Allocated parking. Neighbour’s been using our parking space

annetheman

Slithery said:

annetheman said:
As "nicely" written as it was, it really tainted my second day here. I was very perturbed by it, thinking about somebody probably storming out ready to report me for still parking in my own space, then backing down when they saw the permit.

Probably forever angry at me for having a space when they don't (1 beds don't have parking here, only 2 beds, and there is nowhere within at least 5 minutes walk to park)! I feel like I won the battle but the sour taste will always remain thanks to that.

You need to chill out. They were doing you a favour by letting whoever was parked there know that it is an allocated space and not for public use.

You really think they were guarding my space for me? I wish I had your faith in humanity. 

I believe it is far more likely they were using my space, came back on Saturday and saw that "someone" was in it, left the note in the hope that I would stop using it and then backed off when they saw the permit.

There is a possibility they were being a white knight and making sure nobody uses someone else's spot out of the goodness of their hearts (it's a lot of effort to go to to protect someone else's spot, isn't it though?), but considering I am the last person in the block to complete (355 days from sale agreed to completion), it's far more probable they assumed no one would use it so they could - especially when you consider that none of the 1 beds have parking. 

But I definitely do prefer your more positive assumption - unless they reveal themselves, we will never know which it true though.

sheramber

They probably wrote the note because there was not a permit on the car to indicate it was permitted to park there. Now you have displayed a  permit  ni problem.

Mani_London

I would say when you will buy the car you can just park there as its your parking space. Imagine having a bad relationship with your neighbour wont win you anything. I would have just mentioned it during a casual information that we are looking to buy car soon etc. So they get the hint and you have a good relationship with your neighbour

MysteryMe

Once your car comes on the horizon mention it then.  Yes you can assert your rights now blah blah but is it really that much of a deal at present?  On the scale of annoying things neighbours can do, parking in a space you are not using is pretty low down on the list.  If the space is nearer to their house then their actual space they may even genuinely think it's theirs?

annetheman

sheramber said:

They probably wrote the note because there was not a permit on the car to indicate it was permitted to park there. Now you have displayed a  permit  ni problem.

Hmmm realllly wish that were true but doubt it! Consider the wording used.

"In use" by whom, as it has taken me 355 to complete the sale?

The "thank you " also tells me that they are expecting me to abide by that to their benefit. Maybe it's just me but I wouldn't say "thank you" if I was warning someone for their own benefit e.g. to not get a parking ticket. I'd more write something more akin to:

"Polite notice: These spaces are allocated - display permit or you might get a ticket!
-Regards, a neighbour"

But yes - within 24 hours my permit was on = no more problems (for me, anyway!)

[Deleted User]

annetheman said:

sheramber said:

They probably wrote the note because there was not a permit on the car to indicate it was permitted to park there. Now you have displayed a  permit  ni problem.

The "thank you " also tells me that they are expecting me to abide by that to their benefit. Maybe it's just me but I wouldn't say "thank you" if I was warning someone for their own benefit e.g. to not get a parking ticket.

That's definitely just you. You're reading far too much into it.

annetheman

Deleted_User said:

annetheman said:

sheramber said:

They probably wrote the note because there was not a permit on the car to indicate it was permitted to park there. Now you have displayed a  permit  ni problem.

The "thank you " also tells me that they are expecting me to abide by that to their benefit. Maybe it's just me but I wouldn't say "thank you" if I was warning someone for their own benefit e.g. to not get a parking ticket.

That's definitely just you. You're reading far too much into it.

  I'm a scientist, that's what I do! 

brianposter

Do you have a friend who could come and park from time to time ?

Jeepers_Creepers

KatKat. 

Are you right to feel annoyed? Yup. Why? Because it is annoying.

However, there could be a number of reasons why they are parking there, and only one of which is because they are narcs.

Most likely it's because they got the two places mixed up and think that yours is theirs. Or perhaps they assumed they weren't actually allocated, but was simply 'whichever one is free is fine to use'. Or a bit more worryingly, they feel so deserving that, since yours ain't being used, they feel it's ok to knock 3 seconds off their walk to their house by using it.

And then there's the full narc. They've convinced themselves they are entitled to use it; it's unfair that the nearest one isn't theirs. They are only putting right what was clearly someone else's mistake in the first place. You should be thanking them for sorting it...

 

Please don't just place bollards there or resort to a note - not only because someone like the 'scientist' might read it - but because they are generally considered a wimpy way of dealing with things, and - if the person on the receiving end does happen to be an irrational twit - then it'll simply reinforce the prejudice that this incorrectly-allocated space already piles on them. They'll take great delight in feeling doubly aggrieved by the perceived insolence of a cowardly note.

Scared?

On the other hand, if they are normal folk who simply made a mistake, then they'll be mortified at what they've done and won't rest until they've crawled to your house on all fours and baked you a cake. Basically, a note is rarely taken at face value.

Have you met them yet? Now's the time. Big smile, firm handshake, lots of pleasantries. Ask how it's goin'. How do you like the new house? Blah blah. Then bring it around to the car - matter of fact, but empathetically. "Nice car! We're hoping to get ours in a few weeks. Um, it isn't an issue at the mo' since we haven't got our car yet, but did you know that the spaces were actually allocated to specific houses...? No? Ah, well, yes, that one is actually allocated to our house, and I think it's best to keep things according to the deeds so's it doesn't become messy when one of us sells up in the future..." Summat like that. Ie, the facts.

Once that's out of the way in the almost certainly friendly manner, don't immediately walk away but carry on chatting like the good interested neighb you are.

You'll soon find out what they are made of. Most likely they'll be mortified. There's a chance you'll need a mortician.

NameUnavailable

katkatmachine said:

Hi. We live in a new build terrace (ours is the end one). Right in front of our house is our allocated parking and next to it are the neighbours’. Our next door neighbour’s been using our parking without permission when just next to it is their parking. We don’t have a car but it’s annoying seeing their car right in front of our house in our parking space. 

Do you think we are being unreasonable? We don’t have a car yet but we are planning to buy one in a few months. Do you think i should talk to them about it or leave a note? Please advise. 

Are they using your space for a second car/visitors cars? Or are they simply parking on your space and leaving theirs empty all the time?

It could be a simple misunderstanding, or it could be you have self entitled neighbours that think they can do/use whatever they want.

I would have a polite word, just say it's your space and whilst you don't have a car yet you want to keep the space free for visitors/deliveries etc.