[Closed] Neighbours parking in our spaces problem

I'd be tempted to let them know that if you find you or your guests have problems parking on your property, you'll be installing lockable drop down barriers.

If they use the spaces sensibly, you won't have to.

Or, for the one who claims it's common space, ask him to show you where that's covered in the deeds.

I don't want to fall out with the neighbours, but equally, I don't want to have to go and ask them to move their cars whenever someone pops round. I'm also struggling to come to terms with their seeming sense of entitlement.

Parking people in sometimes helps.... Informal agreements will always be taking advantage of if people want to, saying "for short periods" & "if you need to" will lead to them assuming you don't mind (if they take the mindset) so rather than asking if they can they will end up using it unless you ask them to move.

The grand daughter probably thinks the space belongs to them.

Put your car in the space and pop something solid in the other one.

Unless you can get them to see your point of view amicably and quickly, you're probably going to end up being labelled as stroppy by your new neighbours, which probably won't do you any favours.

I would just state nicely when you see people (as opposed to door knocking or notes that could be perceived as passive-aggressive) that because of your different circumstances to the previous owners, you need the spaces, that in any case really always belonged to the house you now own. If they're not happy with a middle-ground of asking every time or limiting it to very short stops, then it might just end up being the technique that works best for you. If they won't compromise, I doubt there's much way you can keep things amicable and keep your spaces.

Could you park your own cars in the contentious spaces when you have guests, allowing them to use the other one?

Show 'em the deeds..

Tell them to keep off.

Go around there and talk about it like grown ups - not during the "heat of the moment" when you find someone parking in your space. Explain reasonably and rationally that the land is yours, you paid money for it and that you wish to use it for friends and family etc.

If no joy then install some of those pop up parking bollard thingies or go and get a couple of scrap cars, declare them as SORN and leave them there to rust away (assuming it is you land and not a public highway)...!

I don't want to fall out with the neighbours, but equally, I don't want to have to go and ask them to move their cars whenever someone pops round. I'm also struggling to come to terms with their seeming sense of entitlement.

Your neighbours obviously don't feel the same ! If it were me, I'd assert my myself quietly but with a firm message. They need to stop using your property to park on unless it's by mutual agreement. If it continues record the incidents as they happen with photographic evidence to keep as a back-up for later if required. Let every one of the culprits know in writing that parking on your property must stop. Treat them all the same with a clear & unambiguous message.

After that, I've got my own way of dealing with stuff like this. If the offending neighbours have ignored your pleas then they're obviously not bothered about you, your feelings or falling out.

If someone were to park on my property & refuse to move, I'd either dig a ditch round it or tow it away.

Simples 😀

You can't keep everyone happy when it comes to parking.

If you don't make it clear from the off, they'll have your leg up. Especially the ones who see you as the "new people". This sort often assume they have some extra authority above and beyond simply because they've been there longer.

It's either or. If you want your spaces, someone will get the hump, if you want to keep everyone sweet, you'll lose your parking. Doesn't mean go at it like a bull a bull in a China shop but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.

I'm not saying this is your problem but it does affect their likely reaction to a request that they sod off: if they weren't parking on your land, where would they park? In other words, are they likely to give in and just walk x meters further or are they going to bicker to the death?

What cheez0 said. And as a general tip for everyone else, never buy a house with a shared drive.

Simple

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/200748365748?var=gv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y&lpid=65&device=t&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=65&ff19=0

Yep, make a stand immediately or you'll have long term problems.
I'd avoid any formal stuff but just 'catch them at the right time' talk about it as mentioned above, not in the heat of the moment. Explain that while you don't mind them parking there if they come and ask, that arrangement will stop if they abuse it.

Whatever you do to change what has become 'the norm' will have you labelled as the new awkward git from no 43. It's inevitable. Just how often are these spare spaces going to be used? I.e. after making a fuss, are they going to stand empty for long periods?

Yes I know it's your right/your land but you'll still look a pratt if you turf everyone off and leave the spaces empty.

