The joys of living in flats...

Buzzybee90

Hi all

After some advice. Moved into a new flat a month ago and having continued problems with parking. I've been away for most of that time so haven't noticed until more recently.

Anyway, I live in a flat which is part of an old Victorian conversion, there are 8 flats. For each of the flats there is a parking space (no visitor space) - they are numbered 1-8.

When we viewed the property it was advertised as allocated parking - the 1-8 confirmed that to us when we looked around. Anyway, I've arrived home from work every day this week to have a car parked in space 5 (we are flat 5) - this is not just an inconvenience as we are quite central so there is no free on road parking nearby. On these occasions I have had to popped to the shops instead and the car has been gone when I've returned. However, yesterday a woman was getting into it as I arrived back - obviously I questioned her about why she was parking in our space and she said she worked in a nearby shop and had been told she was allowed to park there... And then drove off!

So that's 9 cars and 8 spaces (at the least, not sure if neighbours have had problems). Called landlady and she has said it's a first come first serve among the 9 cars...!

No idea what to do now, need to obviously speak with neighbours but the primary reason we chose the flat was because it had allocated parking in a great area.

Any advice?

Thanks

E

phoenix_w

Either put a lockable bollard in your space, or tell her that the next time she parks there you'll ring the plod and get it towed off and if she continues to park there follow up on the threat.

TrixA

Did she tell you which shop? If so I'd speak to the landlady to verify if the shop employees have permission to park there - if she says no ask her to send a polite letter to the shop management to correct any misconceptions amongst their staff. The landlady should also put up signs saying 'residents parking only' or similar. If the landlady confirms that the shop does have permission to use the flat parking I'd be pointing out that the flat was advertised as having allocated parking, which is not the case, and ask her either to provide such parking or reduce the rent to enable you to rent a parking space elsewhere in the area.

SailorSam

Slash her tyres.
Seriously i think the bollard is a good idea. And wait until she parks there before you fit it.

Buzzybee90

Hi - yes I know which shop it is, they told me yesterday - the shop is adjoined to the main building. I'm reluctant to put up a bollard as I don't want to get into trouble with the landlord - though it's been misadvertised. The shop has many employees though and it is just one car - maybe they're the owner or manager. Landlady subsequently said we can park in any space and so can the shop employee.

We have been told we can park in the spaces for the other flats but obviously don't want to do so as presumably they think the number corresponds to flat too and we don't want to anger them. Will hopefully knock on some doors tonight.

The shop car should only be there in office hours mon-fri but I don't see how this is a plus as it should be available to us all the time, as was there until around 6.30 which I wouldn't say constitutes normal office hours.

Thanks for the advise - feeling quite cheated at the moment.

Plan of action to talk to neighbours and then depending on what they say - the shop!

Buzzybee90

TrixA wrote: »

Did she tell you which shop? If so I'd speak to the landlady to verify if the shop employees have permission to park there - if she says no ask her to send a polite letter to the shop management to correct any misconceptions amongst their staff. The landlady should also put up signs saying 'residents parking only' or similar. If the landlady confirms that the shop does have permission to use the flat parking I'd be pointing out that the flat was advertised as having allocated parking, which is not the case, and ask her either to provide such parking or reduce the rent to enable you to rent a parking space elsewhere in the area.

Thanks TrixA - that's what we are going to have to do if not resolved (ask for parking) but wary of souring relationship with landlord as it's a lovely flat and we'd like to stay here for some time.

aileth

How annoying, and I also find it quite odd that your landlord has said that the shop employee can effectively park on the spaces when she pleases? I mean, the shop employee isn't paying her any rent, could it possibly be a friend of the landlord? Tread carefully if so.

Rallying the neirghbour-troops is a good idea. If everyone has been parking according to their numbers, then chances are the rest are under the misconception of allocated parking too.

PasturesNew

Get yourself a cheap moped. Park it in the space. Move it to the rear of the parking space when you want to park there - then move it forward in the space when you leave.

Buzzybee90

aileth wrote: »

How annoying, and I also find it quite odd that your landlord has said that the shop employee can effectively park on the spaces when she pleases? I mean, the shop employee isn't paying her any rent, could it possibly be a friend of the landlord? Tread carefully if so.

Rallying the neirghbour-troops is a good idea. If everyone has been parking according to their numbers, then chances are the rest are under the misconception of allocated parking too.

Is it annoying - presumably before conversion the flats and the shop were all part of one gigantic house. It's a highstreet shop not an independent. That's very true, I hadn't thought of them knowing each other. Exactly, I do actually know the number of the previous tenant, as we had it to get a forwarding address, and he had a car so I'm wondering if I should ask him but don't want to embroil someone else.

One of the other tenants moved in the day after we got the keys so they are probably under this impression too - we have spoken to some neighbours before and introduced ourselves, all seem friendly so I think that's definitely the way to go firstly.

I know these problems are rife up and down the country but it's such an inconvenience, grr!

Gwhiz

I'm going to guess the lady was feeding you some BS about being allowed.

TrixA

Is this person always parking in your space? If so that rather argues against your landlady's claim that there's a 'first come first served' rule in place. I've lived in places where that rule applies, but usually it would be where the number of flats significantly outnumbers the number of parking spaces. If there are eight flats and eight spaces any reasonable person is going to assume it's one space allocated to each flat. It may be that the previous tenant in your flat didn't have a car, so an expectation has developed that the shop employee can park there.

Does your rental agreement mention the parking? If not, it sounds like getting the other tenants on side is the right approach.