Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours lending out our space.

223 replies

northbacchus · 07/10/2019 09:58

Moved into our (mortgaged not rental) flat a few months ago. Alongside the flat, we get an enclosed numbered parking space in the downstairs garage.

Our neighbours, without asking, have starting to loan out our space to their friend, lending them their key fob!

We don't drive, so don't use the space constantly, but we regularly have visitors including my DF who needs the space as he is disabled. There is no way our neighbours could not know this is our space, as each number corresponds with the flat number.

AIBU to leave a note in the letterbox of the neighbours? Or should I leave a note on the car? Worried it will cause issue due to the fact we, perhaps obviously, don't have our own car to park there.

OP posts:
SunglassQueen · 07/10/2019 10:00

Knock on their door and speak to them

Original poster
northbacchus · 07/10/2019 10:02

@SunglassQueen Tried knocking on their door previously, when we had a missing parcel - no answer when we knew they were in!

OP posts:
ColaFreezePop · 07/10/2019 10:03

Don't leave a note.

Go and talk to your neighbour and ask them not to use your car parking space. Say that you need your space so your disabled father can visit you. (Make a note in your diary of when you spoke to them.)

If they continue then get your disabled father to block them in then bring it up with the management company/freeholder.

If you father has a blue badge make sure that's on the car when he blocks them.

underground76 · 07/10/2019 10:03

I would knock on the door and speak to them and say that although you don't have your own car, you do have visitors including your disabled dad and you need YOUR space to be clear. Regardless of how often you use the space or not, it is not your neighbours' space to lend to people.

Then put cones or something in the space.

It's possible your neighbours are actually taking money from their friend for this.

Hoppinggreen · 07/10/2019 10:04

It doesn’t matter if you have a car or not, it’s your space that you have bought as part of your flat. If on occasion they knocked and politely asked if someone could use the space for an hour or 2 then fine but they are being cheeky
I would stick a note on the car saying something along the lines of
“This space belongs to flat xx, please do not use it. Thank you”
Don’t try to justify yourself, you don’t need to

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 07/10/2019 10:05

Id speak with them in person- if they continue to fail to answer then put a letter through their door and try and speak to the friend, "sorry for any confusion but this isnt their space to let out"

Also if anyone says you arent using it, dont bother saying you may have visitors etc. just stick to "thats not your concern"

FixTheBone · 07/10/2019 10:08

How often do your visitors come?

You never know when you might need a neighbourly return favour, would it worth having a chat and coming to an arrangement that it's ok for them to use the space for visitors, but they have to vacate it if you know someone is coming, and that they can't park there and leave so that the car can't be moved if required.

SunshineAngel · 07/10/2019 10:09

Just explain that your dad needs the space when he's visiting, so you would appreciate it if they stopped lending the space out.

Also, at the risk of sounding pedantic, the fact you have a key fob means that the flats will be advertised as having secure parking. It is not secure if people are lending their fobs out to all and sundry.

Have a polite word with them, but if it doesn't stop, perhaps mention it to the management company.

Inniu · 07/10/2019 10:09

Is there a management company? If so complain to them. Maybe they can speak to neighbours or have car clamped.

NoSquirrels · 07/10/2019 10:10

How sure are you that it is those neighbours? Have you spoken to the car driver/visitor? Or have you seen them all together?

You have to try to speak with them in person, as many times as it takes to knock, really.

Only then, if you have tried repeatedly, should you leave a note. I'd leave a note on the car in the first instance, so that the driver is aware it's not OK.

AmIThough · 07/10/2019 10:10

How often do you need the space/how often do they use it?

SunglassQueen · 07/10/2019 10:11

Then I think you'd be justified putting a note on their car north

Doyley47 · 07/10/2019 10:11

Ask management co if you can get one of those lockable posts put in.

PancakeAndKeith · 07/10/2019 10:12

Are they like the people that only seem to exist on mn who only answer their door if they have had prior warning?

pooopypants · 07/10/2019 10:12

Cheeky fuckers

Get someone to block the space or block the car in. Moreso the space because the person parking there may be unaware they're causing an issue

Is there an agent or letting company you can speak to?

Original poster
northbacchus · 07/10/2019 10:14

@NoSquirrels Certain it is them, have seen the person who owns the car parking outside the letterboxes and posting the key fob back through that number's letterbox.

@AmIThough Usually at least weekly, and the neighbours seem to be using it Friday through Monday quite regularly.

OP posts:
Anotheruser02 · 07/10/2019 10:15

The bought vs renting thing is irrelevant, if you are renting a flat with a parking space then it is still your space that you rent, not up for grabs from anyone else.

YA obliviously NBU, I would leave a note on the car saying you are the owner of the space and you do not give permission for them to park there. It's between you and the vehicle owner.

Original poster
northbacchus · 07/10/2019 10:17

Unfortunately they are the type to never answer the door, when I was looking for a missing parcel we knocked several times to no avail.

The management company just puts up notices, rather than contacting anyone. Hmm

OP posts:
Elbbob · 07/10/2019 10:20

Look on Amazon for foldable parking bollard. My neighbour fitted it himself and it's very effective.

Teddybear45 · 07/10/2019 10:20

Let the management company know that there is someone who is illegally subletting your space to a non-resident and you are concerned about your safety enough to contact the police - see what they say then. If you pay a management fee then they will need to authorise all letting agreements.

NoSquirrels · 07/10/2019 10:21

Speak to the car driver, and put a note through their door too.

Noooodles · 07/10/2019 10:22

Is there a middle ground considering they won’t answer the door? Go round and knock and if they don’t answer push a note through the letter box saying it’s X from flat X and we’d like to speak to you about the parking space could you give us a call on.....

Coffeeandchocolate9 · 07/10/2019 10:23

Penguin bollards is the answer.

If you saw the person parking there and posting the fob back through the door, was there a reason why you didn't go out and speak to them then?

Stick a note on the offending car's windscreen.

Look into how much a wheel clamp costs to buy if that doesn't work. Don't answer the door the first time they knock wanting it released.

Lazypuppy · 07/10/2019 10:25

YABU to do a letter rather than knock.

I would just stand at theit door knocking until they answered.

Or why don't you confront the person in your space?!

TheSandgroper · 07/10/2019 10:26

I'd be inclined to laminate a notice and stick it to the wall of your parking space stating that this space is for the use of Apartment NorthBacchus. Use of this parking space by unauthorized persons implies acceptance of a risk of clamping or towing.

And then follow through a la www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/3278894-my-first-parking-thread

Swipe left for the next trending thread