Parking Space Advice

MickeyD

I rent an apartment that includes a parking space that is right beside another parking space belonging to a different apartment (no barrier in between). I don't have a car myself, but occasionally I'll let people I know park there if they're visiting or in the area. Apart from that the space would be free. There's no clamping or permit system in operation and the spaces are out in the open (no barriers) so its easy for random people to park in the spots.

The problem is that the neighbour who owns the space beside mine wants to know who is parking beside them mainly so they know that if their car is damaged while in the space that they can hold someone liable, and if it's a randomer they don't want them parking there. They have taken to blocking my space with their car to prevent people parking there, which also has the knock on effect of me not having any parking for when people i know want to use it.

There's two issues here:
1) Am I liable to keep the space either free or parked in by someone I know and
2) What is the liability with regards to their car getting damaged while its in their spot either if its a random car or by someone I know.

This has been going on a while now and I want to get it sorted. I left the last chat saying that they have a point as I wasn't clear on the legality of the situation. I can see where they are coming from but at the same time I pay for the space and have a right to use it whenever I want without it being blocked.

Any advice appreciated, cheers!

Pat Mustard

MickeyD wrote: »

There's two issues here:
1) Am I liable to keep the space either free or parked in by someone I know and
2) What is the liability with regards to their car getting damaged while its in their spot either if its a random car or by someone I know.

Mod:

You have outlined your situation and you have asked about your potential liability. Your questions are requests for legal advice.

The thread may be left open for the time being, on condition that no further legal advice will be requested and that nobody will offer any legal advice.

MarkAnthony

Speak to your management company. We have CCTV in our car park which helps with any issues re damage.

Other than that I'd knock on your neighbours door occasionally and ask them who they have round as you don't want any criminals in their apartment as they might break into you and steal your stuff.

You seem to be a more patient person than I.

punisher5112

That's pure nuts op.

Tell them to go away none of their business who you let use your space.

Buy a sh1t box and park it there rusting away to bits.

Ask them to mind how they park while pointing at your space (empty space) and go on about how they could damage your car(imaginary) of course.

Start ranting etc etc they will never bother you again.

the_syco

MickeyD wrote: »

They have taken to blocking my space with their car to prevent people parking there, which also has the knock on effect of me not having any parking for when people i know want to use it.

Buy a car for €200 or less on adverts or donedeal, and have it towed to your spot. Mark it as off the road for tax, and as it's on private property (you'll need to check if your carpark place is or not), I'm pretty sure you don't need insurance or tax, etc, on it.

Then check your car on a random weekday, and if it's blocked, call over and ask them to move their car.

Ian Whelan

MarkAnthony wrote: »

You seem to be a more patient person than I.

I second that. If it was me it would be an absolute war by now and I'd probably have a skip full of burning tyres in that parking spot.

Oryx

Do you have a management company for the apartments? Ask them are they liable for what goes on in the carpark or if they have any of their own rules applied to it as it is private property.

FreudianSlippers

MickeyD wrote: »

I rent an apartment that includes a parking space that is right beside another parking space belonging to a different apartment (no barrier in between). I don't have a car myself, but occasionally I'll let people I know park there if they're visiting or in the area. Apart from that the space would be free. There's no clamping or permit system in operation and the spaces are out in the open (no barriers) so its easy for random people to park in the spots.

The problem is that the neighbour who owns the space beside mine wants to know who is parking beside them mainly so they know that if their car is damaged while in the space that they can hold someone liable, and if it's a randomer they don't want them parking there. They have taken to blocking my space with their car to prevent people parking there, which also has the knock on effect of me not having any parking for when people i know want to use it.

There's two issues here:
1) Am I liable to keep the space either free or parked in by someone I know and
2) What is the liability with regards to their car getting damaged while its in their spot either if its a random car or by someone I know.

This has been going on a while now and I want to get it sorted. I left the last chat saying that they have a point as I wasn't clear on the legality of the situation. I can see where they are coming from but at the same time I pay for the space and have a right to use it whenever I want without it being blocked.

Any advice appreciated, cheers!

