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Moving into a new apartment can be exciting, but rude neighbors can ruin the experience quickly.

This woman recently bought her first apartment and wanted to start off on good terms with her neighbors. However, parking issues and a late-night doorbell incident have made things awkward. Now, she’s wondering how to set boundaries without creating tension.

This story is relatable because most people want to get along with their neighbors while still expecting basic respect. Read the full story below.

Parking drama

I bought my first apartment about 2 months ago. The apartment comes with 1 parking space and some visitor parking.

My partner and I are living here, and we noticed quickly that the carpark space beside us seemed empty.

So one day, he knocked on our neighbour’s door and asked if we could use the space and give them some money for it.

The girl got really angry and said it was rude of us to use the space and that they need it sometimes for guests.

My partner explained we haven’t been using it and that we are just asking, but that it’s no worries.

She was really unpleasant and unfriendly to him.

This woman told the neighbors not to ring their bell so late at night.

A few days later, we got a ring on the doorbell at 11: 30 at night. It was the same girl.

She was again really angry, asking my partner if we did park in the space. She said that her friend needed to park and there was a car in it.

My partner was so nice and explained it was not our car. I was less nice as she had woken us up.

I asked her firmly to please not ring our bell at this time of night as we both have work tomorrow.

The girl didn’t apologise and still left so angry and unpleasant.

She decide to block the car that’s parked on their spot.

A few weeks have passed, and today, there is a car parked in our space, so I position my park in front of it so it’s blocked in.

I’m not blocking any other cars. The spaces are numbered so I reckon they can find me easy enough, and I can ask them not to park there.

A few hours later, one of the girls who lives in the same house rings the bell asking if that’s my car.

She explained that her brother parked there because their space was usually taken.

I just said hi and explained we need our space. When I went to move my car, I let the driver know where the visitor parking is and tried to be friendly.

She thinks that it’s important to be nice, but their neighbors clearly do not know how to behave nicely.

I’m probably over thinking it, but in an ideal world, I’d like to be friendly with my neighbours.

So its a shame we have these annoying interactions, and it feels like a bad start.

I dont want to be on bad terms and have to see people day in day out, and they also live directly above us, so I don’t want to annoy them.

But at the same time, I think it’s important to lay boundaries clearly. Please don’t ring our bell in the night and don’t park in our space.

Does that sound reasonably or would you have done something differently?

OP clearly has a very good point. She wants to be nice and friendly, but at the same time, she wants to make her boundaries clear. After all, nobody wants unnecessary tension with the people living right around them, right? It’s quite sad that the neighbors are not being very considerate and respectful of her space and time.

This user makes a good point.

Here’s a suggestion.

Another simple idea.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a disabled woman who confronts her neighbors about using her spot, only to have them tell her they can park where they want.

This person shares their opinion.

And lastly, another one chimes in.

Being friendly with your neighbors is important, but boundaries still matter.