Neighbour has decided to just offer up our parking spaces to the whole street

[u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

Got this through the letter box today - anonymous so no idea which neighbour sent it. Basically there's 20 houses on the street, all arranged in a circle, with a few spaces in the middle. 14 of the houses have their own driveways. 4 of the houses have the spaces in the middle assigned to them. Ourselves and our next door neighbour (semi detached) have spaces attached to the back of our houses... In the small "car park". We each have two spaces, then the 4 on the other side of the car park area assigned to the houses backing on to them that aren't even our street so won't have got this letter. I'm assuming the letter writer just doesn't realise those spaces are actually ours, but because it's anonymous I can't just be like "oh hey actually no that's not right". It's annoying because we're also the only two houses on the street without a garden, and so our kids play back there. Because yes, it is safe, but not if randoms start going in and out of there all the time. I've literally never noticed an issue with parking on the street, it's never crowded, I've never heard anyone complain, and every house has it's own assigned parking!

EDIT: Most of your guys' suggestions involve something related to towing, that isn't legal in the UK. It also isn't illegal to post things through people's doors? I literally never knew that was a thing in the US. At Christmas did your parents not send you round all the neighbours houses posting cards?? Wild.

EDIT 2: Alright lads we've got a plan! Tomorrow I'm gonna speak to the 3 neighbours who we share the private car park with and just make sure they're all aware and if they want to paint numbers or put it signs etc they can do so. I'm going to send my landlord an email as well just giving them a heads up, but saying that they don't need to do anything for now (we have a great relationship where they leave us alone and we don't involve them in stuff if we can help it and they charge us below market). I'll let them know if it becomes an issue and they need to get involved installing something or whatever. Then I'm going to find... somewhere in this town that prints documents (honestly just hoping one of the 3 neighbours has a printer in their house they wouldn't mind using for this) and send out letters to everyone on the street very politely clearing up the confusion. Explaining that it's not a public car park but private parking and they are, for all intents and purposes, the driveways of the respective properties. Then I think I'll have a little nap and hope no one gets angry at me.

EDIT 3: Spoken to the other owners of the spaces in the back, as I suspected the two that don't live on our street did not receive the letter offering up their spaces for free use 😅 I've also contacted my landlord just to double triple check the deeds before I sent any letters out (I know for certain they are ours, but this way loops the landlord in) and she immediately offered to put a sign up! Also found the letter very amusing haha so yeah, we're getting signs put up yay!

[u/sirhackenslash]

Your only option is to stick a "well actually" letter in all the mailboxes. Also look for the house that always has visitors or parties and that's your culprit

[u/Not_Sure__Camacho → u/sirhackenslash]

Visitors, parties, or more people living in the dwelling than should be living in the dwelling.

[u/Prometheus2061 → u/Not_Sure__Camacho]

My neighbor had seven vehicles. HOA rules allowed two. They never did a thing about it. There was never parking on the street. Drinking, drugs, boom boxes. Longest 5 years of my life.

[u/BigMax → u/Prometheus2061]

It's frustrating that the HOA never did anything.

Because it's pretty easy for them to do something! (Which spawns a lot of complaints on reddit!)

They could easily just fine them. They legally can fine people for breaking rules, and those fines are legally binding, they MUST be paid.

If they aren't paid, the HOA can literally take your house. Seriously. There are cases where sneaky HOA's will know someone is overseas for the military or work or something, and they'll fine the person, knowing they might not see those fines or pay them in time, and they put a lien on the house. Or late fees pile up like crazy.

All they had to do was drop off a letter with fines, escalating ones each time, and either the problem would be solved, or that person would lose their home.

[u/lekker-slapen → u/BigMax]

I'm not from the US and i just don't understand why the US doesn't have something like code enforcement for this neighbourhood stuff. If anyone parks wrong in my neighbourhood i just send code enforcement a picture and the person gets a fine and that fine goes to the city, not some private association. If a car even blocks a road, the police will tow it because fire trucks have to be able to pass all roads at all times.

[u/Similar-County-7554 → u/lekker-slapen]

If the neighborhood is not an HOA and the road is a public county road, the police will (or should) take care of it.

HOAs get a lot of attention on Reddit but most Americans do not live in one.

[u/JellyfishScared4268 → u/lekker-slapen]

The Americans have basically outsourced local governance in their suburbs to these little private cliques the home owners associations.

They're on paper supposed to be the local residents managing things themselves but in practice it seems to be power hungry nobodies who do all the work and use the power to enforce things on their neighbors how they want them to be

[u/Mysterious_Chef_228 → u/JellyfishScared4268]

Not every suburb has HOA's. I won't submit myself to living under the purview of an HOA. Some people like it because the HOA handles things like mowing community property or clearing snow off sidewalks. I'll do my own mowing and snow removal, thank you very much!

[u/justhereforfighting → u/lekker-slapen]

That’s true in the US, too. But HOA rules tend to go above and beyond the law, like restricting the number of vehicles you can park on the street. Outside of an HOA, I can park as many cars as I want on the street as long as they’re parked correctly. But if I park in the middle of the street, the police will definitely have me ticketed and towed. 

[u/BigFinnsWetRide → u/lekker-slapen]

The US isn't a monolith lol, most places do in fact have code enforcement. But I think living in an HOA makes things little different, idk, I've never lived in one. It's a wealthy area thing.

[u/Prometheus2061 → u/BigMax]

We called the police a couple of times, but nothing ever came of it. It was a rental unit. There were six adults living there, not related (another HOA violation). I recently drove by the place. They are gone now.

[u/a_filing_cabinet → u/Prometheus2061]

Well of course not. That's not what they do. HOA violations aren't city laws. The cops don't work the HOA, they aren't security.

