Upstairs Neighbour (who's also friends with landlord) Parking In My Space

FusionFury

Hi,

I live in a flat with 2 parking spots (1 for me and 1 for the tenant upstairs

Problem is the older tenant upstairs has recently got a van he is selling for his son.. so I asked him about the van as I didn't know it was his/his sons he is selling (would've been nice to ask).. he never apologised or said anything like it will be gone in xyz days or weeks..

I have a disability, I don't drive, but need the parking space for when guests or family come to take me out.

How do I approach this situation? I'm thinking contacting the letting agent by e-mail? since the landlord owns both properties and I was specifically told when I moved in that I had my own parking space.. weather I own a car or not is irrelevant.. I have a disability and need it free.

I have bad social anxiety so don't like confrontation.. so want to avoid the awkwardness of approaching the neighbour myself.

Thanks for any advice :money:

Aylesbury_Duck

As much as you don't like confrontation, I think that to do anything other than approaching the neighbour in person is likely to appear more confrontational. Can you pop round with some biscuits and ask to discuss it? Something along the lines of "thanks for the chat about the van the other day. I'd like to help but I have a problem - can we talk about it?"

If I got a letter or contact from my landlord before a neighbour had simply asked me to address something, it would get my back up more than if they'd approached me in the first place.

Be confident in yourself and your rights in this situation, make a short note of what you want to say and take the plunge. I'm sure it will be better than "going formal" straight away.

Herzlos

Asking them nicely in the first instance is they way to go, they may have never noticed the visitors. Just explain to them that whilst the space is usually empty, you need it for visitors and then either:


1. Ask them how long it's going to be there for
or
2. Offer them the use of the space if they'll move for your visitors
or
3. Ask them to move it.


You might find they'll be pretty accomodating if you get on with them. More so than if you complain to the landlord about it.


Once it's moved, it might be worth enquiring about getting a chain or a bollard or something to keep it empty for you.

m0bov

Knock on door, ask them to move i.e. " Hi sorry to knock but you are in my allocated space, would you mind moving for me?". Chances are he will move.

Report back,

Scrapit

Speak to the other tenant.

twhitehousescat

is there a private parking co that patrol , or does a visitors permit need to be displayed

Tokk

Gonna have to agree with what's already been said - talking to the neighbour is the least confrontational path to getting anything done.

It doesn't have to be confrontational at all - they may not be aware that you use the space?
Did you mention this when he said what the van was doing there?

If he wants to be a difficult neighbour about it then he will either way... but if he's genuinely unaware of you using the space then you're far more likely to see future problems if you go in heavy-handed without talking to him first.

If he refuses to have it moved then don't push it, at that point it's reasonable to talk to the landlord or letting agents - if the landlord is friendly with him then perhaps asking the landlord if he thinks you're being unreasonable would lead to him having an informal word about it?