Parking at home

garak112

garak112

garak112

Associate
Joined
10 Oct 2011
Posts
936
Currently fuming at this and need to vent because its stopping me sleeping.

We live in a block of 24 flats with 18 garages (one of which we rent), the area around the garages is not supposed to be for parking because doing so would block the garages. However if you own a garage you are 'allowed' to park across it at 90 degrees. Most modern cars are longer than a standard garage so inevitably if you do this not everyone with a garage can park outside the block so its done first come first served for garage owners only.

Been living here one and a half years and never had a problem with parking before until a couple of months ago when 2 new families moved in. One kept parking in front of our garage (and prevented us loading in to it). A quiet word and it stopped.

Second family moves in and brings with them a large 4x4, a large transit work van, a small car and a moped all of which they want to park outside the garages. They do this a few times and the head of the residents association spoke to them and told them it was not on and told them it was one vehicle only as close to 'their' garage as possible.

Since that point this family has done everything in their power to make everyone elses lives difficult. They have parked their van to deliberately block in cars parked outside garages, they have parked it too close to garages so people storing cars in them can't get them out and I have even seen them go and move their cars and van forward/backward a few feet to prevent other cars being able to park.

This evening was particularly frustrating as I went to pick up my girlfriend from the station and came back 5 minutes later to find that they had moved their 4x4 into the spot I had just left and then they had moved their van to occupy both the space it had been in previously and the space vacated by the 4x4.

I got back as they were getting out the 4x4, they saw me and then ran off before I could ask them wtf they were up to. All of the spaces on the road for miles around are restricted parking and I am still waiting for my permit to come through from the council so I have to hope a space becomes free before I have to leave for work.

What I don't understand is why they think that annoying everyone in the block is a good idea and why punishing everyone is a good way to show their annoyance at being told by the head of the residents association about the parking rules.

This is just one of a great many frustrations I experience living in this place (if I could go back in time I would have stopped myself from ever moving in). Sadly the huge deposits and agency fees round here mean that moving out is not currently a realistic prospect.
 
Speak to the head of the RA again, if it continues, go en-mass with the other residents to the landlord.

Failing that, cut the handbrake cable and roll the offending vehicles out of the way, preferably on to the public highway (calling the cops that they're obstructing it)

Just make sure you wear latex gloves to avoid prints.
 
Sounds like a nightmare bud and the new residents sound like selfish scumbags. Does the head of the residents association have any real power to deal with these scum?
 
Is there CCTV on the garages? If there is then you can ask the grounds person to check it to prove that it's happening. If not, then that means you can go to town with their cars. :)
 
Get a few of those kiddy's pedal cars that look like large models of real cars and "park" them outside the door of their flat, blocking it. Weigh them down with bags of cement or something, so they're not easy to move.

Cover their cars very thickly with spray foam and carve it into the shape of bollards. When they query your reason for this course of action, explain that since they're using their cars as blockages, like bollards, you thought you'd be neighbourly and help them make it more realistic. Some metallic spray paint on the foam would help. Maybe some chains hanging between the bollard-cars.

Or speak to the resident's association and/or the landlord. But where would GD be without silly suggestions?
 
Kamwah said:
Easy.

Key it.
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Dont do this, its a scumbag move. Clamp them instead and cover their cars in post it notes with profanities written on them. Doesnt damage their car yet will inconvenience them and make sure they know what everyone thinks of them.

For a more personal touch give every other tenant their own post it note to write what they wish and sign it.
 
If you are restricted access to your garage, just speak to them and ask them not to do it.
If they kick off, written complaints to land lord and residents rep.

There is no quick fix.
 
Zbornak said:
Is there CCTV on the garages? If there is then you can ask the grounds person to check it to prove that it's happening. If not, then that means you can go to town with their cars. :)
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No CCTV on the garages.

utajoker said:
Get a few of you to all block them in when they park up.
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One of the other residents did this at the weekend to make a point, I missed the ensuing confrontation but my girlfriend said they were very intimidating.

K1LLSW1TCH said:
You could let the air out of their tyres every time they do it, after a while they'll get fed up of having to refill them. :p
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Funnily enough I had thought of this as I am fairly certain they wouldn't know who it was. I suspect that this would result in them finding another way to get back at all the residents though.
 
I feel for you - this sort of thing would drive me insane with rage.

I think the best advice, as already mentioned, is to keep banging on to the RA. Also, take photos, as they are always good as evidence.
 
If someone is blocking your car from exiting your garage and you need to go somewhere is it not possible to get someone towed? You cant if they are just blocking your empty garage but if you have a car in it and need to go some where I thought you could?

I feel your pain. Just think that if you stoop to their level they will just stoop further. So maybe an en masse petition by everyone in the flats will help.

Maybe stick a flyer on their flat door regarding parking etiquette? :P

Edit: I mean make up a flyer on the pc, using pictures of what they do wrong to make the points. Funny and relevent. Then distribute to the whole building.
 
GSXRMovistar said:
I would advise not doing that, if for any reason they had an accident after you had tampered with their vehicle you could be putting yourself in a lot of trouble.
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There are many reasons why a tyre could go flat without warning, and any responsible motorist should check their tyres before any journey.

Are you somehow suggesting that if the scummer's tyres were to somehow develop a leak, the OP could be held responsible? ;)
 
To be honest, it seems like one single family is holding everyone else to ransom. If it got to a certain point of frustration I'd want to turn that around.

Regular night time brickings of the van and 4x4 windows, every time they're blocking something, would be a start. Done properly, they'll have no idea which one of the residents it is (it could, in fact, be ALL of them taking turns!) considering there's no CCTV. They're in the minority here, not everyone else. Let them know it.
 
Haggisman said:
There are many reasons why a tyre could go flat without warning, and any responsible motorist should check their tyres before any journey.

Are you somehow suggesting that if the scummer's tyres were to somehow develop a leak, the OP could be held responsible? ;)
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No I was suggesting that if the 'scummer' had an accident following issues with low tyre pressure regardless of him checking his vehicle beforehand and then it was to come to light that the OP had tampered with it (CCTV, nosey neighbour watching/filming) then yes they could be held responsible.
 
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