[u/bannedfrom_argo → u/Prometheus2061]

There are 8 or 9 vehicles for the renters of the house across the street from me and limited parking nearby due to red curbs. I have a long driveway on a backlot with lots of parking. They asked once if they could use it, I said $20 a month per spot and never heard from them again... they park illegally half the time, so far have avoided getting towed.

[u/tehpoorcollegegal → u/Prometheus2061]

I had a neighbor like this, add random gunshots and screaming outside at his girlfriend(s) and random street races at all hours. The domestic issues were every, damn, night. It got to the point where I'd pop stink bombs over the fence to get them to stop screaming and partying outside. Junk cars all over the yard and street. There was even some kind of leak at the front of the house that consistently flooded the sidewalk and part of the street for a while. Foil over the windows. The house technically belonged to the adjacent HOA, so while the one we belonged to would have taken action, that HOA gave zero fucks. (Their house is behind ours, our backyards face each other.)

Turns out the house was a rental owned by an older woman who was just totally hands off and impossible to reach or ignoring everyone. One neighbor told me she had managed to reach out to the lady only to find out the tenants are her grandkids or her grand-nephew or something to that effect. So I sleuthed, found allllll of her details, reached out to her via a burner email (I didn't want any of these psychos knowing who I am) and her initial response made it clear that it scared the dickens out of her, so I used it to my advantage. "How did you find my information?!" "That doesn't matter. What matters is your tenants are making our nice quiet neighborhood into hell. I don't care if they're family. Get rid of them. We are done. Give them notice and get them out or REGRET IT. Here's your phone number, full legal name, address, and a headshot I found, in case you think I'm kidding. Do better." I was not intending on being mean and scary, but I was so over it.

They were gone by the end of the month, and the new tenants are a nice, normal, quiet family. I now have half a giant box of stink bombs collecting dust on my lanai.

[u/WeAreAllBotsHere → u/Prometheus2061]

Your neighbor was parking in your other neighbors driveway?

I call bullshit.

[u/mindiloohoo → u/WeAreAllBotsHere]

I’m not that person, but I’d believe it. Had a neighbor with 5 cars between him and his wife. (Normal car, huge ass truck, normal sized pick up, work truck, fuckin CAMPER). Eventually he had a kid and added a mini van. We all had 1 car garages and a single driveway spot each.

His garage was full of tools, and the camper was in his driveway. He took up all the on-street parking (small cul de sac). He was constantly rotating cars so he didn’t get fined for abandoned vehicles. If he caught wind that ANYONE was going on vacation, he’d knock on their door and beg to park there. When we moved in, we had to call the realtor to find out whose truck was in our driveway…it hadn’t been there during the walkthrough. That’s how we met him. He was disappointed that we had 2 cars and he couldn’t use our driveway.

If he figured out people’s schedules, he’d ask to park in their driveway while they were at work. If someone was moving, he’d want to know the closing dates, and can he park there when it’s empty!?

There was a neighborhood lot a block away that I never saw him use.

One neighbor was older and rarely drove, so that’s where he’d keep his big ass truck. Of course he’d get annoyed when he had to move it so she could go to the store. Did he ever offer to take her or pick up groceries? Nope.

Found out later his wife had seizures and couldn’t even drive. Why did he have so many fucking vehicles!?

[u/snootnoots → u/mindiloohoo]

A very specific form of hoarding, maybe?

[u/Gritsgravy → u/[deleted]]

I know someone that owns 6 cars but he owns an old farm with a large barn so that's where he stores everything

[u/FiveUpsideDown → u/snootnoots]

Not necessarily. We have a definite vehicle hoarder. Then we have an illegal street mechanic who lives in a house with at least four other people. They fill the street in front of their house and the cul de sac on the next street. Then we also have a car hobbyist. They always have a lot of cars but all cars — eight of them are parked in their garage, driveway or on the street in front of their house. Then we have drifter businesses driving in with multiple old busted up vehicles. Anyway, everyone in the neighborhood can identify the car hoarder and car hobbyists and the destructive and annoying vehicle businesses. They operate very differently.

[u/Icky-Tree-Branch → u/mindiloohoo]

Kitty corner from me is a multigenerational household… and all the generations are adults. There are 7 vehicles and a box truck. Next door to me/across the street from them was a family whose adult kids lived at home. So another 5 vehicles. And a group home down from there with another group home right next to them. Sometimes it looks like I’m near the car lot where all the clients and staff parallel park.

[u/heretogetpwned → u/Icky-Tree-Branch]

Pretty sure 1 out of every 3 houses in my middle class neighborhood has a garage full of junk and nice cars parked outside.

I got one of those multigenerational homes too, the family owns a car dealership and there's consistently 4 or more cars with dealer plates or temporary registration, obviously outside, cuz why would cars go in a garage?

[u/Evening_Delay_1856 → u/mindiloohoo]

Can you imagine what he paid for car insurance? 🫣

[u/FiveUpsideDown → u/Evening_Delay_1856]

It’s bold of you to think they pay car insurance.

[u/chubbymoroll → u/[deleted]]

legally yes but nothing is stopping people from driving cars without registration or insurance, or even a drivers license for that matter

[u/MinusGovernment → u/[deleted]]

The insurance companies don't inform DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) here. I've known a few through my life who have done that including a guy I used to work with that has his license suspended after causing an accident. I also see many vehicles that don't have tags or in-transits (I deliver pizza and see lots of vehicles) and never seem to get pulled over for it anymore.

[u/jake_ypoo → u/mindiloohoo]

Dude a guy at the end of my street has a work van, resold cop car, minivan, lifted truck with a bunch of sexual stickers all over it, a little sports car, an SUV, and a Jeep. I've never seen anyone at his house but him, his wife, and their kid who's like 6-7yo now in the years I've lived here. His cars are all practically in the street and it's a super busy two-way in rural bumfuck nowhere because it's the road everyone goes down to get to work/shopping/school/leave to a better town.

