Car Parking

[princess81]

Hi, I own a lease hold flat and have an allocated parking space which is on my deeds for my property. The trouble I am having is that a business keeps parking their cars and vans in my space and when I come home I cant park. Also they leave the cars and vans there some times all weekend which means all weekend I can not park in my space. I have contact the freeholder who the business rent the office from and he says he cant do anything about it expect remind them where they can and can not park. (Great Help) So my question is this is there anything I can do about this?? I have tried for the past 2 years to communicate with the business and get know where. Reccently I had the managing director at my front door threatening to beat my boyfriend up for parking behind him when the managing director was in my space. Is it leagl for them to park where they like? What can I do about this.

[Ethel]

It's not illegal as it is on private property. Very difficult situation.

I would invest in those poles that lock upright preventing unauthorised access, and lie flat when unlocked, allowing you to park. Expensive but effective.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

we had that same thing at our garage a while back,we hired a local clamping company,who came along and clamped the first car that parked in our bays from the company next door,needless to say they dident park there again.and yes we did put a sign up.

[4getmenot]

I had same problem, Had my space but they kept parking in turning point so got stuck if I went and parked in it and only way To get out was to reverse onto a busy road. Because of this I had to park on main road and my car was hit one day. No matter how many times I asked nicely enough they�d still do it. Only way I got round it was when I�d had enough and went livid at them, don�t think they wanted to see me like that again and have never seen them there since :-)

[meglet]

Ethel - just curious but you say its not illegal as its on private property. I was wondering if it would be trespassing?

[Loosehead]

This is one of the few times a clamping firm will be handy, just get them to handle it, won't cost anything, they'll just take the fines off the clampings. They will also be better equiped to handle any thuggery.

[princess81]

Oh thanks for such get repsonse. I am confused tho if they park on my land how it can it be legal for them to do this? Loosehead can you tell me how to get in contact with a clamping firm as the ones I have tried want an big fee? Thanks again.

[4getmenot]

can you not get police involved. Have you written them a letter with plans enclosed

[Ethel]

Trespass is not a criminal offence - it is a civil matter with civil remedies. The police certainly would not be interested - nor have the power to deal with it.

[princess81]

Oh yes I wrote to them many times with copy of the deeds showing clearly where our space is.. they take no notice... I have called the police after we were threatened by them but they say all they can do is have a word which I just know is going to make the matter worse.

[Whickerman]

you need the bollards that Ethel suggests.

[Loosehead]

Ok well you can buy your own clamp put up a sign and then clamp them. Then be in no hurry to release it. Sorry I thought the clampers would be only too happy to earn some money. As others have said it is trespass which is a civil offence. You can take a log of offences with pictures and then sue them but I think on balance I'd go with the preventative bar idea as the path of least agro. The clamp if you don't mind fronting them out. You shouldn't have to do this but unfortunately the world is full of inconsiderate scum who believe they have he right to ignore the feelings of others. Tell the police if you get any form of threat

[themas]

If the freeholder wanted to, I'm sure he could find something in the lease for the office firm to enable him to take some effective action. Alternatively, you might be able to take some action against the freeholder for failing to ensure you can use the space allocated to you in your lease. But either of these would involve paying a solicitor to study the leases and decide on the best course of action.

As Ethel suggests, a locking bar is best solution provided you cannot be blocked in by them then parking behind your car so that you can't get out.

[joko]

could you put a padlocked chain across?

i also heard of someone that bought a scrap moped, and parked it in their space, just moving it when they got home.

you can position to fill the whole space, then put it acrossways at the end when you park (unless you can take it indoors)

i think you can get them for very cheap at a scrap yard or somewhere.

[nurseynurse]

Hi Princess,in response to your post,i also agree with the person that said to buy the bar that erects and locks in an upright position. I live in a seaside resort and in the summer anyone and everyone used to park on my dads garage,(which is situated in a block of garages 3 min walk from his house)causing him no end of problems,he ended up paying several times to have his car in a local carpark!! THEN . . he erected one of those posts, he has never had a problem since,almost two years on!! I would do exactly this, it will put an end to your stress and headaches and you will be able to smile at them when you unlock it with a key and lock it back up after !! GOOD LUCK

[babble]

I have a similar problem but with neighbours. Anyway to cut a long story short I am installing a fence but if the situation were slightly different I would use the law. Apparently once someone has been told to leave your land and not return it becomes aggravated trespass which is a criminal offence and therefore the police to have to become involved. It also becomes aggravated trespass if you ask someone to leave and they do not.