Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

It’s a parking (space) one! Should I pay back flatmate for space used a year ago?

28 replies

singme · 06/03/2019 17:43

Hi all. Having a little ponder.

Just over a year ago I moved into a new flat. New flatmate told me there was a parking space for the flat around the back, the girl previously in my room had been using it. Flatmate can’t drive so obviously said I could use it.

Space is up a back road full of potholes, I used the space for 2 months, during which time the exhaust fell off my car and needed fixed. Also got a flat tyre from a nail on that back road.

I then realised that the on street parking permit for my old flat was still valid in this new area, so I started parking on the street at the front. When the time came to renew my on street permit I renewed it, as I figured the maintenance costs for my car going up the back road were greater than the cost of the on street parking.

So for the past 10+ months I’ve been parking on the street at the front, paying a parking permit and the back space for the flat has been empty.

Today my flatmate has found out she has been paying for the flat parking space at the back as part of her rent (which is more than mine). She’s pretty annoyed as she can’t drive. Landlady says the space is only included in flatmates room, not my room!

My AIBU is, should I pay flatmate back for the two months I used the space, or AIBU to think that this is between her and the landlady?

On one hand it would be a nice gesture, on the other I have been paying for an on street parking permit anyway and I had no idea that the space was an extra cost
to flatmate.

OP posts:
RictusGin · 06/03/2019 17:48

You should pay the cost of the parking space for the two months you used it (assuming it's a reasonable sort of cost) - it would be a nice gesture to your flatmate and might prevent things turning sour between you. Don't pay more than two months' worth though.

Alienspaceship · 06/03/2019 17:50

No. You didn’t know there was a charge when you used it. She should have checked her contract.

TowelNumber42 · 06/03/2019 17:52

Pay for what you used but point out if you'd known there was a charge you probably wouldn't have used it.

Finfintytint · 06/03/2019 17:53

What Rictus said.

Original poster
singme · 06/03/2019 17:56

Yeah, that’s the thing, I assumed it was included in my rent. However I didn’t realise my on street permit was valid in this area so for those two months I did need a space (as far as I knew!) so maybe I would have paid extra for it.

I’m not sure how much of her extra rent is due to the space and how much due to her en suite. But I think it will be at least 3x the cost of my on street permit so not a small amount!

OP posts:
Original poster
singme · 06/03/2019 17:57

I’m moving out anyway (this is how this has come to light) but flatmate and I are friends so wouldn’t want things to turn sour!

OP posts:
screamifyouwant · 06/03/2019 18:06

It's hardly your fault that you weren't told about the parking charge . She needs to take it up with the landlord if she didn't know either . I'd offer the 2 months as goodwill but really why should you pay anything as you were not told .

LiftedHigh · 06/03/2019 18:12

Nooo. She'd have paid for the space, regardless of whether you used it or not.
Are you rich enough to just give away cash?

Hushnownobodycares · 06/03/2019 18:27

Has she asked you to pay or is she just venting?

Is she persuing the previous occupant of your room who presumable had even more use out of it?

Personally I wouldn't pay for her oversight.

Hushnownobodycares · 06/03/2019 18:27

presumably

Treaclesweet · 06/03/2019 18:34

I don't think you should pay- she told you it was free! Her mistake not yours.

Original poster
singme · 06/03/2019 18:37

No she hasn’t asked me for anything, she’s just venting. She’s said she wouldn’t accept anything off me as it was her oversight and she does now remember old flatmate telling her it was her space! I’m not sure why they then didn’t sort out between themselves for the owner of the car to pay for the space!

Unfortunately now landlady thinks I’ve been using the space for the year and has said it wasn’t advertised as part of my rent Confused . I don’t think she can do much about the two months use though really!

Also there’s loads of leaflets through the letterbox asking for spaces to rent round here so she could easily rent it out.

OP posts:
Hushnownobodycares · 06/03/2019 18:49

The landlady's had the money regardless of who was in the space so it's tough tit as far as she's concerned. If she tries for a double helping (sounds like she might) both of you need to tell her to do one!

PolarBearDisguisedAsAPenguin · 06/03/2019 18:59

I would pay your flatmate for the two months you used it.

Original poster
singme · 06/03/2019 19:06

I have offered to pay flatmate but she said no thank you as it’s her mistake.

Still feel guilty though! But I never would have paid extra for it as on street is much cheaper and better for the car Blush

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 06/03/2019 19:09

Another to pay for the space. How much can two months of parking space be anyway?!

I sometimes think MN is a parallel universe. Imagine how fucking tight everyone would think you were if you said tough titties you wouldn’t pay. Huge fall out for nothing.

mummmy2017 · 06/03/2019 19:11

How much would 2 months of your on street parking be?
If you can afford it just tell your flat mate since she doesn't want any money your treating her to a meal .

CountTessa · 06/03/2019 19:12

As flatmate won't accept a payment why not take her out for a meal. Then everyone feels better.

Original poster
singme · 06/03/2019 19:25

On street is £85 a year. Just to be clear I was still paying that while I used the private space as I had a valid permit from my old flat, but I had moved areas so didn’t know it was still valid.

I think the private space is more than that.

I will take her out for dinner, that sounds good.

I’m not trying to be tight at all, but if it’s £50 a month as opposed to £85 a year then that isn’t cheap for something I thought was included.

OP posts:
RB68 · 06/03/2019 19:26

No its not her fault she is an idiot

RB68 · 06/03/2019 19:28

But if you feel bad buy her some driving lessons!

Princessmushroom · 06/03/2019 19:34

If you’re friends and want to leave in a good note why not do something fun instead of paying her? Take her out for a mean or order in a take away with wine on you and say it’s to thank her for covering the parking space?

DexyMidnight · 06/03/2019 19:39

Have you actually seen the lease where it says its a charge for your room?

Parking can be individually negotiated as an extra with a landlord but that's unusual. You rent a flat with parking or without and there's a flat fee, usually.

It would be more unusual still for a lease to allocate parking to one room. Very odd.

Don't go in all guns blazing just say 'this is odd can i see the lease and try and get my head around this?'

Ultimately I'd pay for the 2 months but absolutely no more.

Rockbird · 06/03/2019 19:39

How on earth is a parking space rented out to a room? Surely the space comes with the flat?

yumyumpoppycat · 06/03/2019 19:41

If you had to pay to get your car fixed after parking in the space due to pot holes I think your flat mate should be bringing that to the landlady's attention. If the space is not usable due to risk of damage to the exhaust the landlady should reduce money for the parking space?