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Original poster

Landlord changing parking (with diagram)

57 replies

Rhayader · 22/04/2025 13:13

We live in a block of flats with 6 flats all owned by the same landlord. There are 4 large flats and 2 small flats. We moved in around a year ago and just renewed our lease for another year.

When we moved in, the parking situation was that there were 2 bigger spaces on one side for our flat and another large flat (which is permanently occupied by their camper van) and then on the other side 3 very small spaces for flats 3-5 and then flat 6 doesn't have a parking space.

Flat 6 recently went on the market and im assuming he's had trouble letting it without parking because when i went outside this morning the green space which was shrubbery is being converted into driveway and the workmen told me that it is because its going to be space for 3 cars to give flat 6 some parking.

The issue is, part of the reason for renting this flat was the large parking space. We have a large car as we have 4 kids, including a newborn, so that's going to be a lot of getting kids in and out of car seats in tight spaces! It's not possible to do that if there were three cars, especially if two of them are our 7 seater and a camper van. I've done a quick measurement and it's pretty much exactly 7m across for the three spaces. With mirrors, our car is 2.14m wide and the camper is just over 2.3m.

It's already pretty difficult to reverse through the small gap and round into the space, its going to be more or less impossible going forward... Is there anything we can do about it? AIBU to expect my parking situation to remain the same throughout my tenancy? We weren't informed about this, let alone consulted..

OP posts:
blueleavesgreensky · 22/04/2025 15:16

TheNightingalesStarling · 22/04/2025 13:30

Do you pay extra for a "large" parking space?

Well I guess they pay for what was on offer at the time of signing the lease and that included the extra large parking space.
they can’t take away a room in the apartment and say it’s now for the landlord’s storage or remove a garden and say yeah we are turning into another flat. Why should they be able to reduce the parking space

GasPanic · 22/04/2025 15:03

I guess the question is whether your contract stipulates any parking and any particular space size.

It's kind of one of those grey areas. For example if a tenant turned up with a giant RV and the contract stipulated "parking" would it be reasonable to expect the parking space to accommodate it ?

I think most people would say no. And there is probably a sliding scale of that from some huge vehicle down to a vintage mini.

I think that if the parking situation is really important to you then you need to get it clarified and clearly defined in advance. Easy thing to miss though.

FredaFox · 22/04/2025 14:56

contractually the landlord is still providing a space, unless the dimensions of the space are in your contract which would be unusual I think contractually it’s a you problem. What is to the left of your space? It’s says bins on your diagram, is it open space or a wall?
just because you have a large flat and a garden doesn’t mean you deserve a bigger parking space
its worth asking space 2 to swap with you and speak to your landlord. Ask what dimensions each new space will be, I suspect the campervan will be over, maybe you.
Good luck

IfYouPutASausageInItItsNotAViennetta · 22/04/2025 14:35

Hmm, that does sound deliberate on the part of the agent.

Original poster
Rhayader · 22/04/2025 14:33

@allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld the camper doesn’t move that often. They take it for a spin every now and then but it’s a retro one and can’t go above 40mph so they don’t actually use it to camp.

@CoffeeCup14 @IfYouPutASausageInItItsNotAViennetta the frustrating thing is that we were given quite an early deadline to sign the contract to extend and the agent was really pushy about the deadline and now I feel like they purposely kept this from us until we had signed up for another year.. perhaps I’m just paranoid though.

OP posts:
IfYouPutASausageInItItsNotAViennetta · 22/04/2025 14:27

Even if the size of the parking space isn't specified in the contract, I don't see how you can just say that it's still (technically) one parking space, so nothing to complain about.

Presumably, OP originally went to look at the property and was told "This is the kitchen, this is the living room, these are the bedrooms.... and this is the parking space that belongs to the flat" before deciding to rent it, based on all of the offered accommodation and its suitability for their needs.

If they had been swayed by the generous size of the bedrooms or the living room being a nice decent size for a family of 6, absolutely nobody would be saying that the landlord could come and knock through from next door to make their rooms smaller, even though they were still technically above a minimum acceptable size!

Edit: cross-posted with CoffeeCup14.

CoffeeCup14 · 22/04/2025 14:26

You might do better putting this in legal or property. If your tenancy agreement gives you access to a specific defined area of land (e.g. parking space no. 2), it's possible that he can't just change the size of the space. He couldn't just move a wall in the house and expect you to accept a slightly smaller bedroom or living room. You'd need advice based on your specific tenancy agreement though.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 22/04/2025 14:24

@Rhayader to be honest, it is the camper which I would expect to have more problems. they are usually a lot longer than the normal car, how does he is in and out???

Original poster
Rhayader · 22/04/2025 13:58

Fatrosrhun · 22/04/2025 13:56

Are you saying that the new parking space will take a bit of your parking space? I’d try having a word with your landlord and tell him your concerns. How old are your children? Couldn’t you just pull the car out a foot or two while you load up the kids? I can understand your frustration but can see the landlord’s side too - you’ll still have the same number of spaces and they’ll be the same size as what the other tenants manage with.

