Allocated parking. Neighbour’s been using our parking space

jaks111

Would be less hassle all around if the spaces were clearly numbered before people moved Into there property.. 

Tokmon

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. 

Definitely don't leave a note because that is the most likely way to be taken the wrong way and talking to them is by far the best way to do it and also it gives you a good reason to have a friendly chat with a new neighbor. It's also best to not accuse them of anything but simply inform them in a friendly way that they are using your space. Even if they are using it on purpose knowing it's not theirs after you talk to them they are far less likely to continue to do it if your nice about it. 

sheramber

My sisters estate have marled parking bays. Beside her house there are three  spaces- hers, next door neighbour and visitor space, all clearly marked.
Next doors neighbour's visitor regularly park in her space and leave visitor space empty. 

FTB_Help

You really need to pick and choose your battle, this one isn't worth your time unless a) you need to park there now, b) its obstructing your walk way/ view.

Honestly don't let it bother you right now.

When you get your car just a knock on their door and politely mention that you've just got a car and want to park it in your allocated space.

For now, let it be

Skiddaw1

I can understand why the OP is annoyed however. My MIL had a similar situation where she lived. Neighbours regularly parked their second car in her driveway. MIL didn't own a car but it still irritated her because they never bothered to ask her if it was OK (she would have said yes, other than when she had visitors). It was the assumption that annoyed her.

princeofpounds

Totally get OP's annoyance. I was in a similar situation once. Left a note (not rude, but not that polite). They apologised, moved right away and never came back to the space. I actually felt a bit silly because I didn't have a car there for some time. Even a collapsible bollard would have at least 'occupied' the space, but I didn't have one. So it ended up occupied with a pile of swept leaves much of one autumn.

In your situation OP, I would just be patient and wait until you are closer to buying the car. Then, you have a perfectly valid reason and there should be no impression of pettiness. I appreciate that you don't need a reason, and what other people think doesn't matter that much. I'm just saying it felt like an empty victory to me when I went through something similar. 

Unless you want to go down the route of installing a collapsible bollard.

Alan2020

The OP needs to get smart:
1. Check the deeds, post here to first double check it is actually your space - so as not to make a fool of yourself
2. Go and purchase a parking bollard - you can get battery operated ones/solar ones or a simple lockable post
3. Wait for the car to go and fit it.
4. End of matter
Leave it and have loads of problems later on.  I would also suggest downloading the land registry details for your neighbour to ensure the space isn't double allocated.  If you fail to stop something like this, you will have serious issues trying to reclaim your property, people telling you OK aren't in the real world of ignorant people.

ZappyBoy

Get some cones from screwfix and pop them in your bay

Swasterix

Those who are saying it’s really not a big deal because you don’t use it - would you be ok with one of your neighbours just parking on your driveway? No? Me neither. This is really no different and would be rightly narked off by this personally. It’s not their land, it’s yours. 

If it were me, I would be nipping it in the bud now and telling them in no uncertain terms to stop. Why? Well, because it’s mine. Which is the only reason you really need.

Give them an inch etc. etc. etc. 

Edit to add... in my experience, the longer things like this are left, the worse it will be. The more you leave them to it, the more entitled they may feel. Then after 6 months of parking there with gay abandon, there may be more chance of a confrontation when you bring it up. 

My approach would be something like;

”hello mate, lovely day we’re having eh? You do realise that’s my parking space”

two possible outcomes. 
1. ”oh dear old chap, I’m terribly sorry, I didn’t realise! It won’t happen again” - result!

2. “couldn’t care less mate, you’re not using it anyway” - bollard fitted in the morning

Jobs a goodun. 

lookstraightahead

I would be cross too. It's the same as parking in your driveway. It might be a mistake though - although I guess they're just lazy.