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?

This situation is not illegal

Where I live there is a large car park for the sole use of residents and visitors to the flats and a big sign to tell other people in the cul de sac not to park there.
This morning a repeat visitor didn’t want to use one of (usual number are 12 free spaces) available car park spaces and parked behind my car blocking it in.
My husband was just going out and told the man off and to use the f-ing car park. I would have done the same but without raising my voice or swearing. The residents of the flats often don’t want to use their large car park and deliberately park on the already crammed street. But that’s another story…
OP you have had very wise advice from other people, you have done the right thing.
Why should you have to pay for expensive parking when some CF has taken your space that you’ve bought and are paying for!

How infuriating and annoying for you. Following with the hope they have to grovel an apology

Yes.

Some posters here seem to think it makes a difference that this is in a private car park, but I'm not sure it does make a difference

It's a large building with 125 flats so no I am not going to knock on everyone's doors but there are 94 flats in the group chat so I think I have done my part in asking enough residents of course it could bery well be one of the 31 flats not on the group.

Also I was parked on a side road, that doesn't make it free?! We live in a city centre and there is no free parking for miles.

Just make sure you've got their reg.

And current pics of your car.

So if they damage it you can have proof for any claims.

YADNBU OP! I’m astonished at all the posts suggesting you are.

Don’t move and don’t rush when they finally do get in touch.

I don't think so as it's a private car park that isn't controlled so it's just civil trespass and not a criminal issue/matter for the police.

I actually don't display the blue badge at home as the space is legally mine regardless and we once had the blue badge stolen from a Lidl car park when we were parked in a disabled bay!

I mainly pointed out the my space is a designated disabled bay as I felt the car owner to be even more inconsiderate of that fact. If they had a blue badge displayed themselves I may have felt more sympathetic about them parking there.

You are right but our management company is largely useless.

They are signs dotted around the car park and on the gate. Each space is also marked with the owner's flat number and then mine has additional disabled markings which I thought would be enough but perhaps I could get an additional sign for my space indicating private parking only or something.

I'm not sure it's the fact that it's a private car park.

More that Op has left her details so is obviously willing to move when necessary to allow access.

Sorry I meant illegal - typo

I’d have done the same as you - bloody CFs

I live in a gated development and this prick kept parking in my space. They had two cars and only one space. Every single time I banged on their door regardless of the time and made them move it to the street. He still didn’t get the message so eventually I put a penguin bollard in. He now parks in next doors space.

You are completely in the right. People who do this kind of stuff are a selfish menace. Block them in and when they do contact you make them wait. I have a driveway that people regularly park in front of. People are so entitled and stupid. Its frustrating that they are allowed to get away with it.

Stay where you are the other driver is in the wrong they will need to find you. Ignore poster saying your in the wrong people are just too bloody cheeky these days and they probably didn’t want to pay for parking so used up your space.

I’d stay put and wait for them to contact you if you’re not blocking any access to others. Parking of what you describe will more than likely have cameras? I wouldn’t worry about damage because one the cameras will catch them and two would anyone really be stupid enough to damage your car and then ask you to move yours? You’d obviously notice any damage and question it. They can’t move without you moving so I’d say risk of damage is low (unless your neighbours are incredibly dense)

If someone needs to leave in a hurry then they shouldn’t park in someone else’s space.

I would suggest taking photo's in particular of the offending cars numberplate

You are not wrong to do this, the absolute cheek of some people. A relative of mine lives at the end of a busy high street & has a private drive & people regularly park in front of it (it's double yellow lines either side of the drive) & pop into the bank/shop etc. He challenges them & honestly people tell him 'I was only 10 minutes' or 'I just needed to go to the bank'. They are blocking his drive! I just cannot understand this way of thinking. Good luck

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

We don't live there now but we were the first street without double yellows around the rail station ( think about a 10 minute walk from there )
Cars would park up for the day and catch the train into London .
I had one man that would repeatedly park across the dropped curb stopping me being able to get on the drive .
When I had enough of it I parked off street blocking him in . He knocked and asked if it was my car , I told him it was my sister's and he asked that she moved it . I told him she worked in London and not yet back so he had to sit in his car and wait .
After about half an hour I went out and said I'd managed to get hold of her and she told me where the spare was .
Never had the problem again !

I am 100% invested here op. I live in flats as well and people do take the piss here too as we are near the city centre. It gives me the absolute rage. Good luck op

Stay exactly where you are.

You say you are blocking noone but the offending car. You have actually been kind enough to leave your number. They may end up slightly inconvenienced whereas you have been massively so. Don't forget to ask them to reimburse you for the payment you made when you so eventually move yours.

If its a regular problem it might be approaching the managing agents to see if one of the parking enforcement companies would tackle unauthorised parking?

I have to do this all the time! I live near a school and the parents use private spaces to wait for their kids one such parent told me they’d move in 10mins when their child got to them! I left my car and ignored the door for 45mins. Apparently the child missed an after school club but I have zero regrets.
she could have moved to let me park in MY space but chose to be a arse about it