Neighbors Think They Can Park In Person’s Garage Without Permission, Get A $1,000 Reality Check

You can never win against an entitled neighbor who believes they’re in the right despite their inconsiderate behavior. It’s why some people resort to drastic measures to resolve the matter.

The homeowner in the story you’re about to read deemed it necessary to take extreme action when a neighbor parked in their garage without permission. Fed up by such thoughtless actions, they had all three cars towed.

The author’s reaction expectedly garnered angry responses, with other homeowners compelling them for an apology. Read through the full story below and see who you think was in the wrong.

Sometimes, entitled neighbor behavior requires drastic action to reach a resolution

Neighbors Think They Can Park In Person’s Garage Without Permission, Get A $1,000 Reality Check

Image credits: photovs / envatoelements (not the actual photo)

A homeowner found a neighbor’s cars parked in their driveway, so they took action and had them towed

Neighbors Think They Can Park In Person’s Garage Without Permission, Get A $1,000 Reality Check

Image credits: Iakobchuk / envatoelements (not the actual photo)

Other neighbors told the homeowner to apologize

Neighbors Think They Can Park In Person’s Garage Without Permission, Get A $1,000 Reality Check

Image credits: SensitiveHat8490

Boundary issues and improper parking are two common causes of neighbor disputes

Neighbors Think They Can Park In Person’s Garage Without Permission, Get A $1,000 Reality Check

Image credits: LightFieldStudios / envatoelements (not the actual photo)

According to Texas law firm Kelly Legal Group, the issues between the author and their neighbor are common among homeowners. Specifically, boundary and parking violations are the top reasons for disputes in the city of Austin.

According to the firm’s article, boundary disputes usually arise when a homeowner believes a neighbor barged onto their property without permission. At the same time, parking issues typically happen when a homeowner either blocks the driveway or, as in this story’s case, occupies another person’s parking spot in their own home.

Apparently, it’s also a prevalent problem in the UK. A 2023 report by The Independent revealed that 16% of homeowners have argued with their neighbors about parking.

35% of people feel they compete for parking spaces, while 48% claimed their neighbors blocked access to their driveway, garage, or designated space.

Churchill Motor Insurance head Nicholas Mantel admitted that such disagreements are a recurring headache.

“When parking is sparse, and life is busy, it can be easy to park in the first available space – even if it blocks others,” Mantel told the Independent in an interview while reminding of the general rule of not parking in someone else’s entryway or property.

There are other measures homeowners can take when a neighbor becomes inconsiderate with parking

Neighbors Think They Can Park In Person’s Garage Without Permission, Get A $1,000 Reality Check

Image credits: sofiiashunkina / envatoelements (not the actual photo)

The author’s frustrations are understandable, especially since they felt the neighbor intruded on their property. However, there are measures to avoid escalating the situation.

First, it pays to understand the local laws. In the US, certain states impose specific regulations about where you can park your car. For example, blocking driveways or leaving a car idle on someone’s property without permission is illegal in Maryland.

Also, leaving a car parked in front of a house for 72 hours warrants automatic towing. The goal is to ward off suspicious vehicles that may threaten the neighborhood.

If you decide to have a vehicle towed because it is on your property, Maryland-based company Geyers Towing & Recovery advises you to consider the legal consequences of such actions.

The person who called for the towing could be held responsible for any damages or losses to the vehicle. In the story’s case, the author must shoulder any necessary expenses.

Ultimately, diplomatic attempts to resolve the issue must be the first option. You can always contact the homeowners’ association or the local police to intervene. If none of these work, drastic measures may be necessary. However, you must be aware of the consequences.

In the author’s case, they could have taken a more subdued approach instead of immediately going nuclear and calling for a towing company to remove the vehicles.

What do you think, readers? Do you agree with the author’s actions?

Commenters had mixed reactions, but most of them sided with the author

Neighbors Think They Can Park In Person’s Garage Without Permission, Get A $1,000 Reality Check

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Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

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Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

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I'm a visual editor here at Bored Panda and I enjoy a good laugh. My work ranges from serious topics related to toxic work environments and relationship difficulties to humorous articles about online shopping fails and introvert memes. When I'm not at my work desk, checking if every single pixel is in the right place, I usually spend my free time playing board games, taking pictures, and watching documentaries

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What do you think ?