Your neighbours are going to hate you and gossip about you,

I am always amazed at how territorial people get about parking, not in the OP's case as he actually owns the land but say in a terrace street. People literally having fights over someones car parked in front of their house. Used to happen where I lived, if it means having to walk an extra couple of feet to your door meh whats the problem?

If you've got time & patience I reckon the best thing to do would be to let them all park there for the time being and become friends with 1 of the couples for a few weeks then broach the subject of the parking. Then they'll see you're a decent guy who won't be nasty about it.
Be funny to see them knock on to ask as well.

I think you're going to struggle here. Having people ask you whenever they want to park in your spaces isn't going to work. If parking is available to you on your drive then can't you leave that as "reserve" for visitors and actually park your own vehicle(s) in the other spaces you own ? Establish those other spaces as "your parking spaces" i.e you actually have a vehicle parked there and make a point of asking people parked there to move if you come back to find someone using it.

We walked away from a house purchase for this very reason, we were 'told' by a neighbour during one of our visits to view the house that 'everyone shared the access and parking and had done for years so it's an accepted rule. The deeds and documents showed otherwise. His demeanour put us off as years of neighbourhood disputes was not in our plans.
Good luck - as has been said above, firm, fair and timely stating of the facts may stop it becoming a TV documentary.

Although I don't disagree with the above, perhaps also try to see it from their perspective. Rightly it wrongly they will have got used to the convienience, and no doubt a good part of thier routine lifestyle is based around the old arrangement and they have been comfortable with that for sometime. Now, here comes you, uprooting the convenience and routine forcing them into a sudden change.

No one likes that an albeit it is not your fault, perhaps express your position but work with them to help soften the change process so that things stay amicable until a new permanent solution is found.

Honestly, the easiest way will be to erect a bollard or chain to stop people parking there. Its decisive and final with no case for mis-interpretation.

Parking arguments are a nightmare, better to nip them in the bud quickly and provide no form of ambiguity when it comes to who's land it is.

You're definitely going to have a problem here. How often does this become an issue. Could you just suggest to your visitors that they park in the spaces your neighbours own if yours are not free?

Do you really need those space(s)?

If you want to 'reset' the situation. Buy a £300 car and leave it there for a month parked in a way that it takes two spaces with not enough overlap to get in, washed and cleaned regularly.

Charge them a peppercorn rent to have a space then it is clear what the relationship is. Otherwise if they are allowed to use the spaces for free they will assume rights over time.
Perhaps a quick solicitors opinion?

Charge them a peppercorn rent to have a space then it is clear what the relationship is. Otherwise if they are allowed to use the spaces for free they will assume rights over time.
Perhaps a quick solicitors opinion?

I was just about to write something similar. By offering a rental arrangement it would allow you the opportunity to explain that you had effectively paid additional money for this land (perhaps your house would have been cheaper without this attached land)

Are there particular times or days of the week when you are more likely to have visitors. Perhaps you could offer a "timeshare" ie: no weekend parking or no parking in the evenings before 9.00 pm?

If its abused, you will then be completely justified in withdrawing the arrangement,

glad i ain't got a CAR !!

these;

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Maybe only raise the bollards on days you know you'll be needing the spaces?

As above, though, if you leave it they will *always* be parked in the spaces when you need them because that's sods law.

So how many spaces actualy do you have? 3/4/5? I would tell them they can use 1 or 2 if they ask but keep another 1 or 2 that they cannot park in at all

(c) Jamie

Original thread http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ouch-damaged-car-on-company-property-help

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Irrelevant of who owns what do you want to be friends with your neighbours or not?

If you don't actually need the extra spaces then I'd be inclined to tell each neighbour separately who uses them that it's not a problem generally, but if you have a need then you'll ask them to move the offending car.

And do it with a smile plus with an understanding that this has changed since the previous owner - but you have a need that they didn't.

could you paint on the ground 'parking for your house only' on the floor and pop a sign saying the same and drivers eye height at the head of the space?

Exactly as someone said enough reason for me not to buy a house! good luck this could get very messy!

