Hey guys,
I found out that someone has been sneakily parking in my spot while I go to work. I live in an apartment building and have complained to the building manager but he just said there's nothing much he can do about it as it's not part of his jurisdiction. I have since stuck a note on my parking area saying "Private parking," to fend off the driver but he has continued to park at my area. Any suggestions to get rid of this person? Cheers.
Leaving a brick gently and safely on the car bonnet is a message.
Someone smashing your car is a criminal.
Why does this bother you? You are at work so your space would be empty.
The way I see it, the OP paid for a parking spot that only he can use whenever he chooses. Basically, if it does not obstruct the OP when he wants/needs to use it, I'd believe that would be fine. Afterall, ignorance is bliss or so they say.
However, the other party involved is obstructing OP in using the parking space he paid for when he wants/needs to use it. I don't see how that is not a problem.
But he hasn't said that it is preventing him from using it. This car is only there when he isn't.
Good point, I only assumed the person was still there when OP needed to use it because OP found out about it.
So what's the difference between this situation and if someone decided to park in your garage next to or under your house. Would it bother you?? I bet it would! Sure, you are at work and the garage is empty? But it is private property and it doesn't give people the right to come and enter your property and then park there and leave their car there.
Not that it should matter, because it's their spot, but what if they come home early/and or sick one day, not only will they have to find somewhere else to park, but will have to move it back later.
So you haven't seen/found anyone in your 'spot', but its still an issue? Oh god… FWP for sure!
Put an old fashioned chain up accross the spot - after he has parked there. Make sure you play fair and leave a note on his window and make sure the chain is very visible. Charge him to remove it.
OP - not sure what state you're in, but new laws introduced late last year in NSW allow strata to enter into a commercial arrangement with council to manage unauthorised parking - see http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/Tenants_and_home_owner….
It seems like a bit of tedious process, but might be worthwhile if you're an owner and this is an ongoing issue. Basically, the owners corporation would need to agree to contract their local council to provide Parking Officers to manage parking spaces (no idea how much this would cost). Perhaps talk to your strata corporation about adding this to the agenda for the next owner's meeting.
I'm In Victoria
Another option would be to get a couple of official-looking big stickers made up and slap one on his windscreen? Yknow something to the extent of "illegally parked blah blah blah" or one of those pink stickers the cops slap on cars when they're probably abandoned ("this car has been dumped, you have 5 days to remove it")
I realise that's a bit of work, so i'd be going with the nice note first. It will make your fake sticker seem far more plausible too
Mix 2 parts fish sauce to 1 part milk, pour in bonnet vent.
That's bonut to you, gronk
what type of car is parked in your spot? tradie? what happens during the weekends or when you get home do this car move to a different spot?
I believe it's a tradie cause during weekends it's gone. Also there are a lot of construction workers working on my area now. I'm just curious how the hell they have access key to the parking area?
you should come home early one day and block them in. a least you can confront them and tell them in person that not they're free parking spot.
how did you find out that someone had being parking in your spot if while your not at home.
Just start with a simple note saying "Private parking spot in use 24hrs, please do not park here again".
If it continues then perhaps the note blew away, get some of those sticker parking notes which are a pain to clean off.
Could probably make your own additional sign and say unauthorised car will be towed. Check with body corp if your allowed to do that and tell them you will arrange everything. Then get the car towed.
not sure if someone already suggested this:
Park your car for 1 week all times - so you need to take public transport or find alternative ways to transport.
if that offender still persists in coming weeks, you can try to park your car in front of the offender car and leave your contact number for other nearby cars - just in case your car blocks them.
This approach is risky in the sense that the offender may go nuts and damage your car :(
or alternatively, you take a day off and wait for the offender to show up, video recording the offender parking, follow to where he/she goes :)
and make peace ^_^
Before you consider playing any pranks on the person, just remember that it won't take them long to figure out it's the owner of the parking space behind it. They might return during the night to seek revenge and their idea of justice could be a bit more extreme yours.
That being said, take a sledgehammer to the b*stard. Post results.
I don't understand how the building manager can just wash his hands of this. Beyond all the other things possible, I would be putting on a turn here. What exactly is his jurisdiction if not at least attempting to maintain basic order on the property?
Property manager, police, council won't be interested.
Therefore Wheel clamp, nails on road, smelly stuff in air vents, popcorn kernels in