Allocated parking but current owners not using

UnsureTenant

Looking at buying a flat with allocated parking in secure private car park. The lease shows a plan of the car park and clearly identifies the parking space, the space is also clearly marked with the flat number painted on the ground. 

When I viewed, there was another car partially blocking the space and some bicycles stored in this space. The agent said this would be because the current owners don't have a car so their space may be being used by others. This is obviously a bit of a red flag although agent was keen to stress it would be a non-issue as the space was very clearly allocated to the flat. 

Any general advice for this kind of situation? My initial thought would be to write a polite note to all flats on moving day introducing myself as new occupant who will be using this space and ask for their bikes to be removed and not to block this space anymore. Ideally, that will be all that's necessary but I'm already starting to wonder what I might do if that approach doesn't work. 

mi-key

If it's allocated then you have the right to use it, and move any bikes that are in the way. I'm sure a friendly note ( and maybe one pinned by the parking space ) will work though and people will put their bikes somewhere else once they know it's in use

EssexHebridean

I’d go with the note I think introducing myself and letting the know that if they see a “blue Renault” or whatever you drive in the parking space for the flat it will be yours, and you’re telling them so they don’t think it’s a random stranger leaving their car there. Hopefully they will then take the hint? Possibly a bit less likely to be seen as “all guns blazing” than essentially saying “move your stuff!” 

In fairness the bikes could have been owned by the current owner of the flat anyway - in which case they will presumably be gone by the time you get there.

eddddy

Seems a bit excessive to write to all the flats.

I think I'd ask the current owner to take steps to deal with it before the sale. If the seller knows who the 'culprits' are, he/she can speak to them.

If the seller doesn't know who they are, suggest that the seller leaves a note attached to the bikes & car.

You can suggest to the seller that you really want the issue resolved before exchange of contracts.

If the problem re-occurs after you've bought, maybe put notes on the bikes and car again.

HampshireH

Is there a managing agent? If so they can deal with the bikes.

You could just park in the space and move them somewhere else

UnsureTenant

eddddy said:

Seems a bit excessive to write to all the flats.

I think I'd ask the current owner to take steps to deal with it before the sale. If the seller knows who the 'culprits' are, he/she can speak to them.

If the seller doesn't know who they are, suggest that the seller leaves a note attached to the bikes & car.

You can suggest to the seller that you really want the issue resolved before exchange of contracts.

If the problem re-occurs after you've bought, maybe put notes on the bikes and car again.

Thanks, that's a good idea. 

[Deleted User]

Definitely get the current owner to sort it. You want it resolved by the time you move in.

housebuyer219

Depends on the flats but maybe speak to the Managing Agent and get them to send a memo out? Sounds like a minor issue. I have similar in my car park (allocated and numbered) occasionally someone (normally a tradesmen) May park in my space so I’ll just jump in visitors until I can move 

propertyrental

This is not a 'red flag' in terms of your purchase.

Yes, it will need resolving, either by the seller before Completion, or by you after.

But hold up your purchase because of this? Or withdraw? Of course not.

eddddy

propertyrental said:

This is not a 'red flag' in terms of your purchase.

Yes, it will need resolving, either by the seller before Completion, or by you after.

But hold up your purchase because of this? Or withdraw? Of course not.

I guess it depends on the outcome, when the seller tries to resolve it before exchange of contracts.

If it's all resolved by the seller "having a word" with their neighbours or leaving notes, that will be very reassuring for the OP.

(e.g. Maybe the seller says to the neighbours "I know I said you could use the parking space, but I'm trying to sell the flat now, so it needs to be left empty to reassure people viewing the property. And when it's sold, it's likely that the new owner will want to use it.")



But if the neighbours refuse to stop using the parking space when asked by the seller, perhaps it indicates:

• A dispute over who has rights to use the parking space

• An ethos of anti-social behaviour amongst the neighbours. They use other people's parking spaces, even when they're told not to. (So perhaps the OP should expect future confrontations etc, about this.)

• Or maybe a problem with non-residents (e.g. local workers) using residents parking spaces without consent

Those are the types of thing the OP might want to know about, before buying - rather than getting a "nasty surprise" after moving in.

mi-key

If the spaces are numbered and allocated, then there would be no dispute about who has the right to use it. The flats should have a management company in place, and they can enforce any antisocial behaviour if people carried on using it.

I don't really think its a major worry for the OP, and I'm pretty sure when he puts a note on the parking space then people will obey it. The have only been using it up until now because the current owner doesnt use it, not because they are being antisocial