Parking on private land, who can help?
Discussion
Morning All,
I live in a development of 16 flats with a large-ish car-park (enough space for 20 cars). We run our own management company (and I'm a director). The development is near the bottom of a road which has terraced houses and on-road parking. Parking is always difficult with too many houses having too many cars. We also struggle because the number of cars belonging to the sixteen flats is always growing. We now almost always fill the 20 spaces each night (although the car-park is nearly empty during the day).
One problem which causes us grief is people who live in the road (which our development is off) use our car-park as if it is an extension of the road. We've got a sign at the entrance which says "Private, no parking", but this doesn't seem to stop anyone.
Originally I used to have a quiet word. Then I got an earful from some tosser. Since then we've taken to posting notices on offending cars asking them to either seek permission from the management company (at a cost) or to desist. Until recently, this was enough.
Now we've got a car being left in the car-park again. I know the owner lives somewhere down the road (but I'm not sure exactly where). What can I do?
Would either the police or the local council be interested?
Could I buy a wheel-clamp and clamp the car myself (or do I need a specific warning for that)?
What if I were to box the car in using my own car(s), would that cause me more trouble than it is worth?
Any helpful suggestions welcome.
Sheepy
I live in a development of 16 flats with a large-ish car-park (enough space for 20 cars). We run our own management company (and I'm a director). The development is near the bottom of a road which has terraced houses and on-road parking. Parking is always difficult with too many houses having too many cars. We also struggle because the number of cars belonging to the sixteen flats is always growing. We now almost always fill the 20 spaces each night (although the car-park is nearly empty during the day).
One problem which causes us grief is people who live in the road (which our development is off) use our car-park as if it is an extension of the road. We've got a sign at the entrance which says "Private, no parking", but this doesn't seem to stop anyone.
Originally I used to have a quiet word. Then I got an earful from some tosser. Since then we've taken to posting notices on offending cars asking them to either seek permission from the management company (at a cost) or to desist. Until recently, this was enough.
Now we've got a car being left in the car-park again. I know the owner lives somewhere down the road (but I'm not sure exactly where). What can I do?
Would either the police or the local council be interested?
Could I buy a wheel-clamp and clamp the car myself (or do I need a specific warning for that)?
What if I were to box the car in using my own car(s), would that cause me more trouble than it is worth?
Any helpful suggestions welcome.
Sheepy
I am not a lawyer, but I believe you need to go on a training course and get a certificate before you are allowed to clamp people these days. In addition there is a signage requirement for clamping. No cert or no sign = no clamping.
Can you not just get a gate for the entrance and give each flat 2 keys?
Can you not just get a gate for the entrance and give each flat 2 keys?
ASAIK you have to have signs up that say that cars will be clamped, you then have to use a licenced "clamper" so you need to talk to a local clamping firm. Presumbably you put a contract in place with them and then they either patrol the area reguarly or you ring them up when you've got a problem and they come and claim the offending vehicle.
I'd imagine if you have a chat with a local firm they will be able to make sure you get it right (other than if you talk to Pikey Joe on the corner!)
I'd imagine if you have a chat with a local firm they will be able to make sure you get it right (other than if you talk to Pikey Joe on the corner!)
_dobbo_ said:
Write on a bit of A4 paper "PRIVATE PARKING" in big black letters. Place face down on windscreen, and secure with thick packing tape by wrapping round the windscreen, doors, rear screen other side doors and repeat 5 or 6 times.
They wont come back, trust me, it worked for us!
I think you'll find that you have committed an act of 'Criminal Damage' by so doing.
Part of the problem with these newly built developments of flats is that more often than not they only come with 1 allocated parking space, but the flats either end up being sold let out to professional couples with two cars. So there's going to be a parking problem right from the start.
I used to live in one such development and it was a PITA. I couldn't believe the tempers that flared when someone's "allocated" parking space got taken. It's a sticky situation, but if where you park is "private" land, I would thought the management company looking after the flats would have some sort of contract with clampers or tow companies.
>> Edited by T5-R on Friday 10th March 11:27
I used to live in one such development and it was a PITA. I couldn't believe the tempers that flared when someone's "allocated" parking space got taken. It's a sticky situation, but if where you park is "private" land, I would thought the management company looking after the flats would have some sort of contract with clampers or tow companies.
>> Edited by T5-R on Friday 10th March 11:27
T5-R said:I'm actually a director of the management company. We don't have anything of the sort. There wasn't really a problem until a few years ago, but now all the flats are occupied, and we're struggling with space. I guess we're going to have to bring in "outside help".
Part of the problem with these newly built developments of flats is that more often than not they only come with 1 allocated parking space, but the flats either end up being sold let out to professional couples with two cars. So there's going to be a parking problem right from the start.{/quote] Yes, whilst we've got "unallocated" parking, people still get a bit worked up about not finding space for their car.
