Can Landlord start charging for parking, with no advance warning?

Tinkabel76

Hi all, and thanks in advance for any advice. I recently went away for a couple of days, and when I returned, the landlord has installed posts in front of every parking space in our yard, which need a key in order to flatten them so that we can park! 
We have lived here as tenants for over 12 years, with no parking issues - this is just pure greed by the landlord. We have had no warnings or emails at all about this. We are currently just parking between the posts, along with some of the neighbours, but I don't think we'll get away with this for long...
I have also heard (although just from the neighbour, not from the landlord) that he wants to charge £100/ month for each parking space!!!!! £1200/year!!! It's insane! 

Can anyone help? Surely he has to give us some warning? Can he just make up any amount he wants to for parking? We run a business here (live/work space as a photographer) and it's going to have a really big effect if clients ever need to park as well. 

user1977

What does your lease say about parking?

Bradden

First thing I'd do it check your tenancy and see if it mentions parking... fingers crossed it does!

I'd be careful mentioning running a business from home unless the landlord is already aware.

stig

What does your tenancy agreement say about parking? If no parking is provided as an part of the tenancy, on what basis have you been using the parking to date?

(oops - the two replies above weren’t there when I posted!)

pinkshoes

As others have said, check your original tenancy agreement.

If it mentions that the property you are renting has a parking space, then no the LL cannot just block it off and then charge you for parking. If there is no mention of parking with the property then not much you can do.

If he hasn't actually said he is planning on now charging for parking, don't go speculating about this. Just ask the landlord for the key to the bollard so you can park in your space and see what he says. 

artyboy

Even if parking is not specifically mentioned, after 12 years of use by the OP, is there no concept of adverse possession that would incorporate the parking space into the tenancy? 

Section62

Tinkabel76 said:

We run a business here (live/work space as a photographer) and it's going to have a really big effect if clients ever need to park as well. 

Is there a separate arrangement with the landlord for the business use? Or is this just a normal domestic dwelling that you work from home in?

sidneyvic

artyboy said:

Even if parking is not specifically mentioned, after 12 years of use by the OP, is there no concept of adverse possession that would incorporate the parking space into the tenancy? 

Good luck with that one....

doodling

Hi,

This is simply a matter of what you're renting from the landlord. If the parking is included in what you are already renting then the landlord cannot charge.

In the usual domestic case the front garden would normally be included if you were renting a whole house and the landlord wouldn't be able to add a charge afterwards for example.

It sounds like your property is in a more commercial setting so the lease might be more specific about exactly what you are renting - what does it say?