Parking spaces not wide enough to open car doors

KC14

Hi,

My sisters neighbour has approached me about buying her property... I am interested but have a concern over the parking. They have 2 allocated parking spaces but if you park in the 2 spaces you can't open the car doors. There are 5 spaces in a row and the 5th space is a visitor space that isn't really usuable for the same reason. I was wondering if anyone has approached the Management company about having a visitor space removed to make the other spaces fit for purpose?

TIA

propertyrental

Could be a planning requirement that 5 spaces must be provided.

KC14

Do you think it would be worth speaking to the local planning office to see if it could be removed? The development is 13 years old now so not newly built. 

elsien

KC14 said:

Do you think it would be worth speaking to the local planning office to see if it could be removed? The development is 13 years old now so not newly built. 

Would it not be better for the neighbour to approach the management company first, as if they’re not willing to change it then planning is academic. 

KC14

Yes that's a good idea. Thanks

propertyrental

KC14 said:

Do you think it would be worth speaking to the local planning office to see if it could be removed? The development is 13 years old now so not newly built. 

Take a look at the original Planning consents/conditions for the development. 13 years ago so should be online.

If the visitors parking space is removed, where will visitors park.....?

p00hsticks

KC14 said:

Hi,

My sisters neighbour has approached me about buying her property... I am interested but have a concern over the parking. They have 2 allocated parking spaces but if you park in the 2 spaces you can't open the car doors. There are 5 spaces in a row and the 5th space is a visitor space that isn't really usuable for the same reason. I was wondering if anyone has approached the Management company about having a visitor space removed to make the other spaces fit for purpose?

TIA

Really there only really needs to be enough space to open one door - that of the driver. Passengers can get out before the driver drives into the space.   

theartfullodger

Get smaller vehicles.  They've been growing in size over the years since I first got a licence - 1964-ish??  Guilty myself.

re  "" Really there only really needs to be enough space to open one door - that of the driver.   """

Indeed - & if people park alternately (pointing different ways) even easier...

theoretica

How wide are the spaces?

My parents recently got a new car - their choice was pretty limited by the size of their garage.  If you like the house well enough to get new cars, that might be an option.

eddddy

1. As others say, when planning consent is granted for a development, sometimes it is granted with conditions. One of the conditions might have been that 5 parking spaces must be provided.

If there is a planning condition like that, new planning consent would need to be applied for, in order to remove that planning condition.


2. Then there is the issue of the leases. If the all the leases say that a visitor's space is available, then all those leases will need to be changed - and all the leaseholders will need to agree to having their leases changed. And/or leaseplans might need to be changed to show 4 spaces instead of 5. That will result in a lot of legal bills.


3. But if the visitor's space isn't mentioned in the leases, so no leases need to be changed - it's probably up to the freeholder to decide whether to change the parking.

The problem is... there is no benefit to the freeholder from changing the parking, so the freeholder might not be interested in doing it. ...Unless perhaps somebody offers some money the freeholder, to make it worth their while.

KC14

Thank you all!
There is on street parking for visitors. The parking in question is in a private courtyard that is accessed through an archway under a coach house. I looked on the local council's planning portal last night and couldn't see anything about the parking. 

I haven't got a big car so I wouldn't change it. 
All of the properties are freehold so there wouldn't be an issue with leases.
I might speak to the planning department and see if the visitor space is a planning condition.