Bl**dy Neighbours

passatrider

I'm in a Housing association scheme where parking is limited at the best of times. I only have one off road space, as does my neighbour above. We are the only two flats in the close, the rest are two bed houses which have two allocated spaces each.

My neighbour to my right has been a nightmare since he moved in with his family. Despite it only being a two bed house he currently has 6 cars at the address which causes nothing but problems for other tenants as visitors have no where to park as they take up all the spare on street parking.
I'll say now that I've had discussions, often heated ones with the male of the household about blocking me in before and had to get the police involved. We came to a mutual understanding last year that the turning area behind my car was left clear at all times and he agreed. Well, despite this agreement and the intervention of the police and HA he has now started to park there again in the turning area blocking me in. His other cars surround this and it's driving me nuts.
I know they are inconsiderate but I'm at a loss as to what to do about this before I blow my top again. We have been on speaking terms for the last year and it seems as though they have gone back to their old ways.

Any ideas?

meritaten

Speak to the housing association again.
why does he have six cars parked outside? is he 'fixing them' for other people? because under the terms of his tenancy he probably would not be allowed to do that.
he has his allocated spaces - he is not allowed to park any other vehicles in others spaces or block access to them. Simple as!
Take photos if you can of the cars and him working/unlocking or driving them.
The housing association are responsible for dealing with this. MAKE them do so, and if they don't, complain to the Housing Ombudsman if you are in England. in Wales its the Public Service Ombudsman. I am not sure about Scotland or N. Ireland but imagine they have similar Offices.
I know how infuriating this can be - so good luck getting it sorted out.

passatrider

Thank you for your reply.

He has six cars that as far as I'm aware are all road legal, bar one which is sorned. One for him, 1 for his wife, 2 for his son and 1 for his sons girlfriend. His son drives TWO cars for some reason but it's said he deals in drugs which I have no proof. The father buys his car though and changes it every month or so it seems so this may indicate buying and selling.
The trouble is if all the cars bar one are road legal then there's nothing stopping them parking them on the roadside so long as they are not blocking anyone in. It's just so frustrating not having any visitor parking and seeing there cars parked all over the place day in day out as if they think they own the place.

yvonne13_2

OP take photos and dates, times, ect and go back to the housing. I'm not sure you can do anything if your not being blocked in.

I'm sure if this matter is prolonged you can report it as anti social behaviour.

meritaten

The OP complains he is getting blocked in - he needs PROOF of this. make the next month your research month. photograph each instance of your being blocked in.
you cant do anything about him taking spaces - even if it is frustrating for visitors. it's blocking you in that is the issue.

Primrose

If all the people in this household have sufficient incomes to buy and run all these cars I would suggest to the housing association that they review their need to be living in a housing association property at all.

Take photographs as has been suggested. Are other residents being similarly inconvenienced by their parking? If so I suggest a joint approach to your housing association might carry more weight.

If yiu are continually being obsteucted on a public highway complain to the police and ask for an ofmficial como,aint nimber to be allocated. Keep written records of all your complaints too.

yvonne13_2

Primrose wrote: »

If all the people in this household have sufficient incomes to buy and run all these cars I would suggest to the housing association that they review their need to be living in a housing association property at all.

Take photographs as has been suggested. Are other residents being similarly inconvenienced by their parking? If so I suggest a joint approach to your housing association might carry more weight.

If yiu are continually being obsteucted on a public highway complain to the police and ask for an ofmficial como,aint nimber to be allocated. Keep written records of all your complaints too.

What's their income got to do with 4 people living in a 2 bed flat? Where are they supposed to live then?

meritaten

contrary to some peoples belief - ANYONE can apply to a housing association to rent a property.
They are not operating as originally set up - they are not now solely for people who cannot afford to purchase a house or the rents charged by private landlords.
you should see some of the brand new fancy cars in the drives of the Housing Association Estate by me. I would say at least 75% of the estate are in work and doing quite nicely. judging by the exodus from there in the morning!

Person_one

Primrose wrote: »

If all the people in this household have sufficient incomes to buy and run all these cars I would suggest to the housing association that they review their need to be living in a housing association property at all.

You think housing associations can evict people for earning too much?

Give it a few years with this government and you may be right, but thankfully we're not there yet!

Person_one

meritaten wrote: »

They are not operating as originally set up - they are not now solely for people who cannot afford to purchase a house or the rents charged by private landlords.

That's not how they were originally set up.

theoretica

Is he parking on the public road or is it a private road belonging to the housing association? If it is a public road you could discuss with the council how to get double yellow lines where needed, I am not sure what the equivalent would be for a private road.