allocated parking, i know I'm not, but how best to respond

[Beograde]

I have an allocated parking space where I live with my number painted on but I don't have a car so I rarely use it. However if I have guests coming, or I've rented a car, sometimes it's being used as if it were a free parking space. Technically it's a piece of land I own, so I'm not being unreasonable. How would ypu respond?I don't like confrontation, but does a polite note on the windscreen sound ok?

Just to clarify, others are using it as if it were a free parking place

Ask them to move their car as you're paying for the space as part of your rent/mortgage and you wish to use it. I used to leave my wheelie bins in mine.

I know, if I wanted to, I could put a bench and flower pots on it. I don't know who it is that does it, that's why I think a note is best

Try this.

"Oi cunt, get that hunk of metal out of the space I pay for"

That should do it

that's a joke

My neighbours used to do this, or they would park diagonally so my space was unusable. I don't feel guilty that my friend crashed her car into one of the ones blocking my space as she reversed to get out, not one little bit (feel bad for her though). Can you block the car in? Put the wheelie bins/bench/flower pots behind it? They will have to move them so you should hear who the culprit is. Failing that, leave a note.

If you know who it is then have a word with them, if not leave a note on the windscreen.

How often do you use it? Or your guests? I might take the karma and let people use it.

If it's the same culprits, write a v straightforward note first, as in it's your space and you use it, so stop using it. If that doesn't work, a physical barrier is the only other way to stop it.

Maybe have a word and say whilst usually it is fine that they use the space,that you do have visitors so you may need them to move?

I reckon I use it around once or twice a week for an evening. I've left a nice polite note, saying it's fine to use it if you were to let me know. I really dislike confrontation, even if I'm polite and in the right

To politely remind someone its your space and you would like to use it, is not confrontation

You could try leaving a note which explains that there seems to have been some confusion and it isn't a free parking space; you own it and regularly need to use it for yourself or visitors.

However, if they would like to negotiate renting the space from you at particular times they should contact you.

Can you afford/be able to put in one of those drop down bollards? Job done, no confrontation.

Some people down the road from me have put up a little chain across theirs! I think your only answer is to block it in some way if they have ignored your note.

I live in a new build estate with parking like this; there was one particular car that was always doing this so I contacted the management company who said they would write to the person doing it (DVLA records or something) but I felt that was a bit OTT so I kept an eye out for them parking up and just went out and had a word with them - apparently they just didn't realise it was ever used but they stopped after that.

I found that the best way to stop them was to block them in.