Allocated Parking Dispute

56runner

A supermarket gifted a communal parking space to freehold residents in 2009. They now want this space back, even though I bought my house with allocated parking. I searched the Land Registry Title Deeds and my space is marked in red and has a different title number to the supermarket. Do I legally own this space?

RedFraggle

Do you own that title number?

davidmcn

...and is it a freehold title?


What do you mean by "want it back"? What exactly have they said? If you own it then they can of course ask if you'd be interested in selling it to them. Or was there some sort of option agreement allowing them to get it back?

56runner

My title number is different so I think it must have been transferred over to me.
The space was given to residents but there was no agreement.
I am going to get my file from the solicitors to see if I can come up with anything. If my house was sold with allocated parking then I don't see them being able to take it back.
Thank you for your replies.

shortcrust

Is the owner of the parking space not shown on the land registry title document?

PasturesNew

You need to see what's in writing.

If you were sold the space then you have a right to it - but that doesn't mean you get it... if, say, it were "gifted" but with terms/conditions that meant they could take it back ... then all you'd be "entitled to" might be the opportunity of suing a solicitor for loss of value/amenity.

So, you need to do the paper trail of that bit ... see what you've got.

Then plot how to either "get it back/keep it so there's no confusion or dispute when you sell", or "sue the relevant solicitor".

agrinnall

Sounds to me like one for the local paper: "Big bad supermarket reneges on parking promise". I think they'll back down if they start to get bad publicity.

SmashedAvacado

You own the space edged red on the plan to your title.

Unless there are pre-emption rights in favour of the supermarket (or you hold the space on a lease with termination rights), they cannot simply take it back. Can you perhaps clarify exactly what you own, what was transferred, whether what you think you own ties up with what you actually use and exactly what the supermarket has said.

56runner

When I type my address on Land Registry search it comes up with my parking bay marked in red. The supermarket asked us to sign an agreement saying they can give us 2 weeks' to terminate. No agreement seen prior to this. They are expanding and obviously want that space back. All of the above advice has been very useful and I will be getting all the residents together for joint action. A letter to press sounds a great idea. Many thanks.

anselld

The space has a different title number from the supermarket and from your property, yes?

So pay £3 to download the title deed to the space and find out who owns it.

silvercar

The supermarket asked us to sign an agreement saying they can give us 2 weeks' to terminate.

Did they offer you a price to sign?