Parking in communal drying green

sinbrad

Ok, we currently live as part of an 11 dwelling residence. 9 of those 11 have parking access to the rear of the development, private parking and un-allocated so basically can park where there is an empty space. Over the years we have more or less parked in the same spaces without problem and set some sort of precedence. There is an area that is marked out as a drying green, shared between 4 residents and up until a new neighbour arrived the drying green has been unused. But now that the new neighbour has arrived they have decided that they want to use it as an extra parking area to allow them 2 vehicle parking.

I have already had a word and informed them that even though it hasn't been used as a drying green for many years, it does not give them the right to use it as an extra parking space. If this were the case then don't they think any of the residents would have done the same. As it stands anyone with more than one car has to park outside the private car park

So, I'm hoping that a friendly work will deter them but if not what is the next step

user1977

Is the drying green used for anything else? What do the titles say about it?

ThisIsWeird

This 11-resident dwelling will have a Freeholder or Management Company? You pass the matter on to them.

Bear in mind, of course, they may decide to making it an official parking space, if that's what the 4 'users' prefer.

eddddy

Edit to add - if it's in Scotland, none of the following applies...


Are your properties leasehold or freehold? (You say "dwellings" - is that houses or flats?)

Who owns the communal areas such as the private parking and drying green? 

What document gives property owners the right to use those communal areas? (e.g. a lease, a deed you signed when you purchased?) What does that document say about how the drying green can be used?

Does the document say anything about enforcement? (i.e. what can be done if somebody breaches the terms)

Who manages the communal areas?

Brie

Is the drying green used for anything else?  I would have imagined that people might sit out on a hot summer evening or similar.  And even if it isn't used actively is there anything the matter with having a green space to look out to?

Grizebeck

I assume this is scotland

silvercar

What is a drying green?

I assumed an area for drying clothes, but that is usually on a hard surface, not a green.

RAS

Usually Scottish, although I've seen them in N England. Often a grassed courtyard area between blocks of flats, or adjacent to a tenement. A few poles upon which you can sling a washing line. Usage may be part of the detail in the deeds.

user1977

Didn't know it was a Scottishism, but the communal (usually back) area of a tenement with some poles for your washing lines. Usually grassed, possibly with more elaborate garden features (and less likely to be in use for laundry these days), sometimes paved.

Though not usually easily accessible by cars, so it would be helpful if the OP could elaborate on the layout.

doodling

Hi,

This will almost certainly be covered by the lease (or the applicable alternative in Scotland).  If, for example, the lease gives you a right to use the drying green then someone parking on it is probably encroaching on that right (depending on exactly what the right is).

You then need to identify who you talk to when someone encroaches on the rights in your lease   To take a silly example, who would you call if one of the other residents knocked down the wall between you and them and rebuilt it 2m into your property?  There is usually some form of managing agent or factor who deals with this kind of stuff.