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.

My dd had a space at her flat, no car, so the management company used to rent it out to commuters mon to fri and reduce her rent. Wonder if cf neighbours are doing similar?

If it is a secure garage with a key fob to get in then no non resident should be provided with the fob. It is a major security risk.
Personally, as well as notifying the management, I would stick a hand written notice on the windscreen the first time with sellotape. If they persist I would place notices on every window of the car with very hard to remove tape. If this does not work then bollards seem the best option.

I haven't read ALL of the replies but are you actually allowed to start drilling in the car park, to install a bollard? The flat is yours, yes. But the car park, surely, is a slightly different matter, even though the parking space itself came with the flat. Just a thought.

Maybe they think you don't mind as you haven't spoken to them or left a note yet? I would leave a note on the car, and if that doesn't work get a bollard or put something in the space (Bin,plant,large rock)

Most people still couldn’t fix that through concrete in 2 minutes though wink

It is, however a 2 minute job- needs an SDS drill to get into the concrete though. Anyone who doesn’t have the necessary will be able to hire any builder (they will ALL have an SDS drill) for what would be a relatively small fee. It’s genuinely as much as drilling the appropriate sized hole into the concrete and using concrete bolts. The cup of tea will take longer...buy penny washers as well in case the concrete isn’t flat so you don’t get a wonky bollard, make sure they’re stainless steel or galvanised steel.

As much as I love the mumsnet desire to send note the majority are utterly batshit and that one is no exception. Sending that will make you the laughing stock of the complex.

I would speak to the neighbours or the person parking. I always wouldn’t get too upset if it was used when I didn’t need it. Does your father visit on a regular day? I assume you must give out a key fob to allow parking too? How often has someone not been able to park in your space?

I'd try a cheap, simple cone before fitting a bollard. If the cone gets moved, then go for the nuclear option.

CFs!

The OP might not be able to fit a post. It's often the case that car parking spaces are licensed even with owned properties. In that case you would need to get permission from the freeholder/management company. But a cone and temporary sign wouldn't cause any issues.

I would try to be neighborly and say if they text / knock and ask in advance that can use it

This would bother me too, I would leave the note if you can’t catch them in person, I would write it politely with a view to take it further if they continue to use your spot! At the end of the day you are paying for the space and I would imagine if the shoes were on the other foot as such you would be in the bad books with them!

Agree with @EvilPostbox 100%

Please please @northbacchus do not enter into any "informal arrangement" with them.

It will just legitimise the CF'ery. You won't have any leg to stand on when challenging them, because they will make up historic stories about how "you used to allow them to"...etc

It's your space. You're going to have to find a way to confront them about it, either through the management company by making their life hell so they do something about it, or through notes to the person they're letting park there, or by knocking on the door daily until they open that door.

Or as other posters said, demarcate/block the space with bollard, whatever, to show that it's not available for use.

Think about this also - why are other spaces not used in this way? Potentially they're parked across, but also potentially they've tried it with other people, and been rejected and corrected.

I would have tried to be neighbourly If they had the decency to ask for my permission first. They didn't. They take you for a mug who will let them do what they like. That's why CF carry on being CF because others let them get away with it for fear of not being neighbourly.

If the management company are ignoring emails I’d just get the bollard put in.

When I see the number of people telling the OP to roll over and be 'neighbourly' and let random strangers use her space, it's no surprise the amount of wet lettuces on MN who tremble at the prospect of confrontation

I have only see one poster - ie the one immediately above that post say, hey, continue using the space

Other posters have suggested speaking to the neighbours, writing a note, putting an obstruction in place- but I don’t see posters saying let it be

I get way over invested in parking threads. Did your DP manage to speak to them OP?

Me too @Smelborp

Did dh have any luck?

Every time they leave their flat and vacate their own space, call your dad and ask him to park in their space, whether your space is free or not. Tit for tat.

We have a parking space, we also don't drive, we've never had this issue and if we did we'd take it up with the neighbours immediately. I haven't read the rest of the thread but do not enter into any informal arrangement, or offer payment options. It is YOUR space that YOU pay for. Use cones, if that doesn't work get free legal advice. You can't simply fit a bollard. I've advised this elsewhere but go onto the land registry and pay for a copy of the deeds to find out who owns the property. If they rent, complain to the landlord, if they don't take it seriously then report it to the company who registered the deeds.

any update OP?

then report it to the company who registered the deeds.

What do you think the company who registered the deeds are going to do?

I just don’t get that people are so busy that they can’t possibly find the time to have a polite word with their neighbours, it sounds as though the OP has only knocked once and the neighbour might have been in the shower/on a phone call/whatever, no need to immediately assume that ‘they do not answer the door’. [hmm ]. No wonder we live in such an insular society when common niceties become such an issue. And yes, I get that the neighbour isn’t being ‘nice’ but at least have a polite word first before getting all hissy and spending hours on Mumsnet explaining why you are ‘so busy’.