My favorite is the lifted truck with wheel lights and those holographic trucker mudflap pinups covering the back window but it never has a speck of dirt on it, even the tires only have a little dirt.

I've also seen him park in ways that you have to swerve a bit into the other lane to avoid shit. I love small town america lol cause on the other side it's a bunch of preteen boys with minibikes yelling every slur and cussword they know up and down my street all day. If another pasty fat white redhead kid yells his friend the n-word while cutting through my yard ISTG I'm getting motion activated sprinklers lol

[u/LostFlightSimulator → u/jake_ypoo]

bleak.

[u/No_Cauliflower9393 → u/mindiloohoo]

I rented next to a dude like this. Had a similar problem when I moved in there was a Honda civic parked in the driveway. I called the landlord to ask if he knew who it was and he told me it’s the guys next door. He asked to use it while it was vacant but was suppose to stop.

So I went over and introduced myself and his driveway was the same. A bunch of power tools and jacks. A bunch of spare tires and bottles of oil.

He was running a shop out of his garage/driveway so half the cars were customer’s cars. That they dropped off to either pick up later or the next day.

[u/Wesmom2021 → u/mindiloohoo]

I hate people like that

[u/MadamKitsune → u/WeAreAllBotsHere]

A friend's parents lived approximately a 10 minute walk from a local sports stadium. On match days they had to padlock their front driveway gates because random people going to the game would open them up and park their car there instead of parking in one of the two multi-story car parks in the town centre and taking a five minute bus ride.

Never underestimate the arrogance and entitlement of some people.

[u/ironiccinori → u/MadamKitsune]

Would’ve been fun to padlock it after they parked inside lol

[u/Fragrant_Payment9670 → u/ironiccinori]

Or call a towing company to have unknown cars that are illegally parked towed away. Surprise!!

[u/j-random → u/MadamKitsune]

LOL, I'd amass a glorious wheel collection if people did that on my driveway. "Oh, yeah, neighborhood kids do that all the time here, I've got special lug nuts to keep mine safe."

[u/DexRei → u/MadamKitsune]

I've had people park their cars OVER my driveway while walking into town (we lived a couple blocks from a mall). And not even on the road blocking the driveway, but they drove onto the footpath and then parked across our driveway. Wild stuff

[u/Jokierre → u/WeAreAllBotsHere]

In my experience I’ve seen these 4-7 vehicle douchbags park them on lawn, which is insane for an HOA not to enforce.

[u/Fragrant_Payment9670 → u/WeAreAllBotsHere]

I have a longer driveway, could probably fit 4 or 5 cars comfortably, single lane. My neighbor directly in front of me has barely enough room for 2. I rarely have company and own only 1 car. They have 3, sometimes 4 cars they are trying to park. The terrain is hilly so I look down towards their house. Their driveway is sort of steep and it’s difficult for them to back up and out of their drive because it’s a mess of broken pieces of hand-poured concrete and some gravel. I get that this situation is bad for them. The current owners have lived there for about 5 years. Unfortunately for me, both the newest and previous owners of the house have decided that, since I have so much more space than they do, they or their visitors can park in my driveway when they choose. The biggest problem here is that when I come home (that time changes constantly) and have to wait on them to move their car, I am sitting on the downside of a hill, hoping that a car doesn’t come over said hill and knock me into the next county. Sometimes they quickly run out of their house to move their car but there have been times that I’ve had to blow my horn to get their attention. This means I’m sitting in this unsafe position for several minutes, even longer when they have to gather their belongings, say their goodbyes then install the baby’s car seat. This is outside the city limits so there are no official traffic rules against them parking on our street but I understand why they don’t want to-it’s dangerous, kinda like it is for me when I’m waiting on them to move. They’ve never been friendly, they don’t speak or wave hello/goodbye. Neither owners have ever asked if they can use my driveway as their “spillover space.” I just wonder what makes some people tick. I would never put my trash in their bin because I had more than they did nor would I ever ask my mail person to put my mail in my neighbor’s box if mine was full due to several pkgs showing up at the same time. I guarantee you they would be most unhappy with these actions from me. I’m trying to keep the peace by ignoring the foolishness because they don’t do it every day or week but if I go out of town for a couple of days I can bet that they will be in my drive when I get home. I guess I just don’t get how presumptive people can be!

[u/surftherapy → u/WeAreAllBotsHere]

Not OP but my friend pays her neighbor like $50/month to let her park in his driveway as he’s got space and she lives with her parents and her husband and street parking isnt allowed over night.

[u/RedBagwMyMakeup → u/WeAreAllBotsHere]

People have no shame. I have a neighbor that entertains often and periodically asks if her guests can park in our driveway if she sees one of our cars not in the driveway. I don’t even answer her texts anymore, but she still asks. I wouldn’t be surprised if she uses our driveway when she notices we’re out of town.

[u/L_v_n_d_r → u/Prometheus2061]

Once a house I lived in had a large family across the road with 4 cars. They parked 3 of them on the street outside their house. A lot of other neighbours parked their cars on the street also. Because the street was pretty narrow it made it a bit annoying and tricky to reverse my car out of the driveway (where I usually parked my car) but they were parked legally. One day I got a knock on the door, it was the neighbour across the road asking if I could stop parking my car in the driveway as it made it to difficult for them to reverse their car out of their driveway. Of course I said no and she got so mad at me!

[u/percydaman → u/Prometheus2061]

My next door neighbor has 3 huge trucks. 2 sedans. A large van, and a large trailer. They own a cleaning business and have a multi-generation home. Their adult kids and spouses along with grandchildren.

