AIBU to involve the landlord over neighbours monopolising communal parking and antisocial behaviour?

[ByRoseSnake]

I'm so fed up to be one of those MNers who starts yet another thread about neighbour parking issues, but this one has really fired me up this evening - after a string of other events in recent months, too.

I moved into a lovely, rented 1-person apartment in a converted Victorian building a few years ago. It houses 3 other apartments, 2 other single people (who I get on very well with), and the downstairs basement flat who are a family and very much keep to themselves.

When I first moved in, we were all super friendly and accommodating with each other. We were bringing each other food, chatting etc.

The sticking point was our private communal driveway for parking cars. For context, it's an out of date unmarked/courtyard sort of layout which can snugly fit 4 medium sized cars. It is resident-only, as confirmed by landlord and signs placed. We had a neighbourly meeting one day 18 months ago to negotiate how we can park safely and courteously for all 4 residents to have space getting in and out. I was very happy. Especially because the rest of the streets nearby are terraced, with really tight parallel parking that is competed for (no council permits on our street).

All seemed well, but in the past year there has been a complete breakdown of their behaviour. First of all, they started allowing their friends to come and park for gatherings and parties if they noticed my car was out for the day/evening. I put up with it for a while, but did mention it to the wife. I. had to park 3 streets away.

Then they bought a new car, which was a huge SUV model - I just want to add, I have no biased views at all about what cars people drive, or how they wish to spend their money, although the first thing that stood out was 1) she had said they were struggling with money as she is just a care assistant, and her husband has just moved to the country, 2) they started parking it right in the middle of the driveway and only moving it for their own friends to drive in alongside, effectively blocking 'my' spot and also, on three occasions, completely blocking in my other two neighbours before work (one is a primary care worker in youth care who works over weekends).

The next one was that they scratched my car reversing in to the drive way 2 months ago. I was in the car when it happened, saw it all. The wife was very apologetic and we took photos etc. but when I asked to exchange insurance details, she got really edgy and said she doesn't want to lose her no-claims benefit etc... but also they don't have much money at the moment, so maybe we could find a deal?? My shackles went up completely. She said she'd "speak to her husband".

Anyway, I have all the photo evidence, but finally found a reasonable quote at a garage to fix it, sent her invoice, documents etc, to agree that the work was agreed and done.

This evening (Sunday), they pull up in a brand new Land Rover Defender - more enormous than their last car - and sent a message to all the residents that they now have 2 cars and we need to readjust the parking arrangements to fit in their "brand new cars" ?!?! I was lost for words - it feels so dominating.

They have blocked me out of the communal rental parking space once again, and now they are celebrating with a loud party friends downstairs (their kitchen is directly below my bedroom - it's Sunday evening). I simply want a peaceful place to rest my head before work tomorrow and have somewhere safe to park 😱

I don't know how to continue approaching them. It is obvious that I get nowhere talking to them directly, nor do my other neighbours. The wife scurries away saying she'll talk to her husband, and it appears he just makes things more difficult. Her husband is also a piece of shit, IMO. She said that he doesn't speak English and has only recently moved here, but his attitude is appalling - I have tried to many times to make friendly and/or practical conversation and he looks through me as though I don't exist.

They've also been appalling with their refuse collection for the past 6 months. They just dump out open bags of food waste and baby nappies next to the communal bin area. During the heatwave, we had rats, maggots and all sorts.

Who do I turn to? Would the landlord care? Would the Council care? I think the idea of talking 1-1 is kind of exhausted at this point.

Other than the parking situation and borderline antisocial behaviour from downstairs, I bloody love living here otherwise!

Wow! That is a horrible to make, but admirably persistent effort
Glad you can live in peace now

Of course the landlord will care. This is each tenant using the property in the way it’s set out in the contract. He won’t want to risk losing good tenants (all of you) over this and is pretty easy for him to enforce. Definately suggest lines and numbers.
If they have sent a message about making space for their tanks then you and the other neighbours need to respond rejecting that and setting our expectations and copy in your landlord as a precursor to getting him to act.

What does your tenancy agreement say?

Tell the landlord you want a rent reduction as the advertised parking space is no longer available.

So each apartment is supposed to have a parking space in the car park and access to a parking space is included in your lease?

I would definitely contact the landlord and explain the situation. The ground floor tenants have no right to take up most of the parking spaces and as others have said, your landlord won't want to risk losing three good tenants because of one difficult family. I think he'll probably assign spaces, one for each apartment. Good luck.

@Hellorainyday She needs to speak to the landlord about the situation first, he probably has no idea what's going on.

Is it the same Landlord for all flats? If so then you need to speak to him. If nothing gets resolved I would be giving 2 months notice.

does the tenancy not include anything about parking?

I’d agree with going to the landlord. The relationship has already broken down so it’s not like you’re going to lose anything. Fuck them. Tell teacher. I’ve had an ongoing situation where they are now taking enforcement action against the tenants because their behaviour has been so unreasonable. Make it the landlord’s problem.

You mention you live in a 1 person apartment-is this the same for the annoying neighbours? I mean, do they live in a 1 person apartment too?

It should be one parking space per flat and I’d tell them. We are not moving for them one of their cars will have to be parked on the street
someone needs to put their foot down with them they’re walking all over you. Also tell them if their entitled behaviour continues you will contact the landlord.

Could you put up a diagram in a communal area with the parking spaces numbered the same as your flats?
Then, if anyone is in your space, block them in.
It worked with me. Totally unfair because it was a cul de sac with too many cars so you couldn't always park outside your house but one family weren't having any of that so would double park and block you in if you parked outside their house. Obviously no one did, more than once at least, and sometimes I had to park streets away.
In your case, I'd say it would be fair as it's 4 spaces for 4 flats.
You might end up getting your car rammed but you'd know who it is! But not sure what the insurance company would do in that circumstance. Difficult one. Comes down to the same thing as many problems do - selfish, entitled people.

Have you discussed this with your other neighbours? Presumably it's affecting them, too. If they're also pissed off about it, and are prepared to sign a letter of complaint, it will strengthen your case with the landlord and he won't be able to brush it off as just a disagreement between two neighbours. But if they don't want to get involved, I'd raise it with the landlord anyway.

The rubbish business is beyond vile and I'd speak to environmental health as well as the landlord, and see if they can do anything, or can suggest any other course of action.