Another Parking/Neighbour issue

[foodie]

Hi all, another annoying neighbour parking thread but after having words with him last Monday, he is still the same odious man who needs to get a life after moaning to my disabled FIL about parking in front on my garage this afternoon...

So, to set the scene; my house in boundary in red, I have one parking space plus my garage- we live around a courtyard so parking in front of the house isn’t an option. Moaning neighbour’s garage is marked in brown- he runs a TV repair business from his garage and parks his van in the car port to the side.




I hadn’t realised that during the day he had been letting his customer’s park in our space until I came home one evening and blocked in an X3 because his customer wouldn’t move it.

Shortly after that I bought my Alfa Spider so thats been in the main space and I’ve been parking my Lex in front of my space/garage.

Since I had the altercation with the guy and his X3 he’s been frosty (not wanting to generalise but he is in his 60’s, sits around being bored all day, has a Thai wife that he spends all his time talking down to and berating and no kids) and he frequently moans about me blocking him in.

I leave for work at 6.30am and return just before 7pm so he has free access during the week, its currently parked there at weekends as we usually use my wifes car.

A few times he’s asked me to move my car as he cant get out-I've humoured him for the sake of neighbourly relations thus far.




I was working at home on Monday as I’d had a stomach bug and there was a knock at the door with his wife there asking me to move my car as he couldn’t get out.

This is the furtherst forward my car ever has been and as you can see, absolutely plenty of room for him to reverse out.

I wasnt in the best of moods but to humour him I reversed and said that he had plenty of room to get in and out and in the future I wouldnt be so amenable.

At this point he started ranting about how I shouldn’t be parking there and that next time he would just reverse into my car. I casually remarked that if he did I’d be happy to go through his insurance to get it sorted, queue more ranting and how it would be my fault for parking there.

Anyway, told him that I didn’t have time for it anymore, wouldn’t be talking to him on the matter again and went inside.

I reported his threat to damage the car to Surrey police so that is on record, but this afternoon I moved my car around the corner as disabled FIL was due round.

When he left, neighbour was out there moaning to him about his car being parked there and another conversation about how he was going to reverse into it.

Unfortunately with my work I am security/CRB checked so popping round for a friendly ‘chat’ is out of the question, so my next step is getting a solicitor to sent him a letter about his harassment of us and family members.

Am I being unreasonable?

If it helps, I am of medium build and an interim director and I dont have photo's
of his Thai wife..

[hornetrider]

Are you supposed to be leaving the courtyard area clear? As in, where the Lexi is parked?

[PurpleMoonlight]

Yes you are being unreasonable.

It is a communal area to provide access to private property. Why do you think it is appropriate to restrict, or make difficult, a neighbours access to theirs?

[foodie]

No, only 2 of the (9)garages are used for cars- the two directly next to mine.

We are the only house where the garages are that has theirs next to the (house/garage).

Mine is the only car parked out there as everyone elses are parked on the main road - near their houses.

My parking there is no issue for any of the other garage owners/ residents.

Said 'neighbour' also has the garage and land next to it (marked in blue below).



I will say again that this has only started happening since I kicked off about his visitors/customers using the space by our house during the day when we are at work.

[foodie]

PurpleMoonlight said:

Yes you are being unreasonable.

It is a communal area to provide access to private property. Why do you think it is appropriate to restrict, or make difficult, a neighbours access to theirs?

I dont think I am being unreasonable though, my parking isnt blocking his access in any way, but this is why I posted to get other mmbers take on this situation, so thank you for your comments.

J

[hornetrider]

Regardless, I think the fact remains that the front of your garage should be clear, unless I'm mistaken.

[poo at Paul's]

Is there another space next to the Alfa, ie between Alfa nd his blue garage?

I'd not be surprised if areas in front of the garages are access only.

[Adz The Rat]

I think you are being quite reasonable, as long as there isn't any restrictions that stop you parking in front of your garage.

As you say, there is plenty enough room for him to get out of his garage and for people to pass by.

[stevensdrs]

If he can't get out of there he should not be driving imho and he probably should not be running a business from the garage anyway. Ignore the old duffer!

[misteradz]

I would be very careful on which way you go with this, as I have experienced a similar situation in a previous house i lived in. It got so bad that we ended up moving because of it.

If you are concerned about his customers parking in your parking bay, would installing removable, lockable ballards in front of your space which you can lcok in place whilst your at work could stop this happening?

I know this is a cost to you, but it could resolve your issue and calm things down between you. Plus it would help keep your lovely Alfa being pinched.

As far as i can remember that you do need to leave the space in front of the garage clear if it is common ground.

Adam

[foodie]

Thanks all for the replies so far- interesting comments for both sides.

I think next steps will be to check the deeds re parking in front of my garage, and also the legality of rnning a business in his garage.

Cheers,

J

[JQ]

foodie said:

Thanks all for the replies so far- interesting comments for both sides.

I think next steps will be to check the deeds re parking in front of my garage, and also the legality of rnning a business in his garage.

Cheers,

J

I'll be amazed if you do have a right to park your car there. Yes he's being awkward, but you're parking your car on communal land that is probably required to be kept clear for everyone's benefit. The land belongs to someone and that's not you.

You're both being unreasonable. You certainly don't have the moral high ground as I feel you think you have.

[Pontoneer]

It could be worth mentioning the next time he complains about not being able to get out that if he learned to park properly by reversing in , he would find it needed less space and easier both for ingress and egress .

Since you are only parking in front of your own garage/private space , I don't see that you are doing any wrong .

If you do have any further conversations with him , if your phone or any other device you have handy supports it , why not record his threats ?

Might come in handy .

