I'm paying for someone elses private parking

girlsdrink

I own an ex council house which when transferred to private ownership had a number of conditions placed upon it. One of which was a responsibility to 'pay a contribution on demand' for any maintenance to any common access way. One such area is a forecourt for a block of garages owned by the council. 2 signs are erected in this area saying 'parking for residents and visitors to the close' and 'do not park in front of garages'. Residents of the close have always parked there in such a way that the garages are not obstructed but now a tenant of the garages (not a resident of the close) has bought a vehicle which is too big for the garage and started parking outside it. The lease of the garage does not allude to the use of the forecourt in any way. The council own the land which is common access way and have said that the signs are not enforceable and are unwilling to become involved. The residents are therefore left in a position whereby we are responsible to pay for the upkeep of an area in which non-residents are parking and who make no contribution to the cost of the area, i.e. we are paying for someone’s private parking area. Can we demand that the council rewrite our transfer agreement to remove our responsibility to contribute financially? Is there a legal president?

Strapped

I'm confused - if this person renting a garage from the council had a "normal" sized car, would he have to drive across the forecourt to get to the garage? If so, how is it any more "maintenance" if he parks on the forecourt instead of driving across it?

Does sound like you got screwed when you bought your house though.

lincroft1710

You cannot "demand" anything. You could petition the council to amend the conditions placed upon yourself and subsequent owners of your home, but I think you'd be wasting your time.