When a polite note wasn’t enough, this homeowner claims they took matters into their own hands
A driver has taken to Reddit to rant about a neighbour they claim kept parking in their designated spot and how they got back at them. Parking in the UK can be a controversial topic that often boils down to disputes over who can leave their car where.
In most flats or apartment complexes, people are assigned a parking space to make things fair for everyone. But when some people take advantage, it can quickly escalate into a dispute between neighbours. In some cases, people may get their own back by giving their neighbour a taste of their own medicine.
Posting online under the name ‘Scorpionnedomina’, the Reddit user wrote: “Alright, so this might not be the pettiest thing out there, but it felt amazing at the time. My apartment complex has assigned parking spots, and each unit has one spot that’s, you know, yours.
“For weeks, my new neighbour started parking in my spot after work. At first, I let it slide—figured she just got confused or whatever. But when it kept happening, I left a polite note asking her to please use her own spot.
“The next day, I come home, and yep, her car is there again. She crumpled my note and left it under her wiper, like she was proud of ignoring it! So, I decided I’d just use her spot instead. Every day, without fail, I parked right in her designated spot.
“It took two days before she started leaving notes on my car asking me to stop. I kept switching spots with her until she finally knocked on my door to confront me.
“I just acted clueless and told her, ‘Oh, I thought we were doing a swap since you were using mine!'” They added: “She sputtered out some excuse, but she finally stopped. Now, every time I pull into my spot and see her car not there, it’s a tiny little win.”
Some were quick to respond in the comments section with similar stories. One said: “I had a neighbour do this, taking my assigned covered parking spot. I parked directly behind them and went to bed. The next morning [she] banged on my door and demanded I move my car.
“I made them wait nearly an hour while I showered and dressed before releasing my automotive hostage. They were very late for work and never parked in my spot again.” Others couldn’t believe the entitlement, and added: “What is wrong with some people? How does she think that works?”
A third put: “You played her game right back at her instead of letting your frustrations win. So, however small it is, given her reaction, it was a very successful revenge.”
What if someone claims my designated parking space?
According to the Metropolitan Police, if someone has parked in your designated parking space without your permission, the first step is to “try and resolve the issue peacefully yourself”. The police suggest that, if you can’t find the driver to speak to them directly, try leaving a polite note on their windscreen.
They add: “If you lease a property with a parking space, please contact whoever is responsible for your building, such as the freeholder, council or managing agent.” If these options fail, you can report them to the police for anti-social behaviour.