I'd tell your neighbour that next time they block your space you'll have their car clamped by the management company and that it's not your responsibility to prevent randomers from parking there - they should take it up with the management company to put some sort of prevention in place.

There are these cheap bollard things that have little locks at the bottom - you get out and fold it down and park in the space. Whether your management company is liable to your neighbour for damage to their car is between them and the management company. If you're worried about your own liability, see any solicitor - seriously, ANY solicitor - and they should be able to answer you in less than 10 mins (I'm being generous).

P. Breathnach

Your neighbour is proposing a gross intrusion on the privacy of your friends or guests (as well as on your own privacy). That is simply not on.

If you feel like being co-operative you can offer to tell him, if damage happens, that you will do what you can to help him identify who has caused it. I can't imagine that I would feel co-operative with such a neighbour.

I'd look into the possibility of clamping any car that intrudes on your space without your permission - in particular, your neighbour's car.

MickeyD

Thanks for the input all. I've already had to deal with them before over this as they were adamant that my space was actually someone else's who allowed them to park there. After having my intelligence insulted and proving to them that I was right they didn't even offer an apology. I am looking forward to our next little chat.

Greenmachine

Your neighbor sound like a prick. Tell him to mind his own business. Does his car ever leave his parking spot. What does he do when he want to park, going about his business shopping, going to work etc. Tell him, you don't want to here from him again unless something actually happens to his car.

slimjimmc

Greenmachine wrote: »

Your neighbor sound like a prick. Tell him to mind his own business. Does his car ever leave his parking spot. What does he do when he want to park, going about his business shopping, going to work etc. Tell him, you don't want to here from him again unless something actually happens to his car.

At this stage I doubt I would even grant him that privilege in case it invites him to assume you will take responsibility for identifying the culprit.

Greenmachine

slimjimmc wrote: »

At this stage I doubt I would even grant him that privilege in case it invites him to assume you will take responsibility for identifying the culprit.

Agree that ship has sailed. That would have been my original position. Would not want to deal with the neighbor at all now.

jd

Have you told your landlord that the neighbour is trying to dictate the use of the parking space?

nuac

Check your title, whether you just have a licence to park there, or if it is leased to you.

Do try an talk to your neighbour either directly or thru the respective management companies.

I would try very hard to sort this between you without resorting to solicitors.

Litigation between neighbours is the pits - to be avoided at all costs.

If I were sure of living 50 years after all the clients involved have died I could write a book of funny and not so funny incidents between neighbours

Keep a notebook/diary and take photographs where relevant

Cushie Butterfield

jd wrote: »

Have you told your landlord that the neighbour is trying to dictate the use of the parking space?

This would be the proper route to take, as the management company have no relationship with the OP. Their relationship is with the OP's landlord.

If the landlord has employed the services of a letting agent then the OP should go through them to report any problems, who in turn should contact the landlord to sort things out through the management company/ their managing agent.

Like any other parking incident unless their is a witness to the incident, the person at fault reports it or there's CCTV it's hard to establish exactly who did any damage, so the other party seems to be flexing muscles that they don't actually have. It's best not to deal directly with people like this as more often than not they don't listen to reason as they feel they are always in the right, but the situation does need to be sorted out & they need to be informed that they are acting unreasonably by blocking the OP's space.

Most apartment complexes have a notice displayed stating that management accept no responsibility for loss or damage to vehicles (no matter to whom they belong) & if they don't it would certainly be in the apartment owner's lease, so assuming that the parking space came as part of the OP's apartment rental agreement they should report this problem to their landlord/letting agent, advise the other party that they have done this & not have any more to do with them.

FreudianSlippers

nuac wrote: »

If I were sure of living 50 years after all the clients involved have died I could write a book of funny and not so funny incidents between neighbours

That sounds like a great thread!

Pat Mustard

nuac wrote: »

Check your title, whether you just have a licence to park there, or if it is leased to you.

Just to develop this point, if you are renting you may not have a copy of the the owner's apartment lease, but many leases contain a covenant along the lines of not engaging in behaviour which is likely to give rise to annoyance to the other apartment dwellers. If so, this is something that might possibly be pointed out to the offending neighbour by the management company.