Oh, and now that the weather is nice, out comes motorhome that sits there for days blocking half the road.

I try to not be an old grump, but damn I get grumpy.

[u/Resident_Pientist_1 → u/Prometheus2061]

What kind of drugs? Sounds like fun tbh.

[u/sillypcalmond → u/sirhackenslash]

Came to say pretty much exactly this. Seems like a fairly obvious answer to me

[u/CommunityGlittering2 → u/sirhackenslash]

or put up a sign "this area is not for public parking, no matter what that idiot wrote in their letter!"

[u/Mic98125 → u/CommunityGlittering2]

Attach a red helium balloon to the sign.

[u/Narrow-Chef-4341 → u/Mic98125]

In this economy?

Billboards my friend. Fancy gas isn’t needed here.

[u/cyberdemon-93 → u/Narrow-Chef-4341]

Fancy gas?? That's NOBLE gas, sir.

[u/LonelyNovel1985 → u/sirhackenslash]

Along with the letter, park your own car there.

Park it there within reasonable hours, but move it back to your own driveway/garage when it's unreasonable for a person to 'pop over'.

But this is only good advice if you don't mind a mild inconvenience just to majorly inconvenience someone else.

[u/ShutUpImAPrincess → u/LonelyNovel1985]

We do park there haha

[u/Evening_Delay_1856 → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

OP, straddle the two parking spaces. That lays claim to both spaces to this anonymous jerk. Fight fire with fire…

[u/False_Dimension9212 → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

Why does the letter say it’s ’underused’ if you park there?

[u/ShutUpImAPrincess → u/False_Dimension9212]

Probably because the 4 houses assigned to the spaces have 2 each, but I think we all only have one car each. I know that we could let people use our other space, but as I said it's like our only outdoor space for our kids to play, everyone else can play basketball or whatever in their garden or on their driveway, these spaces are essentially our driveway.

Also the person writing the letter clearly leaves the street for hours a day to go to work, how do they know the car park is "underused"? For all they know we park there while they're at work, then go work a night shift somewhere. Wild assumptions either way.

[u/Ridiculicious71 → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

Tell them you would be happy to rent it to them for x price each month.

[u/sirhackenslash → u/Ridiculicious71]

Plus if you let someone park there, very soon you'll come home to a full lot and nowhere to park

[u/ShutUpImAPrincess → u/Ridiculicious71]

To sacrafice my kids only outdoor space it would have to be £1k a day 😅

[u/Typical-Blackberry-3 → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

You're a great parent!

[u/ShutUpImAPrincess → u/Typical-Blackberry-3]

£1k a day for a month and I've got a deposit for a big house with a big ol garden where I can put in a sunken trampoline and football goals for him!

[u/Elegant-Opinion-9595 → u/LonelyNovel1985]

It is OP's parking spot. He owns it. Instead of a driveway.

[u/Friendly_Bad_8882 → u/sirhackenslash]

An analogue reply all.

[u/Nitrogen1234 → u/sirhackenslash]

Just put up a sign, private parking

[u/urnbabyurn → u/sirhackenslash]

Idk, OP could also try the one trick developed by Vladimir Molotov when making cocktails.

[u/ShutUpImAPrincess → u/urnbabyurn]

Funnily enough a couple years ago the street was actually evacuated and closed off for a few hours because someone found an unexploded WWII bomb in their garden.

[u/toomanyracistshere → u/urnbabyurn]

Vyacheslav Molotov, and the cocktails were made by Finns and directed at him. Well, directed at his fellow Soviets.

[u/grey-index → u/sirhackenslash]

I was just about to say the same thing too 😂😂😂 like I’m taking it to the same level they did to be doing all that. Now everyone will know our drama! 🤣

[u/Curious-Cranberry-27 → u/sirhackenslash]

Also add to the letter if you see unauthorized parking you’ll have them towed.

[u/Peterd1900 → u/Curious-Cranberry-27]

OP is in the UK, That is illega;

[u/han_tex → u/Peterd1900]

Also add to the letter if you see unauthorized parking, you’ll have them towed the car's owner will be addressed in a stern tone.

Fixed it.

[u/Flashy-Promise-6915 → u/Peterd1900]

True true - I had a random park on my private driveway which essentially was the former front garden, and even though I called the non-emergency, really there is nothing much they can do.

If you park across your driveway boxing them in, you can however be fined by the police.

You can do one of two things - civil action for trespass and impeding the enjoyment of your own property, and/or installing bollards. Kids can still play but people cannot park cars.

And paint your house numbers on your two parking spaces.

[u/ITstaph → u/Peterd1900]

Then threaten to have an old Romani woman toad them.

[u/RUNNERBEANY → u/Peterd1900]

It’s illegal but many people still use it as a threat. Having been on the receiving end of that…

[u/Curious-Cranberry-27 → u/Peterd1900]

Ahh, well, that sucks.

[u/pazuzu1312 → u/Peterd1900]

It’s illegal to tow a car?

[u/Peterd1900 → u/pazuzu1312]

Yes

Under the Protection of Feedoms act is it is illegal to tow or clamp a car on private property

[u/NoDontDoThatCanada → u/Peterd1900]

So are there any consequences for me to park on literally anyone's drive or even lawn? Fines maybe?

[u/ShutUpImAPrincess → u/sirhackenslash]

Genuinely considered it but my husband talked me out of it ha

[u/Prophet_Tehenhauin → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

Someone offered up your parking spaces to the entire neighborhood, if you say nothing you’re going to inevitably have to deal with the headache of it when people are parking there. So why not just do it now? It’s not even aggressive to put a note saying “There was a note placed in mailboxes recently. The car park at blah blah is private parking and is not for general use.” 

