A parking one! Blue badge dilemma

[BluebadgeCF]

Short version: my new neighbours are CF and are trying to steal a visitor parking space because they have a blue badge, they are not the only blue badge holders in the block of flats, and are behaving unreasonably.

long story: no diagram as I am sat in the car waiting for DSs sporting activity to end.

I live in a small block of flats, ten in total built 20 ish years ago, all are either privately rented or owned. They are all 2 bedrooms and there is a private carpark accessible via a gated entry you need a fob to get into.

Every flat has 1 allocated parking space and there are 4 visitor spaces at the very furthest end of the car park. One of the spaces used to have a disabled symbol on it, but is the same size as all the other spaces and is the furthest parking spot from the entrance of the car park and not the most accessible. There is no other signage indicating it’s a disabled spot and you would only know it “used” to be the designated spot if you had lived here a long time, it’s not on the deeds etc.

I don’t have a blue badge, a couple of my relatives do and a couple of the existing residents do. Even though people who live in the flats have blue badges nobody uses the parking spot as it literally the worst spot in the whole car park, it also next to the hedges which need cutting back, it’s also at an odd angle and normally really tight to get in, with the hedges making it worse.

We have new neighbours, a family of 5 plus two dogs - yes in a two bedroom flat - they also have two cars and one of the residents, not sure who, also has a blue badge. I have noticed the “disabled” space has been occupied recently - it’s usually empty cos it’s a horrible space as mentioned above.

I had a relative with a blue badge visit this week and I moved my car into the “disabled” parking spot for a couple of days, as it was the only one free and I had a legitimate reason to be there, despite I don’t believe it being a legally enforced disabled parking space. This was so my relative who needs mobility aids could use my spot, which is easier to drive into and doesn’t have a whopping hedge growing into it, making it easier for her to get out of the car.

New neighbours are pissed! Apparently they have rung their landlord and the estate agent has been round knocking on everyone’s doors (me and relative have been out in her car so missed this) because new neighbours have a blue badge and must be able to use the car parking space at all times.

One of my elderly neighbours spoke to me about this and is very worried I am going to get in trouble. IMO though the new neighbours are just trying to get a second parking space for free, by claiming sole use of the “disabled” visitor space, like they are the only people in the world who own a blue badge. When in reality what they want to do is be able to park both of their cars in the secure parking area, rather like the rest of us who either have two cars of visitors park on the ample street parking (it’s a village not a city). My neighbour who is worried is also a blue badge holder, but parks in his allocated space.

AIBU to keep parking there or letting my visitors who have blue badges!?

It’s a visitor space, it’s on private land, no signage to say it’s disabled anyway so I could technically park there even if I wasnt doing so to for a blue badge holder, the new neighbours simply have to use there one allocated spot and not occupy a visitor space permanently.

You dont have a bb so shouldn't be using the space. They do and are perfectly entitled to use it.

You say the rest of you with two cars park elsewhere, but you don't, you parked in the bb space. why didn't you park elsewhere?

Is this a reverse?

Unless I’m misunderstanding the OP, there is no disabled spot. The spot used to be disabled but not anymore and therefore OP can park there without blue badge.

So why did it ‘used’ to be a disabled spot? Has the sign just worn off, or was it removed?

That's a lot of typing about a situation where you simply need to tell the Landlord/Estate Agent to provide proof it's actually a disabled parking spot.

Still, at least we know how many dogs they have! 🤭

but the new neighbours clearly know it is (or was) a disabled spot. How would they know this if it's not marked in anyway?

So is it a disabled bay or not ? It sounds a horrible spot and you are parking out of spite? Are the 2 dog family maybe not to your taste?

How do the new neighbours know it “used” to be a disabled spot? Perhaps the landlord told them and that they could use it?

All you need to do is confirm if it is still a disabled spot and if it is you don’t park there as you are not disabled . 🤷🏻‍♀️

If there is a problem with them parking two cars inside the residents parking discuss with landlord.

It's either a disabled space or It's not. However disabled spaces are normally close to the entrance of a building so this seems weird.

But my visitor does and a BB belongs to a person not a car. So my parking in the visitor spot to help my BB holding visitor was imo the right thing to do.
it’s a visitor spot not a residence spot so is on a first come first serves basis who gets to park there, the new neighbour can not reasonably expect to to be unoccupied for their sole use.

The same estate agent has managed this flat for years, I think it is owned by someone who lives abroad.

You can’t reserve a bb space. It’s first come first served so if it’s vacant when they arrive all well and good but you can’t reserve it with a non bb parked car

You should have put your visitors blue badge on display in your car.

You can’t just park there if it’s a designated place.

They need to clarify if it's a disabled space or not. If it is, it needs proper signage, and you need to follow the proper rules - displaying the blue badge, etc.

Probably easier for your disabled relative to park in the visitors space with the disabled marking. Even if they need to stop closer to the main door, get out their car then leave you to park it for them.

Please learn to read

This thread is highlighting the literacy crisis we have.

If the agent states that the neighbours have priority over the space due to having a blue badge, then they are arguably obliged to provide separate dedicated spaces for anyone who lives there who has a blue badge, plus one visitor disabled space. I'd submit that suggestion in writing and see what they say. Note: my son has a blue badge so I get the difficulties involved, but I agree that if indeed that space is a disabled spot then it's first come first served.

I agree with this suggestion too

If there's 'ample street parking' and you decide to have a visitor for a couple of days, you should've used that.

In one breath you're saying you're worried about your neighbours with BBs etc, but you don't really sound it.

As the host of an overnight visitor, I think the decent thing for you to do as a non BB holder is to park in the 'ample parking' spaces.

Gosh! You’re rude!

What did I miss? Did OP say she displayed her visitors BB in her car parked in the disabled spot? If so, yes I missed that.

theres a whole paragraph in the OP that explains it used to be a disabled spot but isn’t anymore.

I only parked there to help a disabled relative park in my much nicer allocated spot, I didn’t know there was a blue badge holder living there until they kicked up a fuss and had the estate agent knocking demanding to know who was parking in the spot and why!

the reason I mention the size of the family is because the flats are very small and I see them go in the private rental market with a maximum occupancy of 3. So before they start parking wars they might want to make sure they are not in breach of their rental agreement or the leaseholder agreement. The original lease also says no dogs…

You are trying to bend the rules when it is not that difficult.

Your car is not being used to transport BB driver. If you were on a public road and were ticketed for parking in a disabled space your "reason" would not be a valid defense. Morally on private land it is the exact same.

You are using the BB space to save yourself from parking further away.

Find out if it is a disabled spot (sounds like you know it is and it is just the markings have eroded away) and if it is simply don't park in it, or tell your BB visitor they can park in it when they visit if it is free.

But if the OP says only 1 space per owner/tenant then the others are unrealistic by constantly having two cars anyway - regardless over whether the BB spot is or isn’t a BB spot.

Is the disabled space marked in yellow paint @BluebadgeCF ? If not, then anyone can park in it as it's not a legally enforced disabled parking space. Your neighbours have their one dedicated space already so should have their BB holder park in it.