Parking problems

Thanks for all the interesting stories.

Still parked down the road! I went for a meal with family down from London, along with my daughter & granddaughters. They came back to mine after and my son went in their car just to help them with the parking! My poor D & GDs quite a way down the road. Wonder if they watch us struggling to get the little ones in and out of the car, passing their house a few times with bits and pieces to come in & then out again when they leave. It doesn't make you feel good when showing someone your new house, with zero parking!

The guy that lives above told me there had been about 3 new house owners staying about 2yrs a piece, bet it was the parking problems that made them move so quickly. Haven't seen him to talk to for a couple of weeks now, yet before saw him all the time, wonder if he is waiting for me to ask about the little wall going and maybe had the same conversation with the other previous owners. From his point of view he may think the 2 neighbours either side would fall out with him if the wall went and they could no longer park outside my house.

It’s so annoying !!!
If as someone said it’s not illegal to park on someone’s drive - I’d park on his (that parks right up to your boot) drive ! But you as a decent person - you wouldn’t want the argument that would no doubt ensue…What a pig he sounds - I hope your neighbour will agree to you knocking the little wall down!

Have you checked the titleddeeds? There may be Conditions prohibiting your neighbour from parking a caravan on his property. Of course it would means the Conditions on his property would need to be the same and the only way you can have those enforced is by a legal action. Justification would be he is using street space for his vehicles when he could use his drive or perhaps it could be considered as blocking your view. Where I live the Conditions apply to caravans and commercial vehicles parked on driveways and the additional parking areas. If someone is parking so close that it blocks access to your vehicle it's an offence. Report it to the police.

What does it say about parking in the lease? That is what you go by and not much else will be enforceable. Sounds like the sellers got people to move their cars for viewings, what do the sale details say? Does it say there's parking?

When I've been past my mums, it's new owners have paved the garden and painted the bungalow grey.
She would have hated that!
I wonder if she haunts them?

That was before I decided to surrender my garden!

I had a parking problem and only solved it when I changed part of my garden into parking. One of my neighbours had been very aggressive and I actually put my house up for sale because I couldn't live with them situation.

The people across the road from my mum used to park their big car right outside her window, as their own parking was behind their houses.
It meant she couldn't see anything much, pretty much all the time.

Every weekend they'd clean their car, empty the ashtrays into the road outside mums, then go back across the road again.

She was so disabled that she really did need the space outside hers available for my daughter (who also had increasing mobility problems) to park, otherwise we'd all be outside in the cold trying to work out the logistics of who could go where so mum could get in the car.

In a previous property there was only room for one car on our drive. The neighbour opposite did not use his drive, but parked outside our house, so I parked outside his. One day I went over and pointed out that surely it would be better if we each could park outside our own houses. Thankfully he agreed. Problem solved. I appreciate not everyone has such sensible neighbours.

Calendargirl

Hindsight, of course, a wonderful thing, but did you make enquiries about parking before you moved in?

Might have brought these issues to light.

I can imagine how frustrating it must be with such selfish neighbours.

When buying properties we always make sure that there is allocated parking. Did the estate agents particulars mention parking? If so it might be worth a quick call to your solicitors.

My deeds for my last house stated which parking space was allocated for each town house, give them a wee check over.

We have a similar, ridiculous problem when we visit my 92 year old mum. She has lived in her house for 69 years. About 50 years ago a small row of bungalows were built in The field opposite and a strip of land was left between the edge of the road and their garden walls, so it was available for visitor parking etc. Last year a young woman moved into the bungalow opposite and has now put a Keep Clear sign on the 2 planter she has put on this ‘parking strip’. Even worse though, despite having a garage plus drive with parking space for three cars, she now permanently parks her car on the ‘parking strip’, leaving her driveway completely empty! There is enough space for 3 cars to park by the garden walls, but she deliberately parks in the middle of 2 spaces and her neighbour uses the third space for their second car, thus making it impossible for anyone else to use this parking ‘bay’.

It is a very busy road, especially during school terms when large cars collect and deliver children to a local private school and there is a traffic calming bollard about 50 yards from my mum’s house, so parking is very difficult for us and other visitors without this parking bay.

It is very tempting to park in her empty driveway, or even in front of her car so partially across her very wide driveway, but still allowing her driveway to be used. She only uses her car very occasionally it seems - just once in the 4 days we were there last week, so taking up 2 road-side parking spaces whilst having 3 empty spaces on her driveway is Really annoying!

