Car parked in my numbered designated parking space ..

another_casualty

Howdy! 

I am a leaseholder in a small block of converted flats . 4 flats on my side, 3 on the other.
All designated parking spaces are numbered. Plus there are 2 visitor parking bays . 

Alll well and good. So many people have more than one car these days .

okay , I don't drive and unless somebody annoys me I am laid back . Out of the 7 flats , only 3 of us are  owners of our leases .The rest are let out . Out of us 3 , 2 of the flat owners are directors of the mgt company . I was asked to be one on more than one occasion but declined due to not knowing what job entails and not being in the best of health . 

I I get to know who owns what car etc. Until today , my parking space has always been left alone . So, I went out a couple of times today meeting friends , doing shopping and cutting more growth from the Buddleia branches from outside my window .  I thought to myself, if it's a one off then fair enough, it'll be gone soon .
But it's mid afternoon and I composed a polite notice asking the owner of said car to please refrain from parking their car as it's for the owners of my flat no . And thanked them . 

I expect mixed responses here . Am I being unreasonable ? 

I did tell the guy next door to me that he could park there anytime he wants on more than one occasion. He is a director , 2 cars . He always parks his main car in the visitor parking space . 

I was too obliging and polite to the tenants in one of the flats above me until they started having random drug parties last year😡🤬
The tenants in the other flat above have been there a few months but I don't see them or want to . I hear the child a few times a week , not an issue so far . The car could be theirs. May not be , but I don't get involved . Best thing for me , is to avoid getting involved with tenants as they could find a way to hate me so out of sight out of mind . 

If my parking space wasn't numbered then there may be a misunderstanding . 

What would you do ? 

Thrugelmir

Have a post installed to stop further infringements. 

another_casualty

Thrugelmir said:

Have a post installed to stop further infringements. 

Thank you ! 

I did that in my last place . May well do that , but not sure if it would be frowned upon by the managing agents as I'd be the only one with a post ..

Bendy_House

What would I do? In reality, if this were an otherwise nicely-functioning small block of flats where everyone generally showed each other consideration, and if I didn't have a car myself, I'd let it be.

It just seems a bit churlish to reserve a space when you have no intention of using it. I cannot see any harm resulting from letting it be used until you might have a use for it yourself.

There are exceptions to this, of course

For instance, the calibre of the miscreant.

Since you have left a note on their screen, and they seemingly have just ignored it, I'd take a baseball bat and knock se7en shades out of their car in the middle of the night. Metaphorically speaking, of course - I wouldn't actually do that! I'd just cover their car with paint stripper.

No, I wouldn't that either... Cough

I'd just let it be - until a reason arrived for this to change. For instance, if I were to buy a car myself, then I'd leave a note advising them of X days to vacate. Or, if I had a regular visitor who would find it otherwise tricky to park near my flat, I'd ditto.

Ie - as soon as you have a genuine and valid reason for requiring that space, then you make this clear to the parkee. You could do this by leaving a note to say that on the xth of Nov, you will be having a parking post fitted to secure that space. "If you cannot move your car before then, please call me on 26748546583 so that I can come out to unlock the post to let you out". Ie - don't do anything that could back-fire on you; make sure you make it clear you are not blocking them in - you will be happy to come out and unlock the post when they call you. Just how long it takes for you to get around to this is another matter...

So, I'd leave it until there was a reason to not to. And then act decisively.

Your space has your house number on it? Cool, that means there shouldn't be any argument when the 'day' arrives.

Absolutely have a pleasant word when/should you come across the driver - with a big smile, just ask them to acknowledge that they know it is an allocated space - they know that, yes? Cool. "It would have been nice to have been asked, but - hey - since I don't currently have a car, I'm not bothered about who parks there."

If they are anything other than genuinely contrite, you suggest they promptly cover their car with Vaseline - because you are going to come right back and stick it...

Bendy_House

Of course the other obvious thing to do would be to take it to the management team :-)

kayleighali

Honestly, if I didn't drive then I wouldn't care.

Perhaps the owner of the car has not been back out to see your note, they may not be being rude and ignoring it, just unaware. Could it even be next door having a visitor round and they have said to pop their car in your space as you have extended them that courtesy in the past?

It might even just be a visitor to the area who hasn't realised the numbers are there, maybe too busy looking for their destination and completely missed the marked bays.

another_casualty

Interesting posts there @Bendy_House
As I've left a note on their windscreen , my next movement is to do nothing .
If, on the other hand the car is there for a few days then I will just photocopy more notices on all of the car windows pending on how long it is parked there .

Up until an hour or so ago, there was that persons car and one other in the parking bays while the others are all empty , as the other residents are at work etc. 

One other thing to mention , is that about a month after I moved Into my flat my friend from Newcastle visited . He had mistakenly parked his car into next doors space.
5 mins later , lady from next door asked me to remove it . I made sure my friend moved it , although he thought she was being petty . Everytime I see her she is always friendly .
She is the wife of one of the  directors . Good job I made the first impression count ..

another_casualty

kayleighali said:

Honestly, if I didn't drive then I wouldn't care.

Perhaps the owner of the car has not been back out to see your note, they may not be being rude and ignoring it, just unaware. Could it even be next door having a visitor round and they have said to pop their car in your space as you have extended them that courtesy in the past?

It might even just be a visitor to the area who hasn't realised the numbers are there, maybe too busy looking for their destination and completely missed the marked bays.

Thanks @kayleighali
I only put the note there late  afternoon . I always make allowances for visitors etc but at least one of the visitor spots was vacant . It could well be someone not connected to my block . As I say, I'll do nothing pending on how long car is there ..

Belenus

another_casualty said:

What would you do ? 

If another occupant of the flats regularly requires an extra space then I'd offer to let out the parking space.

£5 per week perhaps.

mrschaucer

I'm afraid I'd take the view that if the parking space was mine, then I'd want it available to me and my visitors at all times (unless you choose to rent it out of course).  Someone is taking advantage of your good nature and if you don't do something, that space will never be "yours".  Inform the management committee that you are thinking of a bollard and see what the reaction is.

another_casualty

Good points @mrschaucer and @ Belenus
I may make it my business to bump into the director next door and mention in a casual manner. I don't want to knock on his door as  I had to do that a few weeks back when I had to show him the state of massive Buddleia covering my windows, Previous thread .

Tomorrow , I'll see if car is gone . If so , then job done and repeat if necessary

one other thing , is that there are new flats being built in the block parallel to mine .
It could well be a chancer from one of the team there . 

It does seem that I may have to act to stop self entitled chancers soon and nip in the bud..