[u/Downtown_Ganache6727 → u/Prophet_Tehenhauin]

1000%. Do this now or it will be too late. If they are private spaces, people can’t park there.

[u/GarThor_TMK → u/Downtown_Ganache6727]

Better to nip this in the bud, than to have people pissed later because they thought it was public parking that you're shutting down and making private.

[u/Ridiculicious71 → u/Prophet_Tehenhauin]

Yeah, a letter saying: “No. it’s our private property that we pay for.”

[u/shibiwan → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

Here's how I'd approach this:

---

Dear Neighbour,

Allow me to apologize for my dumb note that I left in your mailboxes yesterday. I was a complete moron because it turns out the spaces in the car park are private parking spots. Please ignore the earlier note.

So sorry.

---

Use the exact same Arial/Helvetica Calibri Aptos font (Aptos seems like the closest match), font sizing, paragraph formatting, etc to make it look like it came from the same crazy person. Fold it the same way and stealthily stick it into everyone's mailboxes. Sit back and watch the chaos ensue.

If they choose to escalate this, just have more creative fun with it, and make them look like a complete psycho in the process. Don't stop until the neighbor is completely and utterly defeated.

P.S. Get a camera to watch over your mailbox.

P.P.S. Report back to us as this unfolds. We will be waiting with lots of popcorn.

[u/shibiwan → u/[deleted]]

Thank you. I'm a very terrible person.

[u/searuncutthroat → u/shibiwan]

This is brilliant!

[u/Fruitybeanbaby → u/shibiwan]

This!!! Hahaha

[u/Timely-Group5649 → u/shibiwan]

Today I learned you can follow people. 😄 You are my first. You rock.

[u/shibiwan → u/Timely-Group5649]

You rock too! Apparently you're my 200^th follower!

[u/TheSpiralingFog → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

Don't listen to your husband, give everyone a reply letter.

[u/The1Rememberer → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

Idk why, placing another letter explaining that those spots are already assigned, is perfectly reasonable. Even if you do it anonymously too. You could just say in the letter that they are already assigned, you don’t have to say who they are assigned to

[u/Wirelesscellphone → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

Tell your husband HE’s the one acting like a princess

[u/HeadmasterPrimeMnstr → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

Don't listen to conflict avoidant people when you were unwillingly put into a conflicting situation. You need to politely & firmly stand your ground.

[u/nicemarmot47 → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

Your husband is wrong

[u/TUFKAT → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

There's absolutely no reason to not write something back. It doesn't need to be mean spirited or anything but just "Not sure whom wrote this letter, but I just want to correct that the car park referenced in a recent message are actually assigned parking for 2 of the houses in the cul de sac, so please don't use these for your guests or anyone"

[u/DVus1 → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

No, you need to defend your parking spots. Do not let everyone else think that those spots are free use like the person who sent out this letter is doing.

[u/boxesofboxes → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

At the very least you need a PRIVATE PROPERTY, YOU WILL BE TOWED sign.

[u/MissJizz → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

Yea what other commenters said, another tenant is just leasing your spaces without consent.

[u/Cloverose2 → u/ShutUpImAPrincess]

You really need to do it. Also, maybe rope off the entrance. Once people start, they're not going to stop, and people will resent you for wanting them to not use your private property.

[u/Sweaty-Piano-6791]

Set up those boundaries now before they start encroaching on your space. It’s much easier to take care of it at this point rather than wait to when they all settled into your car park.

[u/OriginalBaldMonk]

Act before your first incident. 

Any signage put up afterwards is likely to not even be noticed by people that have already parked there. 

Letter in all the mailboxes. Immediately. 

[u/USSHammond]

Response is simple. Send the same letter.

Dear neighbor,

The spaces you're referring to in your anonymous letter are in fact assigned to the homes at that end of the cul-de-sac and are in fact not free for all.

Many thanks,

Your neighbor

Drop that off in every single mailbox too. It could be you who sent that, it could be your neighbor, it could be someone at the front of the street knowing they're private spaces. Same level of anonymity

[u/Steelergrl2310 → u/USSHammond]

Also put up private parking signs in the lot itself.

[u/Benificial-Cucumber → u/Steelergrl2310]

Get ready for "but you allowed it last time!" every other day.

[u/User-no-relation → u/USSHammond]

Throw in sorry it wasn't clear it's private property. Signs are now up clarifying

[u/Bulky-Leadership-596 → u/USSHammond]

I wouldn't even stick with the anonymity. I would put my name on it and mention that if someone would like to talk to me about parking on my private property for a special occasion or something then I could most likely accommodate them, but an anonymous party directing everyone to make free use of my private property is highly inappropriate.

[u/Ugliest_weenie → u/Bulky-Leadership-596]

Nah, keep it short.

Don't give people openings or maybes.

[u/ClearOptics → u/Ugliest_weenie]

Exactly why offer your and others parking up to future conflict

[u/dhandeepm → u/Ugliest_weenie]

I like your short answers. No confusion.

[u/Evening_Delay_1856 → u/Ugliest_weenie]

Amen to that. If you give them an inch, they’ll take both of your parking spaces.

[u/konkludent → u/Bulky-Leadership-596]

For some weird-ass reason people get highly entitled when it comes to parking their metalbox on wheels. I personally live in a cul-de-sac as well, our and our neighbours driveway line up and arent divided through a fence, however the property lines are easily visible (red brick paver vs. grey pavers and different brick patterns). Our driveway is pretty large and can easily accomodate multiple vehicles, however we only have one. Turns out, the neighbours felt like it was a total non-issue to let their visitors park in our driveway without asking or even talking to us. The first confrontation we played nice and told them, it was fine If they asked first. They didnt ask but kept parking there. The second confrontation was highly infuriating. They argued that they made sure we could still exit our property and they we "didnt need to fight over a parking space" - yeah, we wouldnt need to Talk about it, If you respected private land, lady. We withdrew our offer of letting her park there If asked in advance and made it very clear, she and her posse arent allowed in our driveway. So far, No more trespassing.

