Neighbours parking in private space

krlyr

There seems to be a bit of a lack of parking around my estate at the moment and as a result, I keep finding neighbours' cars in my parking space (just a set of 3 spaces opposite some garages, in a little space to the side of my house). There is a bay directly outside my house that I usually park in so my personal space is generally used for visitors, but my boyfriend is moving in and so will need the space on a daily basis.

The bays aren't clearly marked as resident bays so I've never minded the odd visitor car in it for a few hours, but now it's the same old cars I'm seeing in it, parking up all day. My space is on my deeds and I assume the other 2 bays are owned by nearby neighbours (it's an odd layout so all I know is they don't belong to my adjoining neighbours but presumably the houses opposite or parallel), one of the cars regularly parking there is definitely not a resident of those but keeps parking in any of the available spaces (usually mine as it's empty more than the others) and there's a couple of other cars that have used it more than once now. Other than the one guy I've seen (and I don't know where goes to once he's around the corner), I don't know who owns the cars as it's not a very sociable estate, everyone tends to just keep to themselves.

I left a polite note on one car last night as I was frustrated to see it there for the third day in a row - note has since been removed but car in my bay still, I'm going to assume the best and hope they were just waiting to go to work, but I'm now looking into what options I have to stop this being an on-going issue. Hopefully with a car going in and out of it daily it might stop, but I don't want my boyfriend stuck for a space (the busy parking situation means he won't have many alternative spaces).

Some advice would be great! I don't want to fall out with neighbours over it but equally I own a space that's for my use, not the neighbours'.

PasturesNew

For notes on the cars, it'd be good to scan in a copy of your deeds picture showing it's yours. Otherwise they've just your word for it.

I'd paint a number in it. If you don't want your number being so obvious, then, if you're number 8, paint in 8A (obviously so long as there isn't an 8A).

Find a way to erect a small sign saying "Private Parking for 8A Only", depending on layout/opportunities/walls/fences there.

The rule of thumb with parking ownership is: Always assert your ownership as early as possible, every time, soonest.... otherwise other people get used to taking the mick and assume it's "anybody's parking" and everybody will be directing their friends/visitors to that spot and saying "park there, that's a visitor spot".

As friendly/nice you thought you were being when you let them get away with it, it really is a case of "giving an inch; taking a mile". People will assume anything that's to their benefit - and the longer you've let it drift, the harder it becomes to be assertive about it without them tit tattling about "miserable c0w in the corner moans if we park there". You are right, they are wrong - but if you remove something from people they had no rights to then it's still "your fault" when they talk about you to others.

Aylesbury_Duck

I echo the advice above. Labelling the space (if you're sure it is definitely yours to label) is probably an effective deterrent. The other thing to do is to start using that space as a default, filling the one outside your house as the secondary. Apart from anything else, if the space is used by you more often it will make it obvious it's used.

neilmcl

Get one of those foldable parking posts fitted.

Rainbowgirl84

Park your car in your bay?

sleepymans

Amazon sell remote control operated raising barriers...I’ve got one....it’s great. Well worth the cost.

Exemplar

Be nice, be polite, agree that the situation is not clear, show copy of deeds. And as above get a post/ paint number on floor in space (when car is not there!). Unfortunately it's a civil matter IIRC so not much more you can do.

ToxicWomble

So have you been parking your car in someone else’s bay in order to “reserve” your space for visitors ?
I suspect the “culprit” may be found easily if that is the case.
If not, as above. You will probably end up putting a post In at some stage - nothing else will work long term

kev25v6

Park sideways across all your spaces

krlyr

PasturesNew wrote: »

Find a way to erect a small sign saying "Private Parking for 8A Only", depending on layout/opportunities/walls/fences there.

The rule of thumb with parking ownership is: Always assert your ownership as early as possible, every time, soonest.... otherwise other people get used to taking the mick and assume it's "anybody's parking" and everybody will be directing their friends/visitors to that spot and saying "park there, that's a visitor spot".

Thanks. No fence (strip of land and a hedge adjacent) and the grass verge belongs to the council but could spray on the space, I wasn't sure if there were restrictions on this. Thought of maybe using chalk initially while the weather is dry, as it can be removed easily if needed..

The parking really hasn't been an issue (when I say some visitor use, this is maybe 1 car every 4-6 months) but there's a random surge in cars lately! Definitely want to nip it in the bud.

sleepymans wrote: »

Amazon sell remote control operated raising barriers...I’ve got one....it’s great. Well worth the cost.

Thanks, will look into something like that. I wasn't sure on the regulations of fixing something into the bay, I know it's my private space but I wasn't sure if there's limitations on permanent fixings since it's not my driveway (though it is marked on my deeds). Guess I can speak to local council to see if they can advise..

Rainbowgirl84 wrote: »

Park your car in your bay?

The issue is needing two spaces available so to me it makes more sense to keep parking in my usual spot (which is a lot more convenient too) and then find a resolution for people parking in my space (where at least I have the ownership of the space to support me)

ToxicWomble wrote: »

So have you been parking your car in someone else’s bay in order to “reserve” your space for visitors ?
I suspect the “culprit” may be found easily if that is the case.
If not, as above. You will probably end up putting a post In at some stage - nothing else will work long term

No, the shape of the road has made sort of a bay in front of my house that I use, but it's not a reserved space so I'm not taking anyone else's bay. The previous residents always used it and it's much more convenient.

kev25v6 wrote: »

Park sideways across all your spaces

My regular parking spot is separate to my private space so this wouldn't work unfortunately. Would give a great hint!

General_Applause

krlyr wrote: »

The issue is needing two spaces available so to me it makes more sense to keep parking in my usual spot (which is a lot more convenient too) and then find a resolution for people parking in my space (where at least I have the ownership of the space to support me)

Who owns your 'usual spot'?