A British driver recently sparked conversation online after revealing the “petty” but effective method they used to reclaim their allocated parking space from a neighbour who kept taking it. The episode, which was first shared on Reddit and covered by Wales Online, highlights the sometimes fraught relationship between neighbours and the challenges faced in communal living arrangements, especially where car parking is limited.
Parking disputes are hardly unfamiliar territory across the UK, with many residents finding themselves forced to contend with neighbours or strangers ignoring designated spots. In shared properties such as apartment complexes, assigned parking is designed to avoid confusion and conflict, but it appears not everyone abides by the expected courtesies.
The Reddit user, posting under the name ‘Scorpionnedomina’, detailed their experience in an apartment building with officially assigned spaces. According to their post, trouble began when a new neighbour frequently parked in ‘Scorpionnedomina’s’ marked spot after work. Initially, the original parker chalked it up to an honest mistake, opting for understanding rather than escalation.
Matters changed when the problem persisted. After leaving a courteous note to remind the neighbour to use their own bay, the user found their plea not only ignored, but openly derided: the message was crumpled and left under the neighbour’s windscreen wiper the very next day. The situation, by that point, called for a different approach.
Rather than pursue a confrontation or involve authorities, ‘Scorpionnedomina’ devised a simple retaliation: they began consistently parking in the offending neighbour’s own assigned spot whenever it was vacant. This reversal of roles continued for several days, until the neighbour – now deprived of their expected space – began leaving their own notes and eventually confronted the original poster directly. During the exchange, ‘Scorpionnedomina’ feigned confusion and suggested that the neighbour’s actions had set a precedent of swapping spaces.
The outcome was that the neighbour ceased parking in the wrong space, and the poster described the consistent ability to use their assigned spot as “a tiny little win” each day. Comments poured in on Reddit, with many supporting the creative retaliation. Several shared their own tales of parking disputes, while others noted the audacity of using someone else’s place, pointing out that parking, though seemingly trivial, cuts to the heart of fairness among neighbours.
One commenter speculated that the neighbour may have been reserving her own bay for visitors by occupying someone else’s, a suspicion echoed by others. While some Reddit users suggested that stronger actions – such as having the vehicle towed – would have been justified, the consensus favoured the ‘petty’ but peaceful tit-for-tat resolution.
Parking issues like this are not just a matter of personal inconvenience. According to advice from the Metropolitan Police, disputes over designated spaces should first be addressed amicably, either by speaking directly with the driver or by leaving a polite note. If unresolved, residents are advised to contact the building management, freeholder, or council. Only in cases where anti-social behaviour is involved are the police likely to intervene.
On private land, occupying another’s designated space can result in a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) issued by the landowner or a private enforcement company. These are civil claims rather than criminal offences, and can amount to £100, though discounts may be available for prompt payment.
This case illustrates how minor acts of revenge, carried out within the law, can sometimes restore fairness in shared spaces—although it also raises questions about the boundaries of neighbourly patience and the temptation to respond in kind to petty acts. While the issue here was settled without escalation, it serves as a reminder that communication and mutual respect are vital to harmonious communal living.