Key fobs

NeilCr

I am interested in this as it's affecting a friend (in a roundabout way) at the moment. There is an existing thread which has mentioned these but I don't want to derail it so thought I'd start a separate thread about them in general - and my mate's situation as an example

And, please, this doesn't need to get into whether or not PPCs are good, bad or indifferent or whether or not they should be allowed on residential estates. I am more interested in how much weight is given to key fobs etc if things get legal and any ideas!

Background. I was having lunch with my best friend a couple of weeks back (lovely bottle of Merlot btw! :beer::beer::beer:). He bought my flat from me. It's in a block of 15 with one allocated place per flat and four visitor spaces. The parking, itself, is on grass at the back of the block with gated, key fob entry.

When I was there parking was never a problem. The block is in London with good public transport and quite a few residents didn't have a car. It's changed now with some families living there and thus parking has been tighter with some residents using the visitor places for their second cars. More to the point one resident has been having a number of friends round during the day. She buzzes them through the gates and they park where they like with all the obvious problems that brings. There is a lack of parking in the area so I can sort of see why it's happening (some have young babies) Not excusing it, though.

She's been written to and spoken to but it continues. Some residents are now pushing for a PPC to be introduced. My mate doesn't have a car but it's obviously still his "land" that's been used. He's laid back and not that bothered really although it irritates.

I mentioned parking posts to him (not sure if they will work on the grass, though). He said they'd been discussed but some residents took the view (which I can see) that they already paid for fobs, gates, maintenance etc through the service charges so why should they shell out again because someone else is playing fast and loose with the rules.

If anyone is interested - any thoughts? I am against PPCs on estates as you know but I have a lot of sympathy for the residents here. Key fobs (in this instance anyway) don't help when the misuse is by another resident.

Umkomaas

Hi Neil - I'm not sure I've got any groundbreaking answer to the problem, but I guess continuing pressure on the offender, including naming and shaming in circulars to residents might have an eventual effect. But some people are hard-nosed enough to be spurred on by the confrontation.

Having a PPC installed might solve the immediate problem, but will ultimately bring grief to those now clamouring for the introduction (you know the various scenarios around this). But the big-picture issue for all residents is whether the introduction of a PPC will materially affect the value of their properties? I suspect they won't even have thought about this possibility in looking through the red mist currently affecting their immediate thought processes. How would they react to 50 grand (feasible in Larndarn) dropping off their gross wealth?

My musings, for what they're worth, but given with some knowledge and experience behind them!

EDIT TO ADD
On the legal front - I recall one Judge making some reference to a gated/key fob residential car park, but it was, from memory, just in passing, not a showstopper statement. I'll try and find it and link.

Umkomaas

On the legal front - I recall one Judge making some reference to a gated/key fob residential car park, but it was, from memory, just in passing, not a showstopper statement. I'll try and find it and link.

I think this is the one:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/75078545#Comment_75078545

NeilCr

Thanks Umkomaas. I've said much the same to him and he knows it too!

From what I know of this resident (and we've had them too) she doesn't give a monkeys so "naming and shaming" doesn't help. Plus there is the whole proving it thing. She's also said it's not her on occasions.

I suspect that the residents see it as a "one hit thing". Bring in the PPC, stop the misuse and then get rid of them again. Think I might go for the self ticketing option if they do go down that route, myself.

Key fobs work well when the residents, themselves, behave. I did hear of one estate (near a station) where an ex resident retained his fob and parked there every day to get to work. Our MA (who won't recommend PPCs themselves unless as a last resort) told me that one!

Any legal reference would be good. I would be grateful.

The_Deep

I believe that the MA can remove vehicles which persistently park where they should not.

There is no doubt that a PPC will solve the existing problem, but it will generate others. You might like to consider raising this problem on this forum.

https://forums.landlordzone.co.uk/forum/residential-letting-questions

NeilCr

The_Deep wrote: »

I believe that the MA can remove vehicles which persistently park where they should not.

There is no doubt that a PPC will solve the existing problem, but it will generate others. You might like to consider raising this problem on this forum.

https://forums.landlordzone.co.uk/forum/residential-letting-questions

Thanks The Deep

I thought I'd ask here as I know you guys. I said if you came up with something I'd pass it on but he is more than capable of digging into it further himself if he wants. It was just something that came up over lunch - others are more engaged than he is to be honest!

beamerguy

Hi Neil,

Think I might go for the self ticketing option if they do go down that route, myself.

My worry would be the current "knife" wave that could happen anywhere

nigelbb

The_Deep wrote: »

I believe that the MA can remove vehicles which persistently park where they should not.

Only by getting an injunction. POFA 2012 made removing vehicles a criminal offence.

Guys_Dad

In olden days, ladies used to swallow tapeworms to help them stay slim. It may have worked, but the side effects outweighed the supposed cure.

There is a moral there.

Umkomaas

I don't know the technicalities of key fobs, but maybe to prevent use after a resident leaves the estate, a software update to either omit that particular fob, or one to reset all others to a new coding. Surely that can't be beyond the wit of man in this day and age?

NeilCr

beamerguy wrote: »

Hi Neil,

Think I might go for the self ticketing option if they do go down that route, myself.

Me, too.

I think it's best in this specific situation. When (if) it works you just stop so the PPC gets nothing out of it and aren't on site, ever.