Fence it off and garden the area for a while, then gate it and start occasional parking on a bit of hard standing to suit yourself. Unbounded areas are always a problem, if you fence it then any challenges are easily resolved by deed viewing, and believe me they will check your deeds if you fence it.

Ahhhhhh MiddleClassFirstWorldProblemWorld. Got to love it!

Bollards? Cones? Solicitors advice? Peppercorn rents? Rental arrangements? Fencing it off?

How do you think any of those things are all going to play to a wider audience? All of whom are your immediate neighbours, who you need to bump along with on a daily basis? And who's goodwill you might be requiring at some indeterminate point in the future? Think its going to go well? Or do you think the new bloke is going to be referred to as 'that awkward/arsey git from number 23'?

And for what? For a trivial inconvenience for some friends who occasionally pop round? I'd just accept it for the very minor inconvenience it is, and realise that you really can't put a price on a decent relationship with your neighbours.

[i]you really can't put a price on a decent relationship with your neighbours. [/i]

It'd be charging them £30/month per space for me and then they can fight off anyone else who uses 'their' space 🙂

Plenty of sensible suggestions above, but would definitely go for the 'sort it now' option - else this could get horrible.

Having had a shared access issues once before (a footpath connected but slightly detached from the land that we owned but the neighbour had right of way over) it is certainly one of the things that we said 'never, ever again' to for all future house purchases.

Good luck, stay calm but assertive.

[quote=binners ]
And for what? For a trivial inconvenience for some friends who occasionally pop round? I'd just accept it for the very minor inconvenience it is, and realise that you really can't put a price on a decent relationship with your neighbours.

Or somebody pushing things with the new guys next door to ensure they have pissed in the parking space enough that the reckon it's part of their house.

The previous owners of our house had an informal agreement with the neighbours that they could park infrequently and for short periods in the spaces furthest from our house.

In the few weeks since we arrived, there have regularly been cars parked in the spaces, one of which has been there on and off every day. When we asked the owner (granddaughter of a neighbour) not to park there, she was quite affronted, but moved. Last night another neighbour was using two of the spaces, and my wife reminded them that it wasn't communal parking, they were very assertive and said "it has always been communal", and didn't want to give any ground at all.

If you want to give it up then fine, but if you actually want to use what you paid for then put a stop to it up front. No harm in someone parking there if they really need to once in a while but don't let them roll you over.

Invite them over, make them a cup of tea and discuss?
Tell them the score in a reasonable manner, then it's up to them to either take umbrage or accept your conditions.
Obviously, if they go off then they gets no parking at all.

You are kofi Annan and I claim my UN diplomatic Status 😆

Do you need to be friends with the ignorant freeloader who claims 'it's always been communal' when it's always belonged to what is now your house?

Point out politely, offer to show deeds, take it from there. Keep it filled with friends / rellies cars visiting.

(edit) and are you paying rates on the spaces?

Sounds to me like they're of the mentality that "its not doing any harm".
Also you're changing the accepted norm round there, so its not going to be easy.
I think the best way forwards is to go round with say a bottle of wine or similar, introduce yourselves properly and have a chat. Just lob in the parking situation as an aside and see how it goes. Don't make the parking the primary reason for the visit.

Ahhhhhh MiddleClassFirstWorldProblemWorld. Got to love it!

Bollards? Cones? Solicitors advice? Peppercorn rents? Rental arrangements? Fencing it off?

How do you think any of those things are all going to play to a wider audience? All of whom are your immediate neighbours, who you need to bump along with on a daily basis? And who's goodwill you might be requiring at some indeterminate point in the future? Think its going to go well? Or do you think the new bloke is going to be referred to as 'that awkward/arsey git from number 23'?

And for what? For a trivial inconvenience for some friends who occasionally pop round? I'd just accept it for the very minor inconvenience it is, and realise that you really can't put a price on a decent relationship with your neighbours.

Get back to Russia, Commie!