[Pontoneer]

JQ said:

I'll be amazed if you do have a right to park your car there. Yes he's being awkward, but you're parking your car on communal land that is probably required to be kept clear for everyone's benefit. The land belongs to someone and that's not you.

You're both being unreasonable. You certainly don't have the moral high ground as I feel you think you have.

I don't see that it is any different to parking on the street : no parking restrictions = free for all . No one has a 'right' to park on the street either , but in the absence of specific restrictions ( which usually have to be signed in some way ) then you are free to do as you please .

[JQ]

Pontoneer said:

JQ said:

I'll be amazed if you do have a right to park your car there. Yes he's being awkward, but you're parking your car on communal land that is probably required to be kept clear for everyone's benefit. The land belongs to someone and that's not you.

You're both being unreasonable. You certainly don't have the moral high ground as I feel you think you have.

I don't see that it is any different to parking on the street : no parking restrictions = free for all . No one has a 'right' to park on the street either , but in the absence of specific restrictions ( which usually have to be signed in some way ) then you are free to do as you please .

The difference being that it's not an adopted road - it's private land. Can I permanently park my car on your drive - I'm guessing you don't have double yellows on your drive?

I have no doubt there will be covenants in the title documents that provides the OP with rights of way over the land in question to enable him to access his land - the garage and 1 parking space. They most likely won't permit him to park permanently on the land.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Is it the Bedford Rascal in the carport they're trying to reverse out? I must admit, I don't think you're being terribly considerate. We live in a quiet residential road, 3 cars width, but if somebody parks opposite our drive it does make it a bit of a pain to back out of the drive. Likewise we have one dim neighbour who is quite happy to park opposite another parked car because he has to be outside his house - making it a bit tight to drive through!

Having said all that, your neighbour has gone about it in a poor way, shouldn't have been allowing his customers to use your space without asking (is he still doing this?), and probably shouldn't be using his garage as a place of business (planning - change of use?) as well as needing business insurance?

This will not end well though - perhaps an olive branch. Go over, and say "look, we've both been arses over this, you've had free use of my parking space for ages, if I park to allow you plenty of space to reverse out can we live like that?".

What is in your garage?

[Pontoneer]

JQ said:

Pontoneer said:

JQ said:

I'll be amazed if you do have a right to park your car there. Yes he's being awkward, but you're parking your car on communal land that is probably required to be kept clear for everyone's benefit. The land belongs to someone and that's not you.

You're both being unreasonable. You certainly don't have the moral high ground as I feel you think you have.

I don't see that it is any different to parking on the street : no parking restrictions = free for all . No one has a 'right' to park on the street either , but in the absence of specific restrictions ( which usually have to be signed in some way ) then you are free to do as you please .

The difference being that it's not an adopted road - it's private land. Can I permanently park my car on your drive - I'm guessing you don't have double yellows on your drive?

I have no doubt there will be covenants in the title documents that provides the OP with rights of way over the land in question to enable him to access his land - the garage and 1 parking space. They most likely won't permit him to park permanently on the land.

The difference between that land and my drive , or the OP's private parking space is that they are mine/his and solely for our use .

The 'common land' , or the 'broken ground' in front of my house , do not constitute part of the public highway , but they will belong to the council and in the absence of parking being specifically prohibited ( and 'no parking' signage in place ) then it is perfectly allowable . We park our cars on the ground in front of the house , as do our visitors , but have no gripe or say when the postie or anyone else chooses to park there .

As a general rule , anything is permitted unless specifically prohibited .

[JQ]

Pontoneer said:

JQ said:

Pontoneer said:

JQ said:

I'll be amazed if you do have a right to park your car there. Yes he's being awkward, but you're parking your car on communal land that is probably required to be kept clear for everyone's benefit. The land belongs to someone and that's not you.

You're both being unreasonable. You certainly don't have the moral high ground as I feel you think you have.

I don't see that it is any different to parking on the street : no parking restrictions = free for all . No one has a 'right' to park on the street either , but in the absence of specific restrictions ( which usually have to be signed in some way ) then you are free to do as you please .

The difference being that it's not an adopted road - it's private land. Can I permanently park my car on your drive - I'm guessing you don't have double yellows on your drive?

I have no doubt there will be covenants in the title documents that provides the OP with rights of way over the land in question to enable him to access his land - the garage and 1 parking space. They most likely won't permit him to park permanently on the land.

The difference between that land and my drive , or the OP's private parking space is that they are mine/his and solely for our use .

The 'common land' , or the 'broken ground' in front of my house , do not constitute part of the public highway , but they will belong to the council and in the absence of parking being specifically prohibited ( and 'no parking' signage in place ) then it is perfectly allowable . We park our cars on the ground in front of the house , as do our visitors , but have no gripe or say when the postie or anyone else chooses to park there .

As a general rule , anything is permitted unless specifically prohibited .

I don't know where you live, but as I have said, there will likely be covenants in the title that will place restrictions on the land (probably just a right of way to the OP) and the absence of signs will not remove those restrictions as they will specifically relate to the OP. They will be for the benefit of all including the OP - I'm sure he wouldn't be too happy if his neighbours started parking where he does, in front of his garage and blocking in the Alfa, which is why such restrictions will exist.

The reality is that the OP probably shouldn't be parking there, so may wish to adjust his approach accordingly as kicking up a fuss may result in him losing that space when the landowner starts enforcing the restrictions.

[gaz1234]

[quote=PurpleMoonlight]Yes you are being unreasonable.

It is a communal area to provide access to private property. Why do you think it is appropriate to restrict, or make difficult, a neighbours access to theirs^^^^^^^^
if not your land no parky.

[Steve H]

He was awkward when his customer was in your space and so now you are being awkward by making it a bit trickier for him to get in and out.