The person couldn't believe what their neighbour was trying to do with the street parking – so after ignoring their method of reserving the space, they received a note

Street parking in the UK is on a first come, first served basis. There are legal rights when a neighbour tries to reserve a parking spot and generally, you can park on most public roads when abiding by restrictions or markings.

But one person recently faced trouble with their neighbour from hell who kept holding a parking spot with traffic cones. They claimed the annoying practice began about six months ago where the neighbour left the orange cones in the hope of claiming a space outside his house every single time. Now after ignoring the neighbour, the person received a note on their windscreen.

Writing on Reddit, the person began: "I live on a street where parking is first come, first served. Nobody has assigned spots.

"About six months ago, my neighbour started putting two orange traffic cones in front of his house whenever he left, so nobody would park there while he was gone.

"At first people just ignored it and moved the cones. But now he'll actually come outside and confront people if they park there."

But just recently, the poster couldn't find any spaces so they ended up parking where the cones were.

They continued: "About an hour later, there was a note on my windshield saying: 'Please respect that this spot belongs to the residents of this house'. The spot is on a public street.

"A few other neighbours have complained about it too, but he insists he's entitled to the space because it's in front of his property. I've never seen anything like this before. Is this a thing people actually do? What would you do in this situation?"

Many people flooded the comments section with advice to dealing with their neighbour. One said: "Call the non-emergency line about this guy this is not okay."

To which someone else replied: "Yeah honestly, someone doesn't get to invent their own parking rules because they live nearby. If it's a public street, that's exactly the kind of thing the non-emergency line should be made aware of before it escalates."

While a third suggested: "Just keep moving them. If they push it, tell them to have the authorities come and speak to you."

Understanding UK Street Parking Rules and Road Markings

Always check local signage for whether a bay is for Pay & Display, permit holders only, or free for a limited time only. Understanding road markings and signs is critical to avoid receiving a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

There are certain lines to be mindful of, like double yellow lines indicate a strict prohibition of waiting at any time. While a single yellow line means parking is prohibited during specific times. The operating hours and days will be displayed on nearby time plates.

As for red lines, these are commonly found on Red Routes, which are a flat-out ban on parking, stopping or loading. White lines are designed for specific uses.

Meanwhile, drivers with a Blue Badge have parking privileges, which include parking for free in many Pay & Display bays and on single/double yellow lines for up to 3 hours (where it is safe to do so).

Always check local borough rules, as exceptions apply in central London.