POST

ZGutr 2 months ago

Towing wasn't the best idea/start, but I would not go searching for the owners either. I'd probably ask the contractor to block the driveway with materials and wait for them to come to us. "How was I to know? It's my garage and not in use" Depending upon their behavior materials will be gone immediately or by the end of the day

46points

Kristal 2 months ago

Passive aggressive genius

18points

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Scott Rackley 2 months ago

Why should I have to go search for the owners? Not my responsibility.

11points

Meagan Glaser 2 months ago

Not actually a smart idea- you are now paying people (contractors) to deal with neighbors, which costs money and time since they'll have to bare minimum move and then remove materials AND deal with the harassment instead of handing it over to police. Contractors will be ticked off, not great for OP. Also, those people were parked INSIDE the garage. Unknown people INSIDE OPs brand new property. Why should OP risk the potential property damage and liability? What if hose vehicles had illegal materials in them? Sure the odds are against it, but it's still possible. Never waste your time and money to be petty, when the risk reward is "well, I could make my neighbors angry *in a different way* than if I went the legal route, and risk losing my house to civil forfeiture or lawsuits, or...i could call a tow truck and they'll still be mad"

1point

Glasofruix 2 months ago (edited)

I've been living in my house for 2 years, some a££holes STILL park their cars smack dab in the middle of my door. I've been nice in the beginning knocking on doors, asking politely etc. But the SAME s$$holes and their guests kept doing it. Strangely once i started climbing over their cars to get to my door they've stopped. Point is, OP's neighbors have trespassed on private propery with no authorization whatsoever without even asking for permission first. Could've caused damage, could've prevented the workers from doing their jobs AND stirred sh!t if their cars got damaged. It was not a "victimless transgression" as one of the comments put it, it was a 1st degree a55holery. Why should anyone spend time and energy to try and find the owners of those cars when they show so little respect to their new neighbor? There is no being nice with those people.

41points

Zoe Vokes 2 months ago

I wouldn’t want to start off with a bad relationship with my neighbours but what they did was crazy. OP didn’t have them charged with trespassing or any of the other crimes they potentially committed to do this. It’s not like it’s an abandoned lot with nobody using it. The house was nearly completed. That is clearly someone’s property.

36points

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ZGutr 2 months ago

46points

Kristal 2 months ago

Passive aggressive genius

18points

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Scott Rackley 2 months ago

Why should I have to go search for the owners? Not my responsibility.

11points

Meagan Glaser 2 months ago

1point

Glasofruix 2 months ago (edited)

41points

Zoe Vokes 2 months ago

36points

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Neighbors Think They Can Park In Person’s Garage Without Permission, Get A $1,000 Reality Check

Sometimes, entitled neighbor behavior requires drastic action to reach a resolution

A homeowner found a neighbor’s cars parked in their driveway, so they took action and had them towed

Other neighbors told the homeowner to apologize

Boundary issues and improper parking are two common causes of neighbor disputes

There are other measures homeowners can take when a neighbor becomes inconsiderate with parking

Commenters had mixed reactions, but most of them sided with the author

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Neighbors Think They Can Park In Person’s Garage Without Permission, Get A $1,000 Reality Check

Sometimes, entitled neighbor behavior requires drastic action to reach a resolution

A homeowner found a neighbor’s cars parked in their driveway, so they took action and had them towed

Other neighbors told the homeowner to apologize

Boundary issues and improper parking are two common causes of neighbor disputes

There are other measures homeowners can take when a neighbor becomes inconsiderate with parking

Commenters had mixed reactions, but most of them sided with the author

Poll Question

Thanks! Check out the results:

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Miguel Ordoñez

Miguel Ordoñez

Viktorija Ošikaitė

Viktorija Ošikaitė

Word Search

WordroW

Jigsaw

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Picdoku

Killer Sudoku

Kriss Kross

Word Flower

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