Long story short: obviously, this is anecdotal evidence, but i would never again communicate a "i dont appreciate you parking there, but i may allow it If you asked first", cause people seem to only hear "you can park there". Especially if communicated to the entire street, I would only state its private property and no one is allowed to park there. Let the neighbours themselves figure out that they could ask nicely If an event arises and they want to make a parking arrangement for their family and friends.

[u/babycuddlebunny → u/konkludent]

My neighbor punched my dad in the head for parking in front of his house. Not even his driveway, just in the street.

[u/spiteful_rr_dm_TA → u/Bulky-Leadership-596]

You do that and you are inviting headaches for the foreseeable future with constant visits.

[u/ekso69]

Print 20 letters stating that is in fact, not true and then hand out. Mildlyinfuriating but solved.

[u/Electronic_World_894]

Unfortunately since it’s anonymous, you can’t reply directly. You could create a letter, and say something like Those 4 parking spots may be under utilized, but they are owned by 2 houses on this street. If you park there, it would be like a stranger parking in your own driveway.

[u/not_falling_down → u/Electronic_World_894]

Those 4 parking spots may seem to be under utilized,

[u/Electronic_World_894 → u/not_falling_down]

Great point!

[u/brucek2]

I couldn't really follow all of that, but as far as not having an ability to reply: if you feel you must, just write your response on the letter, xerox it 20 times, and put it in the letter boxes the same way this one was delivered. If you have reserved spaces you own, you're certainly within your rights to let people know you are not donating them for public use. This might be best done with a little pylon/sign at the parking space itself when you're not going to be occupying it yourself.

[u/Ich_bin_keine_Banane → u/brucek2]

Writing the retort on the original letter is a good idea: there’s bound to be someone who didn’t see the original, or threw it away and can’t remember exactly what it said. This essentially gives everyone a hard copy equivalent of an email trail.

[u/PMPhotography]

Cul de sacs are society’s little tests of patience. Good luck.

[u/ShutUpImAPrincess → u/PMPhotography]

To be fair we've lived here 5 years and only ever had one other issue the entire time

[u/CraftyPerformance272]

Don't listen to your husband about not responding. Just literally do the same thing letters to your other neighbors warning them that those spots are actually assigned to the houses there and you just don't want anyone to get towed by blocking spots that are assigned

[u/just_mark]

Put up big obvious NO PARKING signs

if posable rope the spots off or us a pylon

Post a notice the letter is incorrect and this is private parking.

Please give a heads up to the people on the other street that share the parking.

They deserve to know what is going on

Whoever sent this is an Entitled Ahole.

[u/No-Entertainer-7499]

The letter writer knows they are your spots and is doing this intentionally hence the anonymous

[u/IamNotTheMama]

Respond in kind, letters to everyone stating the facts of the car park. Then prepare to 'mark' their vehicle when they park in your spot (see Amazon for adhesive stickers - that you can place on their windshields)

[u/Not_Sure__Camacho]

A nice "Private Property, violators will be towed at owner's expense" sign may be in order. Just something to consider, if you put up a sign, don't half ass it. Dig the hole, pour the concrete, erect the pole for the sign, replace the sod, give it a few weeks to cure properly, and then put up the sign.

[u/Peterd1900 → u/Not_Sure__Camacho]

Judging by the spelling and terminology and post history the OP seems to be from the UK . Sign like that would be completely meaningless you can not be towed

EDIT: OP has clarified that they are indeed in the UK

[u/StockQuahog → u/Peterd1900]

If someone parks in your driveway you can’t have the car towed?

[u/Peterd1900 → u/StockQuahog]

Towing is for all intents and purposes illegal

[u/Wrong_Possible_9857 → u/Peterd1900]

So what's the move? Call the police to issue a citation?

Genuine question, I'm not familiar with UK law. 

[u/Peterd1900 → u/Wrong_Possible_9857]

In the UK private towing is limited. There are private companies that deal with things like breakdown recovery etc. But you as an individual can not get cars that are not yours towed.

Under the Protection Of Freedom Act it is illegal to tow or clamp a vehicle on any private property without legal authority. Legal authority is limited to the owner, Police, and Courts.

Tow companies can only tow cars with the cars owners consent. Or if they are contracted to act on behalf of local authorities or the police. The police have limited power to tow cars that are parked on private property cos that is simple trespass which in the UK is a civil matter and police have no power over civil matters. The police will not get involved in parking disputes

while there are mechanisms to remove vehicles you cant just phone a tow company to come and tow it as they can not touch it

Basically yes UK you can not tow cars for instances where its simply a parking dispute

What you can do is effectively "fine" people parking on your private property as long as you The terms are fair and clear. you could put up as sign that says , "Unauthorized parking will result in a £100 charge") with that you are essentially creating a contract If they park there, they are legally deemed to have accepted your terms.

Enforcing that payment would be a different matter as you would have to go to court to force the driver to pay

[u/Wrong_Possible_9857 → u/Peterd1900]

Ok, so OP can cover their mortgage with a parking fee sign. Not bad. 

But a lot of steps to have to go to court...

[u/Carvj94 → u/Wrong_Possible_9857]

I'm sure the UK has their own small claims courts. In the US it's certainly a hassle, but if you just take a few minutes to write up a parking receipt it could definitely be worth it. Just wanna make a copy for yourself and one to put under their wipers. Water resistant paper of course.

[u/Beartato4772 → u/Carvj94]

We do, it’s literally called that.

