To think flatmate should pay for the parking space?

[kingboo]

I live in a flat shared between four people. It's in a very expensive inner city area, where parking comes at a huge premium.
The rent for the rooms in the flat are split based on the size of the rooms, on a fair formula. There is one parking place in an underground garage that comes with the property. Several of our neighbours rent their spaces out for decent amounts of money.

A flatmate just moved out, who used to use the parking space on weekends if their partner came to visit. It was understood though that if someone else had a guest, that they would take priority. So we tried to make it fair, so everyone got to use the parking spot for friends/visitors.

The new flatmate who moved in has a car and now uses the spot full time. Whilst this is fine because none of us other three flatmates have cars/need it constantly, I can't help but think that their rent should be a bit higher. Obviously not the £100 a month which is the going rate for a space, but say maybe £50, which could go towards our shared bills.

AIBU/

It all depends what was agreed before they moved in. If they were just told there was a parking space and no mention of increased rent, it would be wrong to try and charge them extra now.

What did you agree on before they moved in, and what will happen if he’s in it and you have a car driving visitor ?

I think you are BU. This should have been factored in before they signed tenancy.

Well no, none of you should profit from the space just because other flats have rented theirs out. What does your lease say about use of the space?

I agree with @Whatpaint you should have sorted this before they moved in.

Wouldn’t the landlord have the money though? Does the person with the biggest room put the extra money paid for it towards joint bills?
Sorry if I have misunderstood.

No, it should have been sorted sooner. And just because he uses a parking space that you don't doesn't mean he has to pay more of the electricity bill!

It would have been fair, but hard to do after you've already agreed the rent

they're using an amenity that comes with a property they already pay rent on. they use it all the time because no one else is in a position to need it. I don't see why they should pay extra, they're not depriving anyone else of anything or causing them any extra expense. do they use their car to the benefit of the whole household, eg collecting shopping?

Whilst this is fine because none of us other three flatmates have cars/need it constantly so none of you are losing out from them using the parking space?

I think you are being CFers.

I think the user of the space should pay for it but I’m not sure how I’d work it out.

I wouldn't be happy paying for a parking space I can no longer use.

@MadameButterface

they're using an amenity that comes with a property they already pay rent on. they use it all the time because no one else is in a position to need it. I don't see why they should pay extra, they're not depriving anyone else of anything or causing them any extra expense. do they use their car to the benefit of the whole household, eg collecting shopping?

What if one of the other flatmates had a guest visit and they park in the space while they're there meanwhile the driver comes home? Imo in that case the driver needs to park elsewhere until the space is free again as they are all entitled to use it.

I think if the driving flatmate wants to have exclusive use of it they should pay extra but it also should have been talked about beforehand

but it's not causing an additional cost to the household, it's part of the household. it's not like being the only person who wants the heating on. the other housemates are not affected detrimentally by having someone with a car living there (in fact I'd bet they benefit from it in some way).

@RunningFromInsanity

Whilst this is fine because none of us other three flatmates have cars/need it constantly so none of you are losing out from them using the parking space?

I think you are being CFers.

Well they are in the way that none of them can have their guests park there anymore when they previously could

What if one of the other flatmates had a guest visit and they park in the space while they're there meanwhile the driver comes home? Imo in that case the driver needs to park elsewhere until the space is free again as they are all entitled to use it.

have I missed a post where op says what happens in the event of someone else needing it? I think if the others or their guests had been or were likely to be put to additional trouble or expense, the op would have probably mentioned it.

I think either they pay extra for the permanent use of the solace, or be prepared to move the car to allow the others guests to use it when they come

Space not solace

You're paying for a 25% share of a parking space that you cant use so yeah I think their rent should go up by 75 quid and your threes rent go down by 25 quid if 100 quid is the going rate.

@MadameButterface

What if one of the other flatmates had a guest visit and they park in the space while they're there meanwhile the driver comes home? Imo in that case the driver needs to park elsewhere until the space is free again as they are all entitled to use it.

have I missed a post where op says what happens in the event of someone else needing it? I think if the others or their guests had been or were likely to be put to additional trouble or expense, the op would have probably mentioned it.

No, I was asking what you would think in that situation. The OP didn't mention it

Just let them know in advance if you need the space for guests.

Surely they rented the room because there was a parking space for the house that nobody else needs on a regular basis because they have no car?

Why do you all of a sudden want money for the space when flatmates have been using the space intermittently anyway without making nay payments to the rest of you?

Sorry posted too soon - let them know in advance if you need to use the space, they should be fine with it as it is shared and they get it most of the time. If they refuse then they should pay more as they are demanding exclusive use.

Unless it was agreed upfront YABU.

What was advertised and agreed when the person moved in?