Daycare Manager Tries To Take Over Parking Spots, Employee Gets Sweet Revenge With A Gate

In a shared office space, parking can be more than just a convenience; sometimes, it turns into a full-blown battle. The Redditor in this story has a lease that gives him exclusive rights to a large parking lot, but that didn’t stop the daycare next door from using his spaces.

For years, he didn’t mind much, but a series of frustrating encounters escalated quickly, leading to a confrontation with the daycare manager.

What followed is a tale of petty drama, a strategic move involving a new gate, and a lesson in standing up for what’s rightfully yours. Keep reading to see how it all unfolded and the ultimate “payback” that was served.

After a daycare manager tows an office owner’s vehicle for parking in their lot and refuses to compromise

In this case, a small firm leases an office building and claims exclusive rights to 24 parking spaces, rights reportedly detailed in their lease. Meanwhile, a daycare tenant in the same building has used those spaces for years without objection.

When the daycare demanded that the firm share its parking, the firm responded by installing a gate to enforce exclusivity. The dispute that followed raises questions about contractual parking rights, landlord obligations, and tenant behaviour.

From a contractual standpoint, parking rights in commercial leases are fundamental and often explicitly defined. As explained by commercial real‑estate practitioners, a lease may grant a tenant an exclusive right to allocated parking spaces, meaning no other party may legally use them. FSP Law

Such clarity is essential; without it, a tenant may only have a general parking right subject to sharing or re‑allocation. pinneytalfourd.co.uk

In the OP’s narrative, the fact that the lease reportedly grants “exclusive rights to all 24 parking spots” puts them on solid ground, legally speaking, if the language indeed matches what was reported.

On the human‑factor side, conflicts like this often stem from informal allowances over time. The daycare’s years of using those spaces created an operational expectation independent of the formal lease.

When OP invoked the written right and installed a gate, the daycare’s disruption of its routine and traffic flow triggered its complaint. Both parties had valid concerns: the business owner for retaining a contractual benefit critical to their professional operations, and them for maintaining access they had grown to rely upon.

Advice? Review the lease carefully. Is the right truly exclusive and clearly defined? Is there a plan attached that delineates “their” spaces? If yes, OP carries the upper hand. If language is informal or ambiguous, there’s a risk.

Document their use and their encroachments. Photographs, logs of oversubscribed spots, correspondence, all support their position.

Engage the building owner/landlord. Ideally, OP can seek an agreement amending usage rules or securing signage/controls. Conflict resolution is cheaper than a protracted dispute.

Consider transition planning. Although OP have the right now, shared‑use tension may sour relations. If the lease is up for renewal or OP negotiate an extension, OP might offer reasonable accommodations (e.g., the daycare gets some marked spots) in exchange for stricter enforcement for everyone.

Here’s what the community had to contribute:

This group had a humorous take on the situation, suggesting clever ways to profit from the parking issue

These commenters pointed out that the daycare worker’s petty actions backfired, with the OP handling the situation by setting clear and fair boundaries

This trio offered practical insights, emphasizing the importance of safety, liability concerns, and efficiency in parking

These users supported the OP’s actions, backing the idea of having clear signs and policies to avoid further issues

This commenter shared a more extreme approach, suggesting that the manager herself should have been towed as part of the lesson

Was the barrier brilliant or brutal? Would you fee spots, or name the gate? How do you parking-patrol peace? Honk your horrors below, we’re idling the intel!