Neighbours lending out our space.

[northbacchus]

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.

Bollard! Much less stress for you.

They just screw into the concrete.

boysey ... lets hope OP has a concrete drill, anchor bolts and an angle grinder in her possession then 😂😂 .... I’m not sure many households have these items 😂😂

I wonder if they are charging parking fees for your space, hence them not answering the door when you knock to challenge them.

Put a letter in the neighbours post box advising them it’s your parking space, and if they still park there put a note on every time they park there. I’d also buy couple of parking cones in the space they’re only £4.99 each www.screwfix.com/p/melba-swintex-mpl-1-piece-traffic-cone-500mm/3540V?tc=MT6&ds_kid=92700024696238019&gclsrc=aw.ds&ds_rl=1241687&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1244069&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInoGL4IGK5QIVxsreCh2MUA3FEAQYAiABEgLCYfD_BwE

Actually, have you checked those parking websites (name escapes me now) where people rent out drives and parking spaces?

Put up a sign.

"This is a private parking area. Anyone parking here without permission will be clamped. Release fee £250"

And enforce it.

@Osirus you didn't do a degree though?

OP note through door, offering nothing! These people are CFs and as others have said, give an inch and..... this lot will take two miles!

I would just keep knocking. Every day. Every time I came home, every time I left the house. Keep knocking. Until they answer.

I can't stand people like this, where do they get the front!

no answer when we knew they were in!

Our neighbours (with whom we fell out over planning permission) did this to me as well when I called round to ask them not to cut back my plants that had protruded literally an inch over our shared boundary fence. I could see their living room light was on and they were definitely in. They they left me standing outside in the driving rain.

It’s the height of dismissiveness and bad manners.

Does your building have a Facebook group ? My brother lived in a city centre block and this was a god send. Nipped problems in the bud but allowed neighbours to ask for a space if they had guests that others weren't using.

I had this several years ago

Eventually - on the evening of my mum's funeral when a disabled friend couldn't park in my space -
I attached cardboard notes "Private parking - do NOT use" to front & rear windscreens with loads of heavy duty brown sticky tape I use for parcels.

Didin't happen again

A friend of ours has a space where CFs used to constantly park (near a school) - they put up signs with a parking charge and were able to enforce it too.

I'd fit a bollard.

Frazzledbutcalm. Obviously if you or your partner don't have the things needed to fit the bollards then you get a handyman to fit them.I did that when I had a bike stand fitted. It was reasonable about £50.00 for the bolts and the labour.

I know boysey ... it just amused me the way it sounded like everyone would have these things at hand. Also a pp said her dh fitted one in 2 minutes ... I imagine most people could not fit this in 2 minutes.

I’m just amused.

YANBU

If you look on the internet, you can by big windscreen stickers saying "Private. Do not park here". Won't damage the windscreen but a total pain to get off. In your position I'd be tempted....

I like the suggestion upthread to let them know say that you don't mind them using it when you don't need it, but they will need to be ready to move their car if you do need it

Don't do this. Why on earth are people so obliging to bloody strangers who are taking the piss? Op you can just imagine having to knock on their door when your father is on the way to get them to move the visitors car and lo and behold, they don't fucking answer.

Seriously, leave a note on the car today if it's there simply stating Private Parking Space - Do Not Park Here Again. No please, no thank you, no fucking apologies. They are complete CFs.

I had this at our previous property. I just stuck notes on the cars that did it.

They never returned

You really need to talk face to face with neighbour, it could be a misunderstanding. They must get deliveries, put their bins out, leave the house sometime. Just keep watching and grab them when you can. Notes and reporting people is a much harder way to communicate clearly.
I've got an allocated parking space, it's marked on the deeds to my house so I own it. A few months after I'd moved in came home from work and someone was parked there. I blocked them in and put a note on windscreen with my house number.
They apologised and said previous owners had let them use the space as they didn't have a car.
So were probably pushing their luck but never did it again.

Or you could get someone to block the car in so they have to knock on your door.

We were in a similar situation when we bought our apartment. No car, allocated space and the neighbour used it for adult DD living with her as only one space per flat.
Tried to be nice, we only needed it Fri -Sunday for visitors so said they could use it midweek. Kindness just got abused and became inconvenience to us - not moving car on Fri, getting arsey when asked to do so, when they did move their car another bloody neighbour would park there not knowing the agreement 'seeing as we let other people use it'. It only went on for 4weeks but it wasn't worth the hassle to be neighbourly in the end.
Think you'd be better putting firm boundary of no parking in place by note on car and to neighbour otherwise you just run the risk of more CFUCKERY. and it becoming draining

Stick a note on the car saying "please don't park here etc" if they persist, stick a clamp on it and a note saying contact xxx number if you want it removed?

Get the private parking stickers from amazon as a start - put them on the windows each time they park and send photos to the management company each time.

Also print off a copy of the photo showing number plate - post it in the communal areas asking who’s car is parking repeatedly in your space

In your shoes I would put a note on the car saying private parking space do not use and the same on the wall and see if that makes any impact.
If not then it's time to complain to the management company that someone has dumped a car in your space and it needs to be removed.
Don't explain why you need the space, that's not the point and just gives them wriggle room.
It really is as simple as this is a private parking space, please remove your car.
Don't get into a silly arrangement where they use the space when you aren't and they move their vehicle when you ask for that to happen. It's going to be inconvenient for you and means you have to make the effort to ask them. If you really want to be neighbourly then they can ask you every single time they want to borrow your space and you can confirm you don't plan to use it that day on each occasion.

Would it be possible to allow them to use the space when you're not expecting visitors? Get them to check with you via email? Then maybe you could earn some brownie points but still have your parking space?