## Homeowner Turns Tables on Persistent Neighbour with Clever Parking Revenge
For many, having one’s own driveway is a small luxury: a guaranteed parking spot after a long day out and a relief from the perpetual hunt for a space on crowded suburban streets. However, for one homeowner, this privilege was repeatedly disrupted by a neighbour seemingly oblivious to boundaries—a situation familiar to countless residents across the UK. After months of polite appeals fell on deaf ears, the homeowner decided that enough was enough, choosing a unique method to teach their neighbour a lesson they would not soon forget.
The story emerged on social media platform Reddit, where the aggrieved property owner recounted their ordeal and subsequent ‘petty revenge.’ The Reddit post quickly attracted a wave of attention, sparking debate about property rights, neighbourly etiquette, and how to handle such disputes with civility—or cunning.
According to the poster, the neighbour would regularly leave their car parked in the homeowner’s driveway, frequently brushing off objections with a casual ‘it’s just for a sec’. The behaviour persisted for months, despite repeated requests asking them to stop. Matters came to a head on a Friday, when the owner returned home to find their familiar foe parked squarely in their spot yet again—just as the homeowner was about to head out of town for the weekend.
Rather than engage in another fruitless confrontation, the homeowner decided to leave their vehicle parked behind the intruder’s, effectively trapping the neighbour’s car on the drive. They locked up, grabbed their belongings, and departed for the weekend, leaving the neighbour’s car confined for the duration. Hours later, the owner received a flurry of calls and messages from the stranded neighbour, but opted to ignore them. “Hope he had a relaxing weekend to think things through!” the poster remarked, with a hint of satisfaction.
The tale resonated with many online. Commenters shared both their outrage at the neighbour’s audacity and their approval of the homeowner’s creative solution. Some found the scenario hard to fathom, expressing disbelief that someone would feel entitled to use another’s property so freely. Others recounted similar experiences, revealing how tension over parking can escalate into minor acts of retribution that blur the line between justice and pettiness.
One respondent recounted a comparable episode, where they deliberately parked a dilapidated vehicle to block a trespassing car for a fortnight while they were away, secure in the knowledge that their own vehicle could not be moved without consent and that authorities were unlikely to intervene. Others chimed in with tongue-in-cheek suggestions for further mischief, highlighting just how emotive parking disputes can become.
However, the story also highlighted the legal ambiguity surrounding such incidents in the UK. According to the RAC, while it may seem like a straightforward matter, the law does not classify unauthorised parking on a private driveway as a criminal offence. Instead, it’s considered trespassing—a civil rather than criminal matter. This means police typically won’t intervene unless the situation escalates or additional offences are committed.
The recommended approach, legal experts insist, is to remain calm and avoid retaliatory actions that could themselves result in legal trouble, such as damaging the offending vehicle. Instead, homeowners are advised to seek redress through civil courts, which can issue orders for removal of vehicles or claims for nuisance if a person’s enjoyment of their property is disrupted. Such proceedings, while preferable to escalation, can be drawn out and costly, often prompting frustrated residents to seek alternative forms of resolution.
As neighbourhoods grapple with limited parking and increasingly blurred boundaries, this story stands as a cautionary tale—a reminder of the importance of communication, respect for others’ property, and knowing your rights. While stories of ‘petty revenge’ may provide a momentary sense of satisfaction, the long-term solution lies in understanding the law and perhaps, above all, in fostering a neighbourly spirit that avoids such battles in the first place.
For many, this episode is a testament to resilience and ingenuity amid everyday disputes, reflecting a very British approach: quietly but firmly standing one’s ground, with a dash of wit thrown in for good measure.