It can be a delicate situation but pussy-footing around, worrying about hurting peoples feelings can equally backfire. At the end of the day its YOUR land. Just tell them, with a smile, sorry thats my land. 'whats your problem'? You are parking on my property. If they see any hint of weakness they'll ignore whatever you say. You can still be FIRM yet polite. If they take issue with firm/polite then thats their issue.

If you offer to rent it to them, they say err no. You'll still perodically get their guests rocking up and parking there. You'll be in a situation then where you think 'do I have to knock (and how many times)'. They don't bother answering the door- you look like a weak tit then. What do you do?

You offer to rent, they take you up on it but don't pay for a couple of months. What do you do?

Cut to the chase, firm and polite. Sorry can you NOT park there fullstop. If they persist put some bloody large stones there.

I have a similar problem, been ongoing for years with various people. When I tried to point it out to one of the 'users' he came round at midnight and started beating and kicking on my front door and shouting obscenities through my letterbox and reported me to plod for damaging his pride and joy Daewoo Matiz with some extra sharp post it notes. Once I explained the issue the cops were fine with it but could do nothing about the parking as its private land.

Currently there is a decrepit Vectra rotting away in the space, untaxed, no doubt uninsured but DVLA, council, police and housing authority are totally uninterested as its not in anyones way except mine...

Currently there is a decrepit Vectra rotting away in the space, untaxed, no doubt uninsured but DVLA, council, police and housing authority are totally uninterested as its not in anyones way except mine...

You can smell fuel. You think theres a leak.

Your niece/son/friends child was playing on it- its a hazzard. Report it.

Or why not contact the DVLA about taking ownership of it. You can pick up forms in the postoffice I think?

At the very least it'll prompt the real owner to step up..

Obviously you wouldn't consider setting fire to the Vectra, nor rolling it into the street with some drunk mates.

I think your neighbours are being dicks. If I was one of the neighbours, I’d [i]never[/i] automatically assume I could merrily carry on parking on somebody else’s property – the arrangement was with the previous owner. I’d be expecting the arrangement to stop as soon as the house was sold to a new owner.

The only reasons I can think of for their reluctance is a) they genuinely don’t know/believe that it’s your property, and think it’s communal, b) they’ve put on their insurance that’s where they regularly park, or my original theory, c) they’re just being overly entitled douche canoes.

You’re not being unreasonable in wanting your visiting friends and family to be able to park conveniently on the property you own. A possible compromise could be that you let them park as they are doing, but make sure you get cones out if you’re expecting guests. And if they’ve parked without asking and you have guests, block them in. 😛

Or get a Jaime Smirking Bollard(TM).

Last time I managed to get the council to stick a letter on the previous one saying it would be towed in 14 days, 13 days, 23hrs and 59 secs later it was moved, then immediately replaced with the above! Very annoying.

What do you mean about taking ownership, as in getting them to take responsibility? Have tried reporting the untaxed vehicle route with no joy.

Currently there is a decrepit Vectra rotting away in the space, untaxed, no doubt uninsured but DVLA, council, police and housing authority are totally uninterested as its not in anyones way except mine...

A tow rope and drag it. Then report it. Good idea.

On the flipside, I've got a weird one. We live in a tiny close- the road is very narrow. All the houses in the turning circle at the end have no parking just their drives. when I moved in I was told by a neighbour that the space infront of my house was mine (inc my drive). I STILL feel slightly embarrased as I only have one car but NO ONE parks in that spot so (slightly embarrased) I use that space. Its like an unspoken rule. Any visitors jumble up but no one parks in mine or the space next to it.

Nothing queerer than folk.

Not sure setting fire to it would gain the result Im after! I considered the moving it into the street option but the spaces are about 30 degrees downward slope so its a tough ask for a car with its handbrake on!

Sorry for hi-jacking OP, if you have a single offender Id definitely go round and just mention to them that you use the spaces on a regular, ad-hoc basis and you would appreciate it if they could leave them available for your visitors otherwise you may have to take steps to prevent them parking there. It could easily spiral out of control and just become a headache for you in your new place.

