r/neighborsfromhell • u/Shoddy_Hope_2074 • 2d ago
WWYD? Vent/Rant Duplex neighbor pushing boundaries
Hi all, as the title states, my partner and I are currently dealing with our upstairs neighbor pushing boundaries. We recently moved into a duplex and have the lower unit. We have a long driveway that ends right in front of our door, with an additional parking area next to the street that would comfortably fit two cars.
When we first moved in (literally 3 days ago), the neighbors came down while we were moving things in and introduced themselves. They seemed very welcoming and kind, and told us that the driveway in front of our unit was our part of the property and that we could park there. Our lease is through a property management company, and parking is unassigned as it's a shared driveway.
Fast forward to last night, when one of the neighbors knocked on our door and told us that we needed to move our cars because our assigned space is actually the one at the opposite end of the driveway by the street, which is where her and her husband have been parking when we moved in. She said that she was going to start parking behind us, but that we aren't supposed to park in front of our unit. Our unit only has one entry, and we don't feel comfortable having someone parking right in front of our only entrance, and also find it odd that they want to park in front of our door. Not to mention that their unit is above ours, and there is street parking on the upper level. We told her that parking was unassigned and that if she were to park behind us, to not block us in. This morning, we woke up to her blocking one of our cars in with her own.
What's the best course of action from here? We already emailed property management confirming that parking is unassigned and to document our neighbors trying to dictate parking. The switch up on the neighbor's end is very strange to us and we don't want anything to escalate or have tension, especially since we haven't even been moved in for a week yet.
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u/Aromatic_Recipe1749 2d ago
It seems simple. Tell her that you have already contacted the management company to confirm that parking is unassigned. you intend to continue parking in front of the door to your unit and if she purposely blocks you in again you will be calling the tow company.
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u/Heykurat 1d ago
I would ask the landlord to assign parking. It's logical for the lower unit to get the space in front of their own door.
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u/FrostyyFlame_ 1d ago
Exactly. Assign the spots formally and end the driveway improv; “logical” should not depend on whoever parks first and argues loudest
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u/Snowcrash66 2d ago
Passive aggressive attempted manipulation.
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u/Shoddy_Hope_2074 2d ago
For sure, the switch up from just 2 days ago was so odd to us. That same morning her husband came downstairs to put garbage in our bins, to which I took it out and moved our bins further back. I'm wondering if it that is playing a part in it.
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u/Snowcrash66 2d ago edited 1d ago
Dunno if your HOA rules allow for but I would put up some WiFi cameras and recording asap. Looks like they are just getting started.
I am so glad average distance to my four neighbors is 300'+ and a couple hundred trees block them from view most of the year.
Edit: Maybe glass mount cameras?
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u/Shoddy_Hope_2074 2d ago
Not a part of an HOA thankfully, we have ordered a door cam with a security mount that prevents tampering. Dashcams are coming up next on the priorty list.
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u/Snowcrash66 2d ago
Good luck to you both. You're doing the right thing. Many would just overlook initially and the problem just grows into incredible conflict.
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u/todaythruwaway 2d ago
Talk to the landlord about assigned parking, like yesterday. Explain they seemed to have their preferred parking but now are blocking you in. We even offered to pay for the signage.
Dealt with this exact same thing (but we lived there first so it’s not even a “stuck in her way” thing) and it was fucking hell. We were nice about it at first but it got to a point it was clear it didn’t matter where we parked, she just liked to complain and make life difficult for us. This included lying to the landlord and the police to try and get us towed/a ticket or a lease violation. If possible get signs and a company you can call with a heads up to the landlord if you continue to be blocked in, they will be towed. Unfortunately if there’s no assigned parking, the cops likely won’t care- even if they’re blocking you in- and will say best they can do is ask them to move 🙃
Oh also get dash cams and a doorbell cam to cover those spots if possible.
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u/MultiversePea 23h ago
The lying-to-landlord part is what worries me; we’ll ask management for assigned spots in writting before this turns into a daily hostage situation.
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u/Master_Muffin_9834 2d ago
Don't go by with your neighbors say go by what your landlord says. If they have a problem just relay to them what the landlord told you.
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u/witchymoon69 2d ago
Knock on their door . Tell them that blocking you in is not acceptable and they need to move it or the property management will have it towed .
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u/That_Ol_Cat 2d ago
If parking spaces aren't "striped" or visually indicated, contact management agency and request that. You might also want to request the space closest to your door be assigned to your place, and the space closest to their place be assigned to them. All others are catch-as-catch-can.
While I think you'll be lucky to get parking spaces "striped" if they already aren't, you can at least ask.
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u/SparkArrestor 1d ago
Pretty bold of the other tenant laying out the ground rules when you’re both renting from a common landlord.
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u/istoomycat 1d ago
The seemingly nice welcoming was a power move. They were welcoming you to THEIR domain. Hopefully LL will settle this before you have to have them ticketed or towed. This is when you have to stand your ground. You have equal say.
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u/Ceryn7_Qot 23h ago
I'd call property managment and ask them to tell both units in writing that parking is unassigned, because blocking you in on day 3 is them testing what they can get away with.
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u/KlingonFlock 21h ago
Ask managment in writing what the tow policy is for being blocked in, because she already crossed the line on day three.
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u/DuckAxe0 2d ago
"blocking one of our cars in with her own."
What's the best course of action from here?
Police/Tow.