How to stop parking space drama before it even stops

[CarDrama009]

I have purchased a flat within a building that contains 8 flats. Each flat has an allocated parking space but no numbers exist on the ground to show that's the case.

All the times I've visited the flat (3 times) there has been a car parked in the space designated to my flat. The surveyor has also visited and there was again a car parked there. When I first viewed the place there were tenants in my flat and they informed me that they think there is a flat that has two cars, and those occupants clocked on that their parking space wasn't being used, so just started to park their second car there.

The flat is now vacant and there is still a car parked there

What do I do if I come to moving in and there is still a car parked in my space?

I have asked the owner to let the current building occupants know that she has sold the flat and the parking space is needed. There is still a car parked there.

Stressing about this and I haven't even moved in yet. How do I stop this car parking drama before it even stars?

Before it even starts* omg sorry that's so frustrating that I got the title wrong

When you move in ring the door bell and say hello to all your neighbours and introduce yourself and mention you have a car so will need your space kept free oh and could they tell you which day is bin day please and is there anything else they think you need to know.

You knock on the neighbours door, say “Hello, I’ve just moved into no 2 - I’m X, nice to meet you.” They say hello back, bit of chit chat, you then say “I think your car is in my allocated parking space at the moment - I know it used to be empty but I’ll need to use it.”

Suggest that owner puts a sign on the space saying "allocated parking for Flat 3 only

When you own it you can install a lockable bollard in the space. That’s the only way to stop people parking in it.

You could literally be describing my block. We’ve had this and the flat had been empty for 3+ years so we had a quiet agreement that someone who lives in another flat could park there as he does a lot of work/odd jobs round the property for free! No one minded but also no one realised the flat had been purchased.

Our people notified the management company who sent multiple grumpy letters to everyone, pissing everyone off (especially as the new purchaser kept instructing trades people who were parking awkwardly at our street entrance when the parking space was free!) the chap who was doing it is a genuinely helpful neighbour and if you’d knocked on his door and let him know, he would have stopped straight away and probably also offered to do you a hanging basket for your front door! Definitely the knock and hello approach!

I’d send a card to each flat in advance of moving in to introduce yourself and within it mention you will need the space. I’m too much of a wimp to door knock.

I’ve got this problem in my block of flats. It’s a huge block and money is changing hands to keep an eye. I’ve also get very chatty neighbours who keep trying to figure out when I’m not around. Check the lease to see if you’re allowed to install a bollard.

Yes I’d try the knock and “hello, I’m moving into number X” then some chit-chat and finally at the end, just say, “oh also wondered if you know whose car that is in the allocated parking space for my flat? So I can knock on the door and let them know I’m in need of the space.” Start off all smiles. Likely the neighbours know the flat is vacant and so think it isn’t annoying anyone.

Yep my brother has this.
He put a note through the door and said I've just moved in my allocated space is needed for myself, can you please park in the visitors spaces.
It worked.

People can be more reasonable than you think. Our drive way was being used by various neighbours right up until the day we moved in. Once we moved in they stopped parking on it (unless they ask first which is rare). We didn't even need to say anything.

I'd flag it as a potential issue to my solicitor and get the current owner to address it before exchange.

And then the approach others have suggested when you move in.

Wait until you move in/take ownership, and if you don't know who is parking there, start door knocking - introduce yourself and ask if they know who is parking in your spot.

I wouldn't buy there. Unless the parking is properly organised it will continue to be a problem.

Pop a note on the car explaining that you are the new owner and now need the space.

They've just got into a habit that needs adjusting.

If it’s possible to do so, without causing obstruction to others, I’d park across your allocated space to block the offender in.
They’ll soon come looking for you when they want to get their car out.

I had this issue when I first moved in - the car next to my space would park over their line and into my space as they knew it was empty. When I started parking I think they assumed I shouldn’t be parking there as one day I came back and they were halfway between the two spaces, stopping me from even using it.

I simply left a note on their car telling them that this was my space but if I am mistaken please let me know. No more issues since.

Are all the spaces full OP?

I only ask as my block is similar, every flat has an allocated space but there is no numbering, so people just tend to pick a space and park there. But there are more spaces than flats and I've rarely seen our car park full.

If there is space but just not in the one you know to be allocated to you on the deeds, I'd probably just park elsewhere. But if there isn't then I'd knock on a neighbour and ask if they know whose car it is, and then approach the person.

It’s not that big a deal…people get used to seeing an empty space and whilst they shouldn’t park there, they do. But once the owner wants the space back, the vast majority of people will stop parking there.

Just tell them, and ideally face to face.

Don't block them in, buy a bollard, refuse to buy the flat etc as PP have suggested without simply speaking to them first. The message may not have got to the driver via the owner so I would check that out first.

A nice hello, ask about the flats, if there is anything you should know, when the bin day is etc. Then mention you have a car so would be needing the space for flat number 4. We have a similar setup in that we use a space belonging to an elderly neighbour who doesn't drive (in return for a nice bottle at Christmas and everyone is happy), however if the space was then needed by the owner of the flat it would be no problem to park somewhere else.

By all means if it continues after this then buy a cone/bollard/sign/big number and stick it in the space, but I would speak to them first. People can be a lot more reasonable than MN gives credit for.

Definitely just introduce yourself and find out whose car it is. The chances are this will be no bother to sort out at all. Having a lockable bollard would be a PITA and would look over the top if no other flats have one.

It's not that deep.
People are just used to it being empty.
A kind word and they stop

I'm guessing they're just enjoying the easy parking until you move in. Most poeple are reasonable, take one of the friendly suggestions above and likely all will be fine. Don't get worked up and make it a problem until you need to. If they keep parking there after you've spoken to them, that's a different matter but in all likelihood they won't.

I disagree. A lockable bollard saves a whole lot of hassle. You don’t have to knock on doors and ask for your space to be kept free. You don’t have to go round asking who’s in your space to get them to move. You don’t have any arguments, don’t have to block anyone in. Don’t even have to speak to anyone, ever. You just lock your bollard and hey presto, nobody ever parks in your space.