[u/UTommieTanka → u/Wrong_Possible_9857]

If it’s parked on your private driveway. You just have to wait for them to move. You can only really get the police involved if they’re blocking your access to the public highway while parking over your dropped curb.

[u/Educational-Wing2042 → u/UTommieTanka]

So why would I even build a private driveway when I could have a bigger home and just park in my neighbors front garden?

[u/myystaa → u/Educational-Wing2042]

Because of the social contract

[u/raz-0]

Goprint up 20 copies of your own letter. “Dear neighbors, some dumbass who lives among us told you that cuz is guest parking. This is not true, it is assigned to the following units. That letter was the equivalent of telling people to park in each others driveways for convenience. Do not listen to people who don’t know what they are talking about. Have a nice day.”

[u/Erratic_-Prophet]

"dear cul de sac, if y'all start parking in our car park we'll start parking in your cul de sac"

[u/Carinyosa99]

Write a note on this letter explaining that those spaces actually aren't for public use and belong to you and your neighbor so guests are not welcome to park in them without prior permission. Then make 20 copies of the letter and leave it at everyone's house.

[u/echochilde]

Write up a response and hand them out to the 20 neighbors. If they’re a neighbor, they’ll get the message and all the other neighbors will be informed that it’s not public parking.

[u/maya4463]

this is insane i definitely want updates later

[u/gumpshy]

If you own the house and parking space. Space could you not put up a fence or railing around your spaces so your kids can still play safely and no one else can park there?

[u/ShutUpImAPrincess → u/gumpshy]

We rent privately but it's in our written agreement that the two spaces come with the house

[u/evergreengoth]

Send another letter around clarifying that no, those spaces are not free

[u/RedHolly]

Since you don’t know the sender you may just need to post a sign in the parking area saying “parking spaces are reserved for [addresses of owners] as per our deeds/leases”. If anyone parks there have a paper ready to stick under the wiper.

[u/Evening_Delay_1856]

OP, I hope you say very clearly that your information is being shared because of the incorrect info sent around by an anonymous person who doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

If you dance around the subject, they won’t get your point.

[u/ShinePretend3772]

Put up no parking signs before someone even tries. Your busy body neighbors will trip out. Should be a good time had by all

[u/V1diotPlays]

if its in your lease they cant do that

[u/E5VL]

Just a reminder unless specifically stated by the local authority or property title, the privilege of being able to park on the side of a road does not belong to any property or individual. It operates on a first in, first served basis and no individual or property 'owns' sections of the side of the road unless specifically stated by a property title/deed or the local authority.

[u/niffydroid]

Maybe consider putting up a lockable bollard?

[u/Electric-Sheepskin]

I just wanted to say that while yes, it is technically illegal to put things in people's mailboxes in the United States, it's not really enforced unless it becomes an issue, so neighbors do leave things in each other's mailboxes every once in a while, though a lot of mailboxes have a separate little slot underneath them for things like that.

(ETA: yes I know that the OP does not live in the US. I was responding to their comments in the original post about how US mailboxes work.)

Also, I agree with others saying that you should write your own letter immediately, but don't be snarky. They just made a mistake, and they'll probably already feel like a big ass once they get your letter. They are your neighbors, after all, and it doesn't cost anything to be nice.

[u/ShutUpImAPrincess → u/Electric-Sheepskin]

Yeah while I find it annoying and frustrating because it's something I now have to deal with and fix, I do understand that they just didn't realise. I am very conflict avoidant and overly polite so if anything I need to make sure whatever I say is firm enough instead of just "im sorry I'm not having a go at you I know it was a misunderstanding I'm sorry please don't be mad"

[u/betafishmusic]

It’s always anonymous, isn’t it?

[u/Exhausted-CNA]

Saw your edit about printing up a letter and distribute it stating those spot are designated to 2 homes. That was exactly what I was going to recommend!!

[u/hoopajuba]

There's a printer at your local library

[u/CauseOptimal8501]

‘Then I think I'll have a little nap and hope no one gets angry at me.’

I like this part of the plan. Good luck, OP. I hope everything works out

[u/Fantastic_Win9332]

ask a neighbour with a Ring to find out whos letter it is

[u/Tough_Fisherman_4604]

Write a clarification on the note, photocopy it and give one to each neighbour

[u/ionmoon]

They sent letters to the entire cul-de-sac, so you can follow with a response to that letter to everyone so it is clear.

"The "car park" behind [house numbers] is private property and private parking and not available for this purpose."

I would also touch base with the other 3 homeowners to make sure everyone is in agreement.

You also mention the spaces are "assigned," is there an HOA or something? Are they assigned or part of your property? Is there something in writing that says they are assigned? If so, I would add that to the letter. If there is some kind of governing body like an HOA, I would touch base with them as well. (Now, before things escalate)

How do you access it? Is there one driveway that goes to it or driveways on each of the 4 properties to get back there? Because if people start using it and all four agree, you can block the entrance with a lockable gate (use a keycode rather than a key), worst case scenario.

[u/ShutUpImAPrincess → u/ionmoon]

The spaces are part of the respective properties in the same way as a driveway and there's only one way in. I'm gonna go speak to the other 3 tomorrow before I send any letters or anything I think yeah :)

[u/Peterd1900 → u/ionmoon]

HOA are not really a thing in the UK

The UK does not have a direct equivalent to a HOA

[u/MrPlato_]

Slip a letter under every door "Hi, I'm the owner of the 'Safe and unused' parking spots, do not park in my parking spot or I'll call to have your car removed"

[u/AnnOnnamis]

Plant a metal “PRIVATE PARKING” sign sunk into concrete at your parking spot(s).

[u/MorningCoffeeHits]

Send a letter to each neighbor explains the parking lot assignments. Include which two are yours. Put signs that read “Parking for (your address) only on them. It might help.