Edited

The camper is not ours it’s our neighbours. the space where 1 and 2 current are will become three spaces for 1 2 and 6. So our space will be significantly smaller and we need to park next to a big camper (and our car is not small)

Kids are 11, 8, 4 and 6 weeks!

OP posts:
Fatrosrhun · 22/04/2025 13:56

Are you saying that the new parking space will take a bit of your parking space? I’d try having a word with your landlord and tell him your concerns. How old are your children? Couldn’t you just pull the car out a foot or two while you load up the kids? I can understand your frustration but can see the landlord’s side too - you’ll still have the same number of spaces and they’ll be the same size as what the other tenants manage with.

Scrapper142 · 22/04/2025 13:55

I'd ask space 2 to swap. Their camper would be more protected as only one car rather than two pulling in and out and if they could pull it tight on the other side may give you a bit more room.

AutumnLeaves24 · 22/04/2025 13:53

bestbefore · 22/04/2025 13:48

what are the edges? Walls or open? Could you ask the camper van goes in the middle and then that makes it easier to get in and out? Alternatively get the kids out in the bit in the middle of the car park and then park? Sounds annoying though!

And dangerous if there's only one adult and the children are young, you can't just leave them abandoned in the middle of the car park while you park.

Original poster
Rhayader · 22/04/2025 13:53

@hyggetyggedotorg I will speak to the campervan owner when I see them.

@bestbefore The edges are walls so it’s not possible to open car doors.

@Tootiredtowhat @Justlovedogs thanks this is good advice. I appreciate I may come across as the villain with a large car but it’s not the largest one on the driveway and we did specifically seek out housing with a parking space big enough to park it… we can’t really have a smaller car with 4 kids, plus DH is a cubs leader so he needs a big car for tents and pulling the trailer for camps.

OP posts:
whoisit1234 · 22/04/2025 13:53

@Rhayader it would be very unusual in an agreement where the landlord has control of all the spaces to not have the ability to move the spaces as and when needed, however inconvenient it is for you sadly.
I would message the landlord to explain your concern, and they might have a work around that could suit, especially if the alternative is losing you at the end of your tenancy

bestbefore · 22/04/2025 13:48

what are the edges? Walls or open? Could you ask the camper van goes in the middle and then that makes it easier to get in and out? Alternatively get the kids out in the bit in the middle of the car park and then park? Sounds annoying though!

hyggetyggedotorg · 22/04/2025 13:47

Rhayader · 22/04/2025 13:45

But is it fair to let us renew our lease and then a couple of weeks later change what we are getting for our rent?

Show quote history

I do understand your point but the landlord may well feel that one parking space is what you had & one parking space is what you will still have.

Can you join forces with the camper van owner & approach the landlord together?

Justlovedogs · 22/04/2025 13:47

Tootiredtowhat · 22/04/2025 13:41

The recommendation for parking space width is 2.4meters. Rather than challenging based on the size you your car, (which is very much a you problem) I would try and argue that the space is no longer fit for purpose as a car parking space as it doesn’t achieve the minimum recommended size. On that basis they are no longer providing you with a parking space.

Agree with @Tootiredtowhat. Challenging on the more generic grounds rather than your specific circumstances would be more appropriate.

Original poster
Rhayader · 22/04/2025 13:46

whoisit1234 · 22/04/2025 13:42

What does your tenancy agreement say about parking?
If it just says there's one space, then the landlord can reasonably move the spaces

I’m not sure but I’ll have a look.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rhayader · 22/04/2025 13:45

hyggetyggedotorg · 22/04/2025 13:41

All you can really do is share your concerns with your landlord. On the face of it though, it seems fair that each flat has one space of an equal size.

But is it fair to let us renew our lease and then a couple of weeks later change what we are getting for our rent?

OP posts:
Original poster
Rhayader · 22/04/2025 13:43

UpUpUpU · 22/04/2025 13:42

I don’t understand the diagram? Is that now or what he’s changing it too? Which number are you?

We are number 1, camper is number 2. He’s getting rid of the green bit.

OP posts:
whoisit1234 · 22/04/2025 13:42

What does your tenancy agreement say about parking?
If it just says there's one space, then the landlord can reasonably move the spaces

UpUpUpU · 22/04/2025 13:42

I don’t understand the diagram? Is that now or what he’s changing it too? Which number are you?

Tootiredtowhat · 22/04/2025 13:41

The recommendation for parking space width is 2.4meters. Rather than challenging based on the size you your car, (which is very much a you problem) I would try and argue that the space is no longer fit for purpose as a car parking space as it doesn’t achieve the minimum recommended size. On that basis they are no longer providing you with a parking space.

hyggetyggedotorg · 22/04/2025 13:41

All you can really do is share your concerns with your landlord. On the face of it though, it seems fair that each flat has one space of an equal size.

Original poster
Rhayader · 22/04/2025 13:37

@TheNightingalesStarling Our rent is pretty steep but it’s not a line item on the rent. We pay more than the flats with the smaller spaces but we also have a garden so it’s not exactly the same. Flat 1 and 2 have gardens and 3-6 do not.

@GraySILK 7 meters into 3 spaces is 2.33 meters which is the exact width of the camper van. I’m not sure it’s going to be possible to get used to it unless we all climb out the boot every time we park.

OP posts: