Awkward situation with neighbour, advice please...

afterglow

Hi once again fellow boardsies

I really need some advice on this one...

Myself and my partner are living in our apartment block for the past 4 and 3 years now respectively.
Last year I think it was, or it could have been before this, a neighbour approached me and asked if he could use our parking space as he lives with his O/H in her apartment, but seen as it's her's, not his, he did not have a parking space for his car.
Myself and my partner are both visually impaired so the parking space wasn't exactly a loss to us
He quoted me what I'm sure is only a small fee in comparison to what parking spaces actually cost, but as he was a neighbour I said fine, and he agreed he would drop in the money every few months, we are in the same hallway.

Fastforward to the present then. He has never once given me money of his own accord, I always have to text him to ask, and even then he can be slow about it. We don't have a contract, which in hindsight was probably wrong, but I thought we would not need one being neighbours and that...
I am quite a bit younger than him, so perhaps he grabbed a golden opportunity when he saw it and knew what he was doing...
I am absolutely fed up having to ask for money and feeling like a begger and wrong for doing it at this stage.
He now owes 5 months parking, I am heading away next week so that money would have come in handy. I have dropped him a text to ask him and the response I got was "not sure what time I'm home at yet, see how it goes"

How can I deal with this now in a way that shows I mean business, but avoid bad feeling?
I had a text written up but chickened out of sending it because I'm afraid of causing bad feeling...
Please help!!!!!!
Thanks in advance

StickyIcky

Say to them face to face, listen you're behind 5 months, let's set up and automatic payment cus i feel like a begger at this stage. But if it's a case you can afford to pay me to be nice I'll let you call it quits you don't owe me a thing and I'll have the space back.

shipsey

Hi Afterglow,
your neighbour is taking complete advantage and has a very thick neck.

he is not worried about you having bad feeling and feeling annoyed. I think there is something that if a people is using land for over a certain time than they do have a claim on it.

this type of situation arose for relatives of mine where a neighbour asked to keep horses on their land so small fee, rarely gave fee. my relatives heard that if its over 5 years they have some rights to land.

if there anyone you know well that could start parking their car in the space- you could say sorry neighbour my sis/friend/mother will be using the scape every now and then so unfortunately you can't park there anymore. I don't want to have to consult you to say when my relative will need the scape so its best you make alternatives parking arrangements

maybe then you could advertise the car space for rent for proper fee and contract
good luck with it

DoozerT6

Buy a very (very) cheap car and have someone drive it to your apartment and park it in the space. (you could just ask to borrow someone's, but if this guy gets the hump and 'accidentally' damages the car, you then have to deal with repairs etc..).

If he asks you about it, just say, 'oh I thought that agreement was over seeing as you haven't paid me for five months so another friend is parking there...however, if you agree to see up a standing order I'll see about getting that car moved'.

You do NOT owe him any explanations about this if he pushes you. It is YOUR space and you were obliging him by allowing him to park there.

ahnow

Absolute cheek of him! Horrible situation to be put in. I'd tell him the space is no longer available to rent, he hasn't been keeping up payment. Stick an ad up in the block and see if anyone else would be interested and draw up a contract with them, people are always looking for parking spaces. Feck him!

Stavro Mueller

I'd also bring along someone with you like a brother/your dad/imposing looking male friend and knock on his door. I'm all for the idea of readvertising that space but he shouldn't get away with murder. I don't think texting is the best way to approach trying to get the back money from him.

beveragelady

You could say 'Look, this is awkward for me but I thought I should tell you. I've had an offer for the parking space, somebody who is willing to pay the going rate and to be honest I could really do with the money. Do you still want the space? If you do, let's set up a direct debit so we don't have this awkwardness every time the rent is due."
If he doesn't take it, then rent the space to a stranger. Strangers are often easier to deal with too, no personal relationships to muddle things.

afterglow

Hi all

Thanks so so much for all the great advice, and replies

I think I will do as people have suggested and advertise the space somewhere.
I can probably ask my mum to come and help have a word. I thought he might have been taking advantage of my disability but good that others have pointed this out so I know I'm not crazy.
Thanks again