Upstairs neighbours blocking the porch with their car..

[Morningcoffeeee]

We have an open drive that leads from the pavement on the street to our porchway where our front door is. The driveway is our allocated parking but we don't have a car so the neighbours from the flat upstairs use it for theirs.

Instead of parking it horizontally like normal they've taken to parking it vertically, blocking our path that we use to get in and out of the flat. As such there is a 1 metre gap between our front door and their horizontally parked car which we have to navigate a pram around. It's very awkward.

As soon as I open the door it's there in my face blocking the view to the street.

Aibu to think it's CF?

Will try to attatch a photo but it's not letting me at the moment.

Have you asked them to stop?

Plant pot on the bottom left is where our porchway ends.

Did they just start parking there or did they ask?
Do you both own or rent?

DP has yes but it's yet to be moved.

Both flats are rented.

Landlord actually wanted to rent the space out as it's a busy area in the city and if we have no use for it he figured he'd rent it out and deduct the income from the rent.

They didn't ask, they assumed because we wasn't using the parking space then it would be fine for them to use it as they live directly upstairs.

I think my plantpot would probably blow over in this current heavy wind.

Do you own or rent? I would be concerned about setting up a precedent. What happens if you move or get a car. I would see if you can gate it off and tell them that the arrangements are no longer working for you.

Do they have allocated parking?

Sorry cross posted. Would refer the matter to the landlord.

We rent and so do the upstairs neighbours.

Landlord has planning permission to build a wall around the drive but didn't have any immediate plans to.

Upstairs flat has no allocated parking

I would give no fucks whatsoever whether it got scratched and damaged by the pram as I tried to get out.

But an old junker if a car and have it parked there. Make sure it’s a small car exactly far enough from the door so you’re at the edge of your space and have loads of room. Job done. If you continue to let them use it, they’ll never move and you’ve lost a piece of YOUR property that YOUR’E paying for.

Is it the same landlord for both flats?

Your flat would have been priced reflecting that it has a drive. Get a reduction in your rent and the cost transferred to the upstairs CF neighbors.

Here’s the y and the o to replace the t and the I in my spelling mistakes. If I’ve made any more, you’ll have to swap the letters yourself. 😁

Does the same landlord own both flats?

If your LL was looking to rent out the space and it’s now being used by a CF who hasn’t even had the good grace to ask him or his tentants if it was ok, he might be willing to have a word.

Get a reduction in your rent and the cost transferred to the upstairs CF neighbors.

That’s a good idea, but make sure there’s a boundary so they park in a considerate manner.

They have a different landlord, no idea who it is.

It's been getting on my wick as ive been coming in and out of the flat, I wouldn't mind as much if it were parked properly as when parked properly a car being there doesn't cause any bother or get in the way. No idea why they've decided to park it the way they have.

It's correct that our flat is priced to include the fact we have parking. We're in London where parking is generally a pain, so it's considered a big plus to have it.

I'm due a second baby in a couple of months so navigating a double pram around that will be even more difficult than a single.

Unless you are desperate for a rent reduction, I'll tell the landlord you'd prefer to keep the space yourself, regardless if you want to use it or not.
Otherwise some random will be blocking your pram access

Place a couple of giant planters (you’ll need to put them in place, then fill them) in such a way that they HAVE to park properly, if you’re silly enough to keep paying for them to have a prime parking spot. Nice if you both to work that but extra to pay for them to have a free parking spot, OP.

I think you need to speak to the landlord, explain the situation and the issue around needing clear access in and out of your flat for the pram and it's causing issue. See what LL says. If it's in your tenancy agreement that it's your rented car space I would suggest you advise the LL you don't want them parking there as you may have guests and the pushchair issue or shopping you need to bring in and they shouldn't be parking there and are breaking their tenancy agreement

Have a nice word. By landlord I mean if private if through a lettings agency speak with them. It's just rude of them. They should have found someone to rent with a car space

Be firm, tell them it’s not their space and they are being CFs. You are paying for it so if they want to use it they’d better start parking nicely. Otherwise they can’t park there at all.

If your landlord does eventually rent the space out, have it written into your agreement how they should park.

We've had nothing but ballache with the parking space since we moved in. Somebody else down the street took to using it, property manager for the block (not our actual landlord) complained and so we ended up being sent a permit to be displayed in any cars we put there, or give expressed permission to park there (guests with cars etc)

That has done nothing to curb the problem, the first neighbour from down the road who was using it has only been replaced with the upstairs done. Neither were given the permit or direct permission to use the drive but seemingly don't care.

I know it's not the end of the world but to near on block somebodies exit to a flat they're paying over the odds for in the first place, is annoying.

Or buy some big plant pots and plants dot them about so they can't park. Maybe a cheap bench to place there 😁

I'd block out the space I needed with plant pots (other large obstructions) and block the incoming access for the upstairs neighbours... You are paying for that space, they aren't.

If they would like to use it, check with your landlord whether you can sublet it, or if he'd like to let it directly for a corresponding reduction in your rent.

If you think you may need a vehicle before you leave this property, it would be better to sublet it on your own terms so it's available when you want it.

Where do your guests park?