Landlord changing parking (with diagram)

[Rhayader]

We live in a block of flats with 6 flats all owned by the same landlord. There are 4 large flats and 2 small flats. We moved in around a year ago and just renewed our lease for another year.

When we moved in, the parking situation was that there were 2 bigger spaces on one side for our flat and another large flat (which is permanently occupied by their camper van) and then on the other side 3 very small spaces for flats 3-5 and then flat 6 doesn't have a parking space.

Flat 6 recently went on the market and im assuming he's had trouble letting it without parking because when i went outside this morning the green space which was shrubbery is being converted into driveway and the workmen told me that it is because its going to be space for 3 cars to give flat 6 some parking.

The issue is, part of the reason for renting this flat was the large parking space. We have a large car as we have 4 kids, including a newborn, so that's going to be a lot of getting kids in and out of car seats in tight spaces! It's not possible to do that if there were three cars, especially if two of them are our 7 seater and a camper van. I've done a quick measurement and it's pretty much exactly 7m across for the three spaces. With mirrors, our car is 2.14m wide and the camper is just over 2.3m.

It's already pretty difficult to reverse through the small gap and round into the space, its going to be more or less impossible going forward... Is there anything we can do about it? AIBU to expect my parking situation to remain the same throughout my tenancy? We weren't informed about this, let alone consulted..

Hmm, image didn't attach. Trying again...

I’d have thought that as long as the resulting spaces are big enough to pass as parking spaces eg aren’t smaller than the small ones that the other flats have, then the landlord has fulfilled the contract of your flat having a parking space and that the issue with it being too small for your car is not his to deal with. Which sucks for you but dunno what you can do about it. Maybe a lawyer will come along to advise differently but seems like a longshot.

Have you contacted your landlord to explain this issue?

Sounds reasonable on the landlords part. It's then fair for all flats involved. That you have a big car isn't their problem.

Btw I read some stat recently that a whopping percentage of cars in the UK are now too big for standard spaces in car parks. So it’s a wider problem (no pun intended) and he’s on trend. Have you talked to camper van owner about it? They’ll presumably have issues too so you could strategise about how to approach it.

Do you pay extra for a "large" parking space?

My friend lives on street with terraces houses. There are no designated spaces but of course everyone parks on the street. When cars are parked up either side, you can only fit one car on the road to drive down it’s that tight.

If I go to hers I park on the other street which is much wider as I feel like it’s far too tight to park on my friends street. When you parallel park next to the car in front of the space you want, you start reversing and turning you’re steering wheel and the front of my car is so close to parked cars on the other side, it gives me the fear as it’s so tight. I don’t know how people do it?!! My point is, they do as they’re so used to it and I’m sure you will too OP. It will just take some getting used to

@TheNightingalesStarling Our rent is pretty steep but it’s not a line item on the rent. We pay more than the flats with the smaller spaces but we also have a garden so it’s not exactly the same. Flat 1 and 2 have gardens and 3-6 do not.

@GraySILK 7 meters into 3 spaces is 2.33 meters which is the exact width of the camper van. I’m not sure it’s going to be possible to get used to it unless we all climb out the boot every time we park.

All you can really do is share your concerns with your landlord. On the face of it though, it seems fair that each flat has one space of an equal size.

The recommendation for parking space width is 2.4meters. Rather than challenging based on the size you your car, (which is very much a you problem) I would try and argue that the space is no longer fit for purpose as a car parking space as it doesn’t achieve the minimum recommended size. On that basis they are no longer providing you with a parking space.

I don’t understand the diagram? Is that now or what he’s changing it too? Which number are you?

What does your tenancy agreement say about parking?
If it just says there's one space, then the landlord can reasonably move the spaces

We are number 1, camper is number 2. He’s getting rid of the green bit.

But is it fair to let us renew our lease and then a couple of weeks later change what we are getting for our rent?

I’m not sure but I’ll have a look.

Agree with @Tootiredtowhat. Challenging on the more generic grounds rather than your specific circumstances would be more appropriate.

I do understand your point but the landlord may well feel that one parking space is what you had & one parking space is what you will still have.

Can you join forces with the camper van owner & approach the landlord together?

what are the edges? Walls or open? Could you ask the camper van goes in the middle and then that makes it easier to get in and out? Alternatively get the kids out in the bit in the middle of the car park and then park? Sounds annoying though!

@Rhayader it would be very unusual in an agreement where the landlord has control of all the spaces to not have the ability to move the spaces as and when needed, however inconvenient it is for you sadly.
I would message the landlord to explain your concern, and they might have a work around that could suit, especially if the alternative is losing you at the end of your tenancy

@hyggetyggedotorg I will speak to the campervan owner when I see them.

@bestbefore The edges are walls so it’s not possible to open car doors.

@Tootiredtowhat @Justlovedogs thanks this is good advice. I appreciate I may come across as the villain with a large car but it’s not the largest one on the driveway and we did specifically seek out housing with a parking space big enough to park it… we can’t really have a smaller car with 4 kids, plus DH is a cubs leader so he needs a big car for tents and pulling the trailer for camps.

And dangerous if there's only one adult and the children are young, you can't just leave them abandoned in the middle of the car park while you park.

I'd ask space 2 to swap. Their camper would be more protected as only one car rather than two pulling in and out and if they could pull it tight on the other side may give you a bit more room.

Are you saying that the new parking space will take a bit of your parking space? I’d try having a word with your landlord and tell him your concerns. How old are your children? Couldn’t you just pull the car out a foot or two while you load up the kids? I can understand your frustration but can see the landlord’s side too - you’ll still have the same number of spaces and they’ll be the same size as what the other tenants manage with.

The camper is not ours it’s our neighbours. the space where 1 and 2 current are will become three spaces for 1 2 and 6. So our space will be significantly smaller and we need to park next to a big camper (and our car is not small)

Kids are 11, 8, 4 and 6 weeks!

@Rhayader to be honest, it is the camper which I would expect to have more problems. they are usually a lot longer than the normal car, how does he is in and out???