Allocated parking. Neighbour’s been using our parking space

NameUnavailable

Yes, by not doing/saying anything you're basically saying it's fine, you're perfectly happy to let anyone park in your space.

You do need to 'reclaim' it. Fine if you subsequently agree that the neighbour can use the space whilst you don't need it, but on the understanding that as soon as you say it's not fine they stop using it.

Otherwise even when you do get a car you'll be coming home to find your space occupied.

Tokmon

Alan2020 said:

The OP needs to get smart:
1. Check the deeds, post here to first double check it is actually your space - so as not to make a fool of yourself
2. Go and purchase a parking bollard - you can get battery operated ones/solar ones or a simple lockable post
3. Wait for the car to go and fit it.
4. End of matter
Leave it and have loads of problems later on.  I would also suggest downloading the land registry details for your neighbour to ensure the space isn't double allocated.  If you fail to stop something like this, you will have serious issues trying to reclaim your property, people telling you OK aren't in the real world of ignorant people.

I've had one of my parking spaces for years in a shared car park which isn't numbered. I've only ever had one person park in there and when i told them they were very sorry and didn't realise it was my space. So in the real world people aren't as ignorant as you think and i would say fitting a bollard is a last resort if people keep parking in there that shouldn't.

eddddy

Perhaps a non-confrontational way of starting the discussion would be something like...

I'm planning on buying a car soon, so I just want to make sure I've understood the allocated parking arrangements correctly... etc

Then you can decide your next steps based on their response - whether.... they immediately agree that it's your space (and maybe apologise and stop parking there); or it prompts them to check and realise that they've mistakenly been parking in the wrong space; or they get belligerent and insist it's their space; etc. 

Jeepers_Creepers

eddddy said:

Perhaps a non-confrontational way of starting the discussion would be something like...

I'm planning on buying a car soon, so I just want to make sure I've understood the allocated parking arrangements correctly... etc

Then you can decide your next steps based on their response - whether.... they immediately agree that it's your space (and maybe apologise and stop parking there); or it prompts them to check and realise that they've mistakenly been parking in the wrong space; or they get belligerent and insist it's their space; etc. 

I like that. You aren't challenging them at all, but are effectively asking them if they can help you understand whose spaces they are.

They either know and go 'oops', don't know - in which case you say 'No prob - I'll check the deeds and let you know...', or they know but try and suggest it's theirs - in which case, ditto.

teachfast

Better to start with, "My understanding of the parking arrangements is..."

jonners666

Our road has bay parking and our neighbours insist on parking in front of their house, and in front of our house - leaving us to park in the bays. Nothing we can do as it's a public road... but one of the reasons we're buying a house with a driveway!

wild33

Could you buy some nice flower pots, put some in the space and some in the garden, and if they ask say you want to see flowers when you look out of your window? 

Swasterix

wild33 said:

Could you buy some nice flower pots, put some in the space and some in the garden, and if they ask say you want to see flowers when you look out of your window? 

Why would you go to the trouble? I really can’t understand why people tend to employ these elaborate tactics instead of just dealing with an issue head on. 

Just approach the neighbour and be direct (and courteous). Just speak to them, make them aware it’s your space, then deal with their reaction. If it’s positive, great. If it isn’t, then take action. 

Slithery

wild33 said:

Could you buy some nice flower pots, put some in the space and some in the garden, and if they ask say you want to see flowers when you look out of your window? 

The deeds for the space will probably state that it is to only be used to park a vehicle.

katkatmachine

Hi all,

Thank you for the kind advice and suggestions. We have read them all and decided to talk to our next-door neighbour. Actually, there were two cars that were alternately using our parking spot, it was usually a blue car but for the last two nights it was a black car. We know (or at least have an idea) that they were both from our next-door neighbour so last night we rang them. The lady of the house just peeked through her bedroom window and we asked if that was her car parked in our spot in which she denied and I said okay and sorry for the bother. Though I am still convinced that the black car was from them or may be their roommates’ but fine. Now this morning the black car was gone so I hurriedly put the one of our wheelie bins in our spot. I was actually a bit hesitant (and scared) at first but in the end I went on and did it to assert that I own that spot (or at least it’s allocated to me).

Now it’s a waiting game on how our neighbour(s) will react. I will keep you updated.

Thank you all. 

Kind regards,
Kat