Get someone to unlock it and roll it into the street, locksmith shouldn't have any problems unlocking it as it is on your land.

Ask them if they'd like to rent the space.

I'd just put up bollards Tbh. It's your land. If they get miffed at it that's tough luck.

The curtain twitching, Daily Mail-esque passive aggression on this thread is amazing 😀

Could you not get someone impartial in to listen to both sides, then make constructive suggestions on how to resolve the situation

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park on their gardens, badly, they'll soon learn its not cool to park on other people's land.

OP, why not convert the spaces into another use? If they aren't parking spaces anymore nobody can park there.

Go the bollard route - the only way.

I'm with Phil, park on their land and see how they like. Be obvious too eg: Use their drive for your own vehicle

Best to set the tone immediately when moving house!!

Get someone to unlock it and roll it into the street, locksmith shouldn't have any problems unlocking it as it is on your land.

Good point. Its on your land. Have you reported it as abandoned to your council?

Take ownership? Does this help? http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_4900041_claim-ownership-abandoned-vehicle.html

OP, why not convert the spaces into another use? If they aren't parking spaces anymore nobody can park there.

TBH apart from your visitors I agree.

OP, why not convert the spaces into another use? If they aren't parking spaces anymore nobody can park there.

Good thinking! And increase both your property value, and status with a desirable asset you can lord over the neighbours. They hate you by now anyway, so why not? 😀

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Tear up the space an plant it with trees and shrubs.

How has this got to 2 pages without anyone suggesting the OP just backs off and lets them park there? It's only a car parking space. If it's only going to be used for visitors then it's hardly a massive inconvenience for them to park somewhere else and walk a few extra yards. Seems like a stupid thing to fall out with the neighbours over, especially as he's just moved in and needs to be making friends not enemies.

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i kinda agree dazh, but this is the internet goddammit and if ever there's a place to suggest the things you wish you had the guts to do in real life its here 😀

personally i'd go round each neighbours house, chose the most attractive female and get to nobbin' right there and then... after all, it's fine for them to use your property, so use there's as you wish. whilst you're there make some coffee and put a load of washing on... maybe run the tumble dryer empty for an hour. leave the hot taps running and have a nice kip in the master bedroom after 🙂

How do you think any of those things are all going to play to a wider audience? All of whom are your immediate neighbours, who you need to bump along with on a daily basis? And who's goodwill you might be requiring at some indeterminate point in the future?

Last time I managed to get the council to stick a letter on the previous one saying it would be towed in 14 days, 13 days, 23hrs and 59 secs later it was moved, then immediately replaced with the above! Very annoying.

I'd be miffed. If they need extra parking, buy somewhere with enough parking 🙂 some people are inconsiderate gits, it's your land tell them to bog off 😀

I have piss-taking neighbours. I wouldn't give them an inch because they will take a yard. They obviously don't care about your goodwill.

OP can only lose, it's now a given, the norm, all the neighbours think that they have a right to park there. I seriously doubt they feel any goodwill toward OP for merely maintaining the status quo.

True. But they probably won't key his car either

if they are parked on your drive ...go park on their front lawn

alternately land mines are the only option here im afraid

I used to live in a street where there was a Moron with a New Mercedes SL. He was such a moron he took a photo of his new car and framed it and had it on his living room wall (yes he was single). Anyway, he used to get so angry if you parked outside his house as it was his parking space apparently (public road, no designated parking).

Parking seems to be such a big issue with some people, you need to be assertive and stop all parking there.

I would just try and have a calm word saying that you don't mind them parking there occasionally but not all the time. Crazy eh?

Is there no nearby street parking? Are some of your visitors not very mobile? Otherwise it's really not a big deal IMO.

couple of fold-down bollards/security posts from Ebay/Toolstation/Screwfix is what I'd be doing....

Best to nip it in the bud before it gets out of hand, and you end up with them dumping some SORN'd wreck on your property, or parking their new caravan on it for 49 weeks a year.