Thank you for posting this. It’s really alerting me to be absolutely clear I have parking if / when I move. How annoying for you. X

tickingbird

Parking and inconsiderate, selfish neighbours have been the bane of my life in the past. I would never move into any property now that didn’t have my own parking, ie driveway/marked space.

As I've said, the property had a parking bay for 3 cars so I thought I would be fine. If I moved again I would want a driveway for sure, always had one in the past, so didn't really realise the importance. But moved here never to move again and it cost £11,000 to do so

I'm parked down the rd again . Took doggie to the park and parking spot opposite gone when I got back. Next door were out for about 5hrs in their car [that is moved once per week], but he reversed his big silver van back, so right outside my house where I should be parking! I kept looking out the window getting madder & madder at the unfairness of it all, then said right...put my coat on and marched out to my car to reverse it back and park over his driveway, he would then have to knock to ask me to move my car and I could then tell him what I thought about my never being able to park in front of my house, but he was there permanently! Did I do it...no! Should I have?

Parking and inconsiderate, selfish neighbours have been the bane of my life in the past. I would never move into any property now that didn’t have my own parking, ie driveway/marked space.

Good idea Daisymae

Think over the road must have read this forum, as I managed to park there yesterday, another car was parked before me, making me park very slightly over his driveway, but I went out and moved it forward when the other car left. I said to my son see, I'm a good neighbour When he [over the rd] returned from work he left a big gap between my and his car, instead of parking right onto my bumper. perfect!

Why don't you offer to buy the garden?

Really Discodancer! I'm just popping out to repark my car then

karmalady

have a look on your management schedule, to see if caravans are allowed, They are not usually allowed on managed sites nor on new build areas

It's the house next door, owned by them. But it's such an eye sore, along with his big silver van, made me think that perhaps they are gypsies, but think not.

Parking can be a nightmare can’t it! Unfortunately...so much of what you describe sounds legal. We were shocked to learn a few years ago, that there’s no law preventing anyone from parking on someone else’s drive!

As others have suggested, it may be worth looking at deeds, but the hassle and potential cost of trying to get residents to behave as they should may not be worth it.

I might seriously think of moving again. Good luck whatever you choose to do.

have a look on your management schedule, to see if caravans are allowed, They are not usually allowed on managed sites nor on new build areas

Georgesgran

Is it worth looking at your deeds, or asking the management company to see if parking spaces are allocated? When DD1 had a flat, the bays outside were numbered plus additional ones marked VP - visitor parking.

I'm quite sure there isn't any allocated parking, I viewed other flats that had and it was always pointed out which would be mine. Thanks for the info though and I will contact the management co. which is an estate agent, just to check that out.

I sure here it is just 'first come first served' and as I work in the evenings, time I get back, all the parking spots have gone. During the day I do managed to park opposite and then, as I've said, If I'm not gone before he gets back, he parks right onto my bumper, when there is no need as he has bags of room behind; his driveway and then a big gap before the next driveway.

Calendargirl

Hindsight, of course, a wonderful thing, but did you make enquiries about parking before you moved in?

Might have brought these issues to light.

I can imagine how frustrating it must be with such selfish neighbours.

I asked the estate agent if I could knock the wall down for parking and that's when I learnt that the front garden was for the upstairs flat, and as I've said, as there is a bay for 3 cars I didn't think it would be a problem. When I viewed, the guy to the right had gone to work in his big silver works van, leaving a big gap, but after the couple of times I parked there whilst he was out at work, he's swapped he's van with he's car that never moves, so leaving the front of he's driveway free [caravan on] whilst he's out at work, which I can't park on. Hope you can follow that

Yes OoPs I would say to my upstairs neighbour that his property would go up in price. He's been here for 35yrs and won't move. I did think about if I did get a new upstairs neighbour, but thought I'd cross that bridge when/if I got there, if it was in 10yrs time, I may not be driving then as I'd been 77yrs Och! Thanks for your input though, much appreciated.

QuoteOopsadaisy1 Fri 01-Apr-22 09:10:43
Even if your upstairs neighbour agrees to open up the front garden for parking, you will need Highways authority to put a dropped kerb in and to allow you to cross the pavement.

Already have a dropped curb and the 'H' bar white lines due to next doors caravan needing plenty of space to park. I have spoken to the H.A a couple of times, they were very helpful, but said nothing they can do, also was given their site to gen up on having a drive, but I already have everything in place, just need to knock the little garden wall down and then I can park. The front garden is covered in grey slate chippings.