[quote=T5-R]It's a sticky situation, but if where you park is "private" land, I would thought the management company looking after the flats would have some sort of contract with clampers or tow companies.
Sheepy
Sounds rather militant, but why not leave a note (as you have done) then get 2 or 3 residents to box them in so they can't access the car?
Mother lives in a set of flats and new people have decided that her parking space (allocated by the title deeds) are going to be theirs and have told her not to park in her space. I arrived to see her one afternoon and 'accidently' blocked them in. 4 hours later when I left they tried to give me a lecture on parking told them to check their deeds, they never did park there again.
>> Edited by mutley on Friday 10th March 13:48
Mother lives in a set of flats and new people have decided that her parking space (allocated by the title deeds) are going to be theirs and have told her not to park in her space. I arrived to see her one afternoon and 'accidently' blocked them in. 4 hours later when I left they tried to give me a lecture on parking told them to check their deeds, they never did park there again.
>> Edited by mutley on Friday 10th March 13:48
Cooperman said:
Write on a bit of A4 paper "PRIVATE PARKING" in big black letters. Place face down on windscreen, and secure with thick packing tape by wrapping round the windscreen, doors, rear screen other side doors and repeat 5 or 6 times.
They wont come back, trust me, it worked for us!
I think you'll find that you have committed an act of 'Criminal Damage' by so doing.
Where's the damage? Or the proof that I did it?
>> Edited by _dobbo_ on Friday 10th March 14:02
There are private security companies you can employ for purely this reason.
I used to live (now rent out) a house in a block with a communal car park. The parking situation got ludicrous as non-owners or occupiers used to park (usually very thoughtless in their positioning) in the car park. It got to a point when people were unable to park in their own car park.
There were two options considered - either a key card/code barrier or bringing in a clamping firm. The latter decision was taken, firstly because it appeared to be much cheaper and secondly because some t*sser had driven a hole through the perimeter wall, which might have allowed transgressors a get-out.
The cost of employing the clamping firm works out about £16 per household per annum. Permanent occupiers permits and temporary visitor permits were issued to the occupiers. Any cars not showing a permit were clamped and charged a £95 release fee (now risen to £115). Funnily enough, most of the abusers got the message and stopped using the car park after a few months. The clampers even clamped and removed abandoned vehicles, which was useful.
..of course now most of the car owners have moved away, its almost deserted!! ;-)
JJ
I used to live (now rent out) a house in a block with a communal car park. The parking situation got ludicrous as non-owners or occupiers used to park (usually very thoughtless in their positioning) in the car park. It got to a point when people were unable to park in their own car park.
There were two options considered - either a key card/code barrier or bringing in a clamping firm. The latter decision was taken, firstly because it appeared to be much cheaper and secondly because some t*sser had driven a hole through the perimeter wall, which might have allowed transgressors a get-out.
The cost of employing the clamping firm works out about £16 per household per annum. Permanent occupiers permits and temporary visitor permits were issued to the occupiers. Any cars not showing a permit were clamped and charged a £95 release fee (now risen to £115). Funnily enough, most of the abusers got the message and stopped using the car park after a few months. The clampers even clamped and removed abandoned vehicles, which was useful.
..of course now most of the car owners have moved away, its almost deserted!! ;-)
JJ
sheepy said:
I guess we're going to have to bring in "outside help".
Sheepy
the downside is when a mate comes round to visit you at the weekend and parks in 1 of 10 free spaces to come back and find his car clamped/towed. dont give these parasite clampers the time of day, it will backfire.
Is it worth getting a cheap barrier put up with a key?
Sadly, unless you do this you wil always get people parking there.
Just be careful not to damage anyones car by taping things onto it etc etc.
Make sure that you have adequate signs up saying that it is PRIVATE parking.The cost effective way is to block them in (with the old Jag or engine block from your new beast), after they have had a warning of course!
Sadly, unless you do this you wil always get people parking there.
Just be careful not to damage anyones car by taping things onto it etc etc.
Make sure that you have adequate signs up saying that it is PRIVATE parking.The cost effective way is to block them in (with the old Jag or engine block from your new beast), after they have had a warning of course!
I'm only half joking about the tape thing... we've currently got a car dumped in our office car park, it's all taxed up and the tax was issued a the local post office, so it's clearly a local. Has been there for 3 days now, police say they can't do anything as it's on private land. 
Apparently you can pay the fire brigade to come and take it away... I'll report more on that on Monday as if the car hasn't gone by then that's what we are doing next.
Apparently you can pay the fire brigade to come and take it away... I'll report more on that on Monday as if the car hasn't gone by then that's what we are doing next.
Boxing in and any action such as 'really horrible to get off' stickers are only going to lead to violent confrontations. A simple gate/barrier system spread across the service charge for all residents is the only way to go. Even those silly padlocked poles that can be manually lifted up and down would do.
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