Blocked in a car who parked in my space

[2026baby]

To be clear I own my flat and the parking space is part of my lease and is legally mine. If anyone wishes to use it they would need to have my permission as they would be trespassing otherwise. The space is on private land in a secure garage that requires fob access.

I have come home today from being away to find a random car parked in my space, I do not know who it belongs to. I paid to park on the street outside for an hour hoping they would move soon but no one did. Not wanting to spend any more money unnecessarily I have now parked in front of my parking space which has blocked them in. It is not impacting anyone else's space and allows free movement around the car park.

I have left a note on the car and put a message in the block's group chat but no one has responded. AIBU to block them in until I get a response?

I have nowhere else to park and I don't want to pay to park outside as its £4 an hour and I have no idea when they will move (So far it has been 3 hours that I am aware of). The managing agent is closed for the weekend but have been useless anyway when my neighbours have the same problem and as its a civil matter I can't call the police but according to google the car owner can call the police on me for blocking them in. I am also concerned in case they damage my car, again where would I stand legally if they did given that I have blocked them in?

Stay put!

No diagram needed but would be a bonus and frequent updates please op. Im with you in spirit!

I don’t think the police are going to come to a private car park, with a phone number on the car so that the person can call to be unblocked.

It’s likely to be a visitor who has misunderstood whose space is whose- DS is in a similar place and was initially misinformed about which his space was. He wasn’t in the WhatsApp group because he didn’t know about it.

I would assume someone has made a mistake, initially at least.

Police will not care if a number has been left to contact you.

I really feel for you as it’s annoying and could be costly for you. But I think you are right about you being in the wrong for blocking them in. And there is a risk they’ll damage your car - possibly unlikely though.

I think you might just have to wait until they go and then if it happens regularly think of a way to stop it. Signs, penguin bollards etc.

Have you checked if it is MOTed and taxed?

I did that in Oxford once! When they asked me to move my car I then made them wait and told them I was just about to have a bath so to come back in an hour!

You should make them pay you the £4 before moving your car!

Defo block them in!! They will more than likely say they didn’t realise it was anyone’s space!! How rude. Don’t pay for parking. Leave your car there. Probably a neighbour who has noticed you not being there and parked there.

Yes both MOT and tax are up to date. There has been an issue with untaxed cars being dumped in the car park, God knows how but I think people tailgate to get in so this was my concern.

Understandable but foolhardy. ime.
The risk of them damaging your car is too great.
You Would have no proof and no recompense.
Do you know anyone else in the block.
Could you ask to park in front of them until they need to get out or your space is released.
Are spaces clearly marked ?
Could lockable bollards be added if you offer to pay?

If there's literally nowhere else to park, fair enough. If there are empty spaces in the car park, I'd just use one of them and put a note under the wiper of the other car letting them know they're in the wrong bay. I get that it's mildly annoying but the bit of tarmac you own is really the same as all the rest of the tarmac there.

Na.. stay put.. CFers need these teachable moments

Block them in, inconvenience them back. Good that you’ve left a note. If the garage requires fob access it’s very likely one of the residents is ignoring your request, perhaps update the group chat saying that you’ve blocked the vehicle in so the guilty associate can tell the owner to move

If the person has parked there in error and you have left your phone number, I think the chances of them ramming your car to get out are low. I think some people have over active imaginations.

But we don’t know for sure it is a CF. I agree it may well be but we don’t know for sure.

It could be an error, although if a neighbour had said they could use theirs then you’d have thought they’d have said something by now. But maybe they are not in the what’s app group.

Or maybe some swindling bastard has rented out OP’s drive for money. In which case there is a CF but it may not be the Parker.

Honestly unless it starts happening a lot I think leave a note saying this is a private drive and not to do it again and wait for it to go.

Can you ring a tow/clamping company?

This. Most people will not choose to damage their own car by ramming yours just to make a point, especially when they have the option to phone you instead. I’d leave your car where it is.

They have inconvenienced you so why wouldn’t you do the same. It’s legally your space. You should have to pay to park on the street because they chose not to. I wouldn’t be in too much hurry to unblock them when they finally want to move their car.

very cheeky of them, go on you.

It happens a lot in the car park generally but only the third time it has happened to me. The first two times I parked outside and paid but this time I have had enough!

I think I've been very polite in how I have handled it (albeit blocking them in isn't), my neighbours usually write obscenties in all caps on the group when someone parks in their space whereas mine is just a polite inquiry asking if anyone knew the car owner.

I know it would cost but is it worth putting a bollard in?

I’d start worrying about taking my car out if it were me, will I be able to park on return. So it would be worth the investment to me.

If it is the same car each time then I’d be more tempted on the more extreme suggestions given here.

Take a photo of it including the number plate, so if they do damage your car on the way out you've got some evidence

Surely its not right of to me park in someone else's space and prevent them from also being able to park in the space that they have paid for and legally own? Why should they have to pay to park on the street because of me?

Spaces are clearly marked with the flat number and mine is actually a clearly marked disabled space as well. For what its worth they are not displaying a blue badge (not that it would matter if they are as regardless legally it is still mine and not a public parking space)

I assume the spaces are clearly marked with flat numbers? If that's the case YANBU to block them in. Even if they're not marked, if your only other option would be to park in someone else's space, you're STILL not being unreasonable, as you can't take someone else's space, that's just passing the problem.

I'm quite petty, so if it was me, I'd be getting public transport everywhere to avoid moving my car until the owner of the other car got in touch with me.

The police definitely won’t be bothered. I live on a private road and years ago my neighbour was fed up with parents using the road to drop their kids off at the nearby school and blocking the road. He pulled out in front of a repeat offender and refused to move (narrow one way street so she was stuck). The woman rang 999 saying she was blocked in and was scared for her safety. The police came straight out, lots of witnesses said neighbour had never left his car and the police told her there was nothing they could do as it was private land and she shouldn’t have been there.

Yes wait for them to come back. I’d also be asking them to reimburse you the parking cost before unblocking them.