available and if the neighbour wants to park there then they can too. First come first served. They don’t own the space outside. I’m not sure explaining to the neighbour that they’d prefer them to use their drive is going to end well though. Might piss them off even more!!

In my opinion you have done nothing wrong, because where I am from (London) parking in a space outside any house on the street is so normal we don't even think about it.

However from visiting family and friends around the country I have realised some streets are really really weird about this. I have parked outside their house when visiting my friend and had them ring the doorbell to ask us to move our car (these are houses without drives, but still!). No medical needs they needed the space on the road in front of their house, just a preference.

I think you can see this is bothering them however, so petty and silly as it seems I'd probably avoid doing it if you want to keep the peace.

Did you have two cars before you moved to a house with only one small parking place?

Is there any possibility you can extend your driveway so you have enough space for both cars?

We have done this in our last couple of houses, it's so nice to be able to park on your own drive without ever thinking again about where anyone else is parked.

Loads of urban and suburban streets have little or no parking aside from on-street. There are miles and miles of victorian terrace houses with no parking at all aside from on-street parking and no other options locally. Obviously most people have cars so people have to park on the street.

If you have a front garden why not turn it into another parking space? I live in a seaside town and that's what we have to do here - never any room in the summer in streets that have unlimited parking . DD lives near a station - similar problem on weekdays.

I think you can see this is bothering them however, so petty and silly as it seems I'd probably avoid doing it if you want to keep the peace.

This is my view too.

'Do you think it’s a good idea for us to have a conversation about it?'

'I wasn't suggesting that they should move their car. They have every right to park there, so we wouldn't ask that.'

So what would the conversation be about if not asking them to not park there?

I think we need a diagram- I can’t picture there being a tiny drive, and no other space on the road unless your house is really thin? Also can you park a bit further back/forward?
I suspect they don’t want a car parked outside their house, it’s not unlawful of you to park there, but guess they’d prefer their own car there, but odd but there you go

Why can't you and your dh just swap cars, whoever is out first uses the big car