I'm not proud of this but where I used to live people used to regularly put out cones. I'm not talking one or two infront of their drive, I'm talking enough to cover the space behind them too- almost out of spite (on Man U match days nearby) anyway I got tired of driving home to find these so one day I just parked (Subaru Forester) ontop of two. Mrshora told me off 😐

Anyway, he used to get so angry if you parked outside his house as it was his parking space apparently (public road, no designated parking).

I had in an old house this with the prat next door and his over-washed and over-waxed [s]Jaguar X-type[/s] Ford Mondeo. I took great delight after he'd tried (and failed) to tell me how the bit of the A675 outside was [i]his[/i] in either parking in his space for the sake of it, or leaving him less than an inch to manoeuvre out of the space.

Neither big nor clever I accept, but it definitely ruined his life considerably more than mine

I got tired of driving home to find these so one day I just parked (Subaru Forester) ontop of two.

In my last student house, there were a couple of houses that did the cone thing on our street. Clearly they'd never been aware of drunk students' affinity for traffic cones. We had quite a collection after three years, and parking was considerably easier too 😀

Dear God! Some people on here have really missed their true calling of a career in international diplomacy. Let me come and sort out your neighbourly dispute 😆

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signage is what is needed:
1) Free parking - open
2) Free parking - closed
3) Free parking - almost full
4) Free parking - £1 an hour
5) GERROFF MOI LAAAAAAND!

my parents had this with someone at the house they rent out - using the space saying it was "theirs" when it clearly wasnt.

The guy was a nut job too - started sending round threats to break my mothers legs - in the form of signing us up for loads of mobility scooter/stair lift postal junk mail.

Can't remember exactly what happened in the end but my mother didn't budge and inch and regularly spoke to him (and his even nuttier girlfrien) face to face. Think the heavies were sent round in the end.

All is good now.

They've already been unreasonable by not respecting your ownership and your right to say who parks on YOUR land.

Problem is, numpties like this hear about things like adverse possession, assumed rights, easements etc and think they'll find a law to suit their needs. Rubbish.

Even adverse possession is very difficult, and that's a very black and white concept - they have to 'deprive' the rightful owner of access for 12 years (IIRC), so they'd have to fence it off in a way that meant that only they had access to it.

In this situation, there is no possible law, or rights, legal or moral to allow them to use the land. The land was conveyed to you and your ownership is now enshrined in law.

Be firm, but polite. They're not bothered about your friendship, otherwise they wouldn't have been arsey about it. All they're bothered about is where they park their cars.

As a way of appeasing them, I'd offer (in writing) the use of the furthest and least useful parking space, on say weekday evenings, never weekends, and they must be available to move the car if you need the space. I'd say that's more than neighbourly under the circumstances.

treaclesponge - Member

Last time I managed to get the council to stick a letter on the previous one saying it would be towed in 14 days, 13 days, 23hrs and 59 secs later it was moved, then immediately replaced with the above! Very annoying.

What do you mean about taking ownership, as in getting them to take responsibility? Have tried reporting the untaxed vehicle route with no joy.

Find someone with a tow rope...This cheeky barsteward abandoned this heap on somebody's driveway.

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[url= http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=10&t=873132&mid=235096&i=80&nmt=Can+I+legally+drag+somebody+elses+car+off+my+drive%3F&mid=235096 ]Thread[/url]

As a way of appeasing them, I'd offer (in writing) the use of the furthest and least useful parking space, on say weekday evenings, never weekends, and they must be available to move the car if you need the space. I'd say that's more than neighbourly under the circumstances.

Not being funny, but if someone moved into my street and started sending official letters asserting their property rights going against a decade of previously amicable and orderly cooperation between neighbours then I'd tell them where they could go. Yes, in law they may be right, but it takes more than property deeds and official correspondence to live in peaceful coexistence with your neighbours.

Not being funny, but if someone moved into my street and started sending official letters asserting their property rights going against a decade of previously amicable and orderly cooperation between neighbours then I'd tell them where they could go.

Feel free, but:

Yes, in law they may be right

would be your problem