Van lowers the tone of the area

[travellinghopefully12]

I live in a lovely complex of flats with my DP and his best friend. We rent.

DP has just bought his own place for very little money in a less well off area of town. It's a gorgeous flat but in no way livable in. We are doing it up, and eventually DP and I will move in, while our friend goes travelling.

Anyway - last week a friend asked DP if he would look after her piano in his new flat until she has her own place. I was delighted as I play, and haven't had a piano since I was a teenager.

We were stumped as to how to transport it though, as we don't own a van. A friend of a friend volunteered, and on Friday we had an adventure carrying a piano up four flights of winding stone stairs. The new neighbours came out to help, and we lovely. (It badly needs tuning now)

Afterwards we went to the pub and friend of friend mentioned she has nowhere to park her van, and moves it about places every night and often pays for parking.

We have a parking space which no one uses in the flat we rent in the 'nice' area, and DP said she can use it. She was really grateful, but she'd just driven a piano across town and lugged it up four flights of stairs, refusing to take money - all we were able to buy her was a pint of coke.

She came on Sunday and parked the Van. It's a big blue beaten-up thing, she's driven it through europe and stuff and she's a bit of a cool hippy chick, and the van has that vibe.about it

Anyway, we got an anonymous note from a neighbour last night saying 'Sorry but no commercial vehicles allowed in parking bays as they lower the tone of the area, per title deeds.'

It's not a commercial vehicle, in that she doesn't use it commercially, but DP looked up commercial vehicles, and apparently the size of it might make it legally a commercial vehicle. There is a vodafone van, a black cab and a few other 'commercial vehicles' in the area, but they are not beat=up, as it were.

The van fits perfectly into the parking space and is in no one's way.

DP was swearing about how fucking petty it is, but thinks we have to ask her to move it as the neighbour's will report us to letting agents. (We have already been reported once for 'Heavy Walking and Toilet Flushing at Night' - Yes, really.)

So - what the hell do we do?

[wasonthelist]

ebay to find a crappy rusty old robin reliant

There is no such car.

[ArcheryAnnie]

It's an anonymous note, so clearly written by a loony (say I, posting with a pseudonym) and therefore must be ignored.

Keep the notes, and if a third appears leave your own note on the van saying you will be passing all further anonymous threatening letters to the police. (Two can play at the "ridiculous overblown threats" game.)

[travellinghopefully12]

archery I am actually thinking of reporting him to the factors. Does it count as bullying as I am sure we have been deliberately targeted (vodafone van and taxi left alone)?

To those saying she should move it, I kind of really don't want to give in now - it's become a matter of principle as well as doing a friend a favour, after that note. If he asked nicely then ok, but the nastiness combined with the anonymity upsets me. Also, we know nothing of the resident committee he mentions. Who are they? And why don't we know if we have one.

[Ladymayormaynot]

Mycat - love it. They do this with buildings under renovation, know any artists?

[Natsku]

Don't give in OP report the notes to the factor as they're clearly just directing it at you rather than the other commercial vehicles so its bullying/harassment now and those fuckers shouldn't get their way

[heron98]

Some people just have fuck all in their lives to worry about.

Jesus.

YANBU.

[Sooverthis]

I would move it, yabu sorry to go against the flow but if you want to get on with your neighbours why would you 'sublet' your parking space to an unsightly vehicle those neighbours have legitimate concerns about?

[t4gnut]

At this point I'd ignore. Note writer clearly is a control nut used to getting their way. personally I'd have made a theatrical show of reading the note, laughing, screwing it up and throwing it on the floor.

Alternatively photocopy and place with a response in the communal entrance stating said vehicle is not licensed as commercial and for personal use in the designated space for your flat, and that passive aggressive note writers can either discuss in person or go and fuck themselves.

[TattyCat]

I would have just moved it initially, but after having a bullying note like that left I'd be very, very reluctant to let them think that their note worked.

On principle, I'd leave it there for a week or two, then move it.

[2nds]

Move the bloody Van. It's not your van, why can't she Park the thing at her parents house? Is it for the same reason?

Don't be a mug just because a friend can't find anywhere to park up, and just move it. Remember it's you that has to live there and it's probably you that will have to pay up should you be taken to court.

As for parking it so you can block others in well that's just you being petty and asking for trouble. It's probably an eyesore and all, so all the more reason to shift it.

[2nds]

And another thing this is subletting so you are breaking your tenancy agreement if the parking space comes with the flat.

[carefreeeee]

Weird nasty neighbours! Why would they care. I would report the note.

I don't think it's subletting unless you are taking money. If it's insured and you are entitled to use the space then you can park whatever you like in there. If your neighbours don't like it they should buy a house away from other people.

If the neighbours had approached you in person and asked politely that would be a different matter and I'd be inclined to try and keep the peace.

[Squiff85]

To be fair vans do look scruffy and such an eye-saw :(

I'd move it

[karmapolice97]

Really 2nds? You just made me search and seems to be an established poster.

I know what people are saying about the van probably being a bit of an eyesore, but the OP already conceded that and I'm sure would have moved it in the first place of asked nicely.

You should absolutely not give into this anonymous bully immediately. Noone on the (imaginary?) residents committee can check that you do not own the vehicle so I think complaining to factor about intimidation and mentioning the other commercial vehicles not being targeted is exactly what you should do. Perhaps contact factor requesting to join the committee...you are a resident after all.

[travellinghopefully12]

2nds why would this be a windup?

[travellinghopefully12]

also, it's not subletting if you're not taking money for it, right?

[fastdaytears]

What a massively unpleasant note. I wouldn't move the van.

I don't think it's subletting.

[Sooverthis]

It is sort of submitting I'm afraid as you are letting someone else use your parking space. A parking space that only people living in the flat are supposed to use. In return she's letting you use her piano a sort if quid pro quo if you like. Just because no money changes hands doesn't make it ok to subvert reasonable rules and piss off your neighbours. I am sorry but this us quite shoddy behaviour.

[fastdaytears]

The piano isn't van lady's so there's no consideration

[Hissy]

What if the author of the note is Lying?

That would explain the Vodafone van and cab. I.e it's not against anything in the leasehold agreement.

Ignore. You're not here until Feb, they can't end your tenancy over this, and even if there were grounds it wouldn't be faster than Feb.

The neighbour complains about heaters, toilets and walking ffs- none of which are against any regulations.

It's becaUse they find the van ugly and an eyesore. Tough. Your home, your space that you're paying rent for, your choice to allow your friend to use it for the time being

[Hissy]

Only here till Feb

Blooming iPhone

[travellinghopefully12]

soover no, we're not taking anything for the van. The piano belongs to another friend.

We pay for the parking space as a non optional part of our rent, so why should we not allow a friend to use it for free?

[Ladymayormaynot]

Have you seen Lady in the Van? Subletting ? I think you ought to rent the van to a tenant, that would wind the neighbours up

[Sooverthis]

My misunderstanding I thought piano friend and can friend were the same friend. I am sorry but I do think yabu your parking space is for your car not a friends van but if you are happy leave it there I'm just giving my opinion of what I would do to keep things nice with my neighbours.