dispute with neighbours..

Amicranky89

So recently we have butted heads with our neighbours regarding parking.. We live in an area with permit parking/pay and display.. We have one vehicle. We hold a valid parking permit.. There are only 4/5 spaces on street we park wherever we can..

This has caused the neighbours to begin harassing us. We have even been threatened.. Classy right. I just wanted to know can I record any future interactions with them or is that invading there privacy..

Thanks

coylemj

You need to explain the setup better - are we talking houses or apartments? Is there one space for each house (not necessarily designated) or are there more houses/apartments than parking spaces? Are you parking outside someone else's house because the space outside your place is occupied and is the owner of that house objecting because you're occupying 'his' space?

If you only have one vehicle then what do your neighbours expect you to do? Exactly what are you doing that they object to?

Amicranky89

So its a row of houses.. There are 4 spaces in front of 4 of the houses and there is a small carpark at the top of the row of houses.. There more spaces than houses.. There is no assigned parking as it is pay and display as well as permit parking so non residents have as much access as we do.. We park where ever is free and preferably as close to our home as we can get.. Sometimes we park infront of there garden.. They have a van and a car and relatives that park in the area most days. We do not have a problem with that..

They have stared to purposefully park to block our vehicle.. One of there vehicles parked an inch from the back and the other an inch from the front.. Our vehicle is not parked Monday to Friday 6am to 6pm as it is used for work..

DoctorEdgeWild

Not legal advice, more social advice: Whatever satisfaction/gratification you may get from being 'in the right' may be far outweighed by the hassle and nuisance and having a problematic relationship with a neighbour.

Amicranky89

DoctorEdgeWild wrote: »

Not legal advice, more social advice: Whatever satisfaction/gratification you may get from being 'in the right' may be far outweighed by the hassle and nuisance and having a problematic relationship with a neighbour.

We really don't want a problematic relationship with our neighbours.. Unfortunately I do need legal advice in regards to recording further conversations.. They have involved my partners employer and made false allegations against him.. Honestly we avoid parking in front of there property when possible but they now don't want us parking anywhere on the road..

DoctorEdgeWild

Sounds like it's just on the tipping point of being a pretty serious situation that, going by the information provided, has grown from something very small. As with 90% of disputes, communication may be the solution.

I don't know about the legal issues around recording, just that it seems extreme. Best of luck to you in getting everything sorted though. Life's too short.

Reebrock

DoctorEdgeWild wrote: »

Not legal advice, more social advice: Whatever satisfaction/gratification you may get from being 'in the right' may be far outweighed by the hassle and nuisance and having a problematic relationship with a neighbour.

Well said.

Neighbours can be absolute dickheads. The best option is to keep civil at best.

Amicranky89

Reebrock wrote: »

Well said.

Neighbours can be absolute dickheads. The best option is to keep civil at best.

Really trying to be civil but they have no interest in resolving the matter and any discussion ends in abusive behaviour on there part. We are just going to avoid them at all costs. And hope over time they relax a bit. I have young children and really don't want people approaching me shouting abuse as I push a buggy past my home. I have been really upset over the past couple of weeks.. We have contacted our soliciter and hechas assured us that if there behaviour continues we are within our rights to set up cctv.. No one should feel threatened in there own home over parking spaces..

misschoo

I had a similar experience. The neighbour called to my house & asked me to move my car. I asked was she saying this to other neighbours living in the row of houses & she said no just me. I said that it was unassigned parking so we could park where we liked. I was nice and civil to her. She stormed off & two minutes later her partner arrived at the door telling me not to park there. (This space was the same distance to my door as it was to theirs). He actually stepped into my home and started to threaten me and said "well you better watch your car then". I asked him was he threatening to damage my car & he said I had just better watch it & stormed off. I was very shocked & upset after this. It was 10pm & I live by myself so I called the guards & explained what had happened. They called into me & then went down & had a word with them explaining it was unassigned parking & everyone had the choice to park where they wanted. I phoned the management co on the Monday & they sent out a letter to the estate stating this. I know this seemed a bit of an extreme thing to call the Gardai but they knew I was living by myself so they singled me out. There were no problems after that & they thankfully moved out a few months later. I hope you get sorted OP.

NUTLEY BOY

Some neighbours are reasonable. Some neighbours are ignorant louts and bullies who see no view except theirs. You seem to have the latter.

I accept the wisdom of "give and take" in a neighbourhood as long as it is equal and you do not permanently give whilst they permanently take. However, there may come a time to take action to stop them walking over you and intimidating you.

This seems to be a public road so no household has no superior rights over any parking space.

