Parking dilemma do I have any rights?

tobeloy

I live in a block of 12 flats and been here for 20 months, I rent my property so do other tenants and some ppl own their flats. outside there is room for 5 cars and parking is on a first come first served basis.

There is a property management company that oversee cleaning and repairs etc, there is also a comittee and a few of the flatowners sit on this.

about 3 weeks ago all the tenants received letters regarding parking as some tenants were parking on the entrance slope and although tenants cars could still pass it would be impossible for emergency vehicles to pass to gain access. The letters stated that no one is allowed to park in the parking area anymore and we should make other arrangments.

I was not happy as I felt I was being penalised for other tenants inconsideration so i wrote to the management comapny and explained that why should I and others who park correctly be penalised, I also explained that on my insurance policy it is stated that my car is parked in residents parking overnight and if I where to park elsewhere it may be deemed as a false statement, or if I have to change my policy it may raise my premium etc and why should I be penalised....I continued to park outside the block and so did a few other tenants

The management wrote back and stated they have forwarded my letter on to the directors and until yesterday I have heard nothing until I got a knock on the door last night by a tenant living downstairs, he asked do I own a car outside and I said yes and pointed it out to him, he then said he was fed up with the parking being flouted so I replied that I had responded to the letter we got but was waiting to hear back. This tenant then said he was one of the directors and asked if I owned my flat, I said no and he said I would need a letter from my landlady stating we were the tenants and she was happy for us to park outside, he said effectively she is forfeiting her space by not living here???

Anyway I said I would ring her which I did today and she is sending the letter out.
I had a knock at my door about 20 mins ago and it was this bloke again, I was in the bath so my wife had answered the door and he said why has my car not moved??? she said was it to be moved and he said he asked me last night which he didnt, so what now??

I have not moved it yet and its not causing an obstruction, do I have to move it just because he says so??

Do I have any rights, some advice appreciated as he may be back soon.

Coupon-mad

Well if anyone puts a private parking ticket on your car, ignore it of course!

The only thing you would need to worry about is if they suddenly put up signs saying they will clamp vehicles. Clampers are knuckle-dragging scumbags who will clamp and tow any car for any reason and then charge hundreds of pounds ransom. So check any signage that appears, immediately.

Apart from that this guy has no legs to stand on, he cannot make you move your car if you are allowed to park there by your landlady. What does your rental agreement say, and do you know if your landlady's leasehold agreement says anything about the right to a parking space?

I would post your question on pepipoo.com if you haven't already, they are the experts:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30

Finally, I would add that if this guy keeps calling round without any valid reason then his behaviour could be argued to be harassment. Your landlady - and you as her authorised tenant - have the right to peaceful enjoyment of your flat. Do not be intimidated, tell the gentleman that you have permission to park and not to harass you, then shut the door with a friendly 'good evening'. Stay really polite as he could start letting your tyres down, or worse...he sounds a right twerp.

Also, if parking on the entrance slope blocks access, is that only when cars are on both sides of the slope? Maybe the tenants and owners could agree a solution, parking on one side of the slope only if that's acceptable and leaves the entrance accessible? Why on earth do the agents feel cars should suddenly be banned (the leases may not allow this)? Other solutions should be discussed, can you talk to other tenants & come up with a reasonable compromise to put to the agents?

HTH

tobeloy

HTH thanks for your help, I did not think he had any right too but I went and moved my car anyway as the wife was not wanting to cause any upset.....

I am waiting for a letter from my landlady as he requested this, my landlady thinks this is ridiculous, I have checked my tenancy agreement and there is nothing showing any restrictions on parking, I will raise the leashold with my landlady and see what she says.

There is no signs but it would not surprise me if that was the next step, as for the entrance slope there is no way an emergency vehicle could pass if one car was parked on the slope, we have trouble passing in our car when another car has been parked on the slope.

Its funny as there is 2 cars outside today and they both belong to comittee members, one rule for one and one for another springs to mind. Its easy to see how something silly like this can lead to a bigger neighbour dispute....

I will post on that site you suggested, I feel like going to get my car now and putting it back.....

Fergie76

tobeloy wrote: »

HTH thanks for your help, I did not think he had any right too but I went and moved my car anyway as the wife was not wanting to cause any upset.....

I am waiting for a letter from my landlady as he requested this, my landlady thinks this is ridiculous, I have checked my tenancy agreement and there is nothing showing any restrictions on parking, I will raise the leashold with my landlady and see what she says.

There is no signs but it would not surprise me if that was the next step, as for the entrance slope there is no way an emergency vehicle could pass if one car was parked on the slope, we have trouble passing in our car when another car has been parked on the slope.

Its funny as there is 2 cars outside today and they both belong to comittee members, one rule for one and one for another springs to mind. Its easy to see how something silly like this can lead to a bigger neighbour dispute....

I will post on that site you suggested, I feel like going to get my car now and putting it back.....

I would.......

BLT_2

Time to move I think, I would put it to the landlady that given these new parking restrictions then you have no other option than to seek alternative accommodation. In this day and age a property with no parking facilities is as much use as a microwave to an eskimo

It would certainly focus your landladies mind on getting this problem resolved, trying to rent out a property with no parking in the area would be difficult to say the least

Coupon-mad

BLT wrote: »

It would certainly focus your landladies mind on getting this problem resolved, trying to rent out a property with no parking in the area would be difficult to say the least

That's very good advice, you need to be pretty assertive over this matter and not let things get worse, discuss the issue with others as well and make sure the agents know you/your landlady and others will not tolerate/agree to Parking Co. Chimps carrying out their shady protection racket in the car park.

tobeloy

BLT wrote: »

Time to move I think, I would put it to the landlady that given these new parking restrictions then you have no other option than to seek alternative accommodation. In this day and age a property with no parking facilities is as much use as a microwave to an eskimo

It would certainly focus your landladies mind on getting this problem resolved, trying to rent out a property with no parking in the area would be difficult to say the least

Good advice and certainley did not spring to mind until you suggested it, our landlady is great and as her letter did not arrive today no doubt it will monday, I think if we mention moving she will be quite peeved...from her views of the committee I am not surprised by the way this has been handled...

Coupon-mad wrote: »

That's very good advice, you need to be pretty assertive over this matter and not let things get worse, discuss the issue with others as well and make sure the agents know you/your landlady and others will not tolerate/agree to Parking Co. Chimps carrying out their shady protection racket in the car park.

well no Parking Co involved yet just committee members trying to throw their weight around or feeling important as they are just tenants like the rest of us.....problem is I do not know which tenants are on the committee so I would have to approach them with caution.

Like I said previous I want to bring my car back as personally I don't take kindly to others throwing their weight around over such a silly matter, I do have to think of the wife as she worries it could start a war of words.

I am going to wait for my landlady's letter to arrive (hopefully monday) as she is usually true to her word, I have rung her again today to ask her to look through her leasehold on the property and am waiting a call back.

Thanks for the advice will keep you updated

27col

If it is only a war of words then there is nothing to worry about, surely.
However, if as the op says, there are only 5 parking spaces for 12 apartments, the how does the op manage if he is not among the first come, first served.