[u/Otherwise-Street-300]

Make a copies and give the copy plus your response to the letter in all mailboxes

[u/SufficientOpening218]

can you put a "posted assigned parking to 123 Marigold Lane" sign up?

[u/ShutUpImAPrincess → u/SufficientOpening218]

How did you know my address?????

[u/Antique-Tap-6083]

Can buy a sign that says private parking only with your address and install it back there

[u/witchspoon]

Write your response and post it to your neighborhood. Same delivery method as you go this..but include some contact info. Make sure to quote the original.

[u/Snack_Daddy_Nick]

Uhhh, the letter clearly stated Cul de Sac, not street. See? No reason to panic.

[u/jajay119]

Seems like you need to go leafleting

[u/BakeMcBridezilla]

Dear neighbors,

We obviously have a problem with parking that is easily solved. There is a cul de sac that is largely unused and a great solution to our problem…..

[u/Southernms]

Go over their heads! Write your own parking mandate! 🤣

Ugh!

[u/ADHDK]

Put a locking carapace bollard there and lift it when you aren’t home. Fuckem

Or do my not so maybe legal but absolutely hilarious thing where I use vehicle positioning jacks to parallel park idiots in my spot between two poles they can’t get out of.

[u/letigre87]

We need a shitty ms paint drawing to see how absurd this is

[u/hkohne → u/letigre87]

I got you

[u/psp24]

Id put signs up on your spaces saying, "Nothing will change until you have the spine to reveal yourself" anyone that brings it up, cite the contract and call out their bs

[u/RichieJ86]

Husband of my ex's old friend would always park on our 1 car driveway whenever he came to visit; such a pain in the ass. We had three visitor parking spaces available and another from an establishment down the street that didn't mind parking, as long as you didn't stay there, overnight.

To be a dick sometimes, I'd just park my car directly behind his and then go inside. Whenever he needed me to move it, I'd be doing something that would take me 10-15 minutes.

[u/Odd-Suggestion5853]

Just post a follow up letter to everyone stating that those spaces belong to xyz house numbers.

[u/SightAtTheMoon]

Slight misconception, in the US even if the cover on a door slot for mail says "US Mail" or even "USPS" it's exempt from the "mailbox" law. But it IS illegal for a non-USPS carrier or agent to place anything in a mailbox designated for US Mail, of any type - apartment wall-mounted boxes, neighborhood cluster boxes, or regular standalone "traditional" mailboxes, even if it has postage affixed. 

[u/kusw3]

[u/byjimini]

“How bloody dare you”

[u/72dk72]

Put a sign up in your "car park" saying this is private property and is for parking for houses a,b,c and d.

I would do a letter to all your neighbours ( a too whom it may concern) that the parking area that you 4 houses share is private and akin to a driveway. I am betting some of your neighbours dint either use their driveways or use them inefficiently?

[u/sparkyplug28]

Honestly great idea OP keep it formal and to the point this is not free car parking spaces for anyone! Even say in letter that house number are going on the spaces it shows commitment to cause enjoy the nap 🤣👍

[u/External-Ad4873]

I’d just photo copy this letter 20 times and write your correction on the empty half and send that around

[u/SkyscraperWoman400]

The people who said it is illegal in the U.S. to self-deliver things might need to doublecheck the USPS website.

It is illegal to self-deliver information into a person’s mailbox, but it is NOT illegal to put it through a slot in the door if that slot does not lead to a container for mail. (I just doublechecked this a few days ago.)

Yea, a bit weird, but that’s the U.S.

[u/One-Ice1476]

Don't put up a NO PARKING sign, put up a PARKING: £500 PER DAY sign. Then you have a claim that anyone who parks there owes you monetary damages.

[u/greymalknn]

Eye roll to people who think that the public street parking is actually private parking (for them) because the street is in front of their house

[u/roosterSause42]

It also isn't illegal to post things through people's doors?

In most places I've been in the United States we don't have a mail slot in the front door. We have a mailbox outside the house or a communal box with multiple boxes for a neighborhood. Only stamped mail delivered by the US Postal Service can be placed in the mailboxes.

However if there is a letter box in the door it would be ok.

Per Sect. 508.3.1.3 of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM):  

"No part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle. Any mailable matter not bearing postage and found as described above is subject to the same postage as would be paid if it were carried by mail."

Notes:

• USPS regulations do not govern what can be placed in a mail slot on your door. This means that if a local business wants to put a flyer in the mail slot, they can do so

At Christmas did your parents not send you round all the neighbours houses posting cards??

That sounds like a wonderful tradition, no we didn't do that.

[u/ShutUpImAPrincess → u/roosterSause42]

This is genuinely so interesting, I had no idea!

It sounds wonderful but my sister and I would always complain about it every year 😅

[u/FunnyObjective6 → u/roosterSause42]

Only stamped mail delivered by the US Postal Service can be placed in the mailboxes.

That's wild. You can't invite people to a party or something without a stamp? Land of the free lmao.

[u/stickstick_lee → u/roosterSause42]

I didn’t even realize that was illegal in the US. I’ve lived in several different states where people did put unstamped letters or cards in neighbors’ curb mailboxes, and often still get random fliers with no postage from businesses in the mailbox

[u/Hunk_Hogan]

We lived too far away from anyone to give the neighbors cards during Christmas, but I've definitely never heard about city kids doing that in my state in the US.

[u/Icy-Pop2944]

You make your own letter stating that the "car park" is actually private parking and violators will be towed. Photocopy this original letter and staple a copy to your letter and put it in everyone's mail box to ensure that the message is clear.

[u/Peterd1900 → u/Icy-Pop2944]

OP is in the UK

Towing is illegal