The next time that they park you in (one in front, one behind by an inch) call the Gardai. I am sure that there must be some offence committed such as unlawful interference with your car by rendering it imposible to use it. e.g. Criminal damage Act 1991 (S.1 and 2)

Also, when they park you in take photographs of the offending behaviour and note the time and date. The road is a public place so you are properly entitled to photograph their parking.

As far as the other conduct goes some of that may also be a matter for the Gardai in that it may constitute harasment as envisaged under S. 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. Section 10 deals with the specific offence of harassment.

Keep written records of every incident.

It is far better to avoid this type of trouble with neighbours especially if they are true pond life. However, it may have to come to a decision to assert yourself or move house and nobody should be intimidated in to doing that.

As far as recording conduct or interactions goes there may actually be data protection issues - believe it or not ! My view would be to record away on the basis that you are collecting evidence that you can open to the Gardai (as distinct from putting it on YOUTUBE or any public domain).

BloodThirsty

misschoo wrote: »

I had a similar experience. The neighbour called to my house & asked me to move me car. I asked was she saying this to other neighbours living in the row of houses & she said no just me. I said that it was unassigned parking so we could park where we liked. I was nice and civil to her. She stormed off & two minutes later her partner arrived at the door telling me not to park there. (This space was the same distance to my door as it was to theirs). He actually stepped into my home and started to threaten me and said "well you better watch your car then". I asked him was he threatening to damage my car & he said I had just better watch it & stormed off. I was very shocked & upset after this. It was 10pm & I live by myself so I called the guards & explained what had happened. They called into me & then went down & had a word with them explaining it was unassigned parking & everyone had the choice to park where they wanted. I phoned the management co on the Monday & they sent out a letter to the estate stating this. I know this seemed a bit of an extreme thing to call the Gardai but they knew I was living by myself so they singled me out. There were no problems after that & they thankfully moved out a few months later. I hope you get sorted OP.

you were right to call the garda.

Buona Fortuna

misschoo wrote: »

I had a similar experience. The neighbour called to my house & asked me to move me car. I asked was she saying this to other neighbours living in the row of houses & she said no just me. I said that it was unassigned parking so we could park where we liked. I was nice and civil to her. She stormed off & two minutes later her partner arrived at the door telling me not to park there. (This space was the same distance to my door as it was to theirs). He actually stepped into my home and started to threaten me and said "well you better watch your car then". I asked him was he threatening to damage my car & he said I had just better watch it & stormed off. I was very shocked & upset after this. It was 10pm & I live by myself so I called the guards & explained what had happened. They called into me & then went down & had a word with them explaining it was unassigned parking & everyone had the choice to park where they wanted. I phoned the management co on the Monday & they sent out a letter to the estate stating this. I know this seemed a bit of an extreme thing to call the Gardai but they knew I was living by myself so they singled me out. There were no problems after that & they thankfully moved out a few months later. I hope you get sorted OP.

Mischoo I had neighbours like yours when we lived in a flat in England. Parking, parking, parking - I do wonder whoever designed these places! Cut a long story short they made our life a merry hell until we moved.

Oh how I just love living in the country now - the neighbours on three sides of us have been fantstic from the get go.

OP, I sympathise with your plight. If it were me I'd film it. Yes he has a case for collateral intrusion but if he's only filmed on public property or your own I don't see that going far, plus you gain evidence of harrassment, intimidation etc.

I wish you well OP.

Victor

If I'm correct, blocking in a vehicle is an offence, but I don't know under what legislation.

If the neighbour's relations aren't paying for their parking, feel free to call the clampers.

There are issues surrounding recording / videoing people / a public place (a) visibly recording someone may lead to a breach of the peace (b) retaining the recording may have privacy issues.

Little CuChulainn

Victor wrote: »

If I'm correct, blocking in a vehicle is an offence, but I don't know under what legislation.

If the neighbour's relations aren't paying for their parking, feel free to call the clampers.

There are issues surrounding recording / videoing people / a public place (a) visibly recording someone may lead to a breach of the peace (b) retaining the recording may have privacy issues.

Section 98 of the Road Traffic Act

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1961/en/act/pub/0024/sec0098.html

Reebrock

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

Section 98 of the Road Traffic Act

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1961/en/act/pub/0024/sec0098.html

But the neighbours aren't blocking public passage are they?

Victor

Reebrock wrote: »

But the neighbours aren't blocking public passage are they?

The OP is a member of the public.

Amicranky89

Thanks for all the posts.. We are taking a very careful approach if they block us in again we will ring the parking authorities to deal with it. Unfortunately they are not the kind of people you can reason with so we are putting CCTV just to ensure they dont damage our property or vehicle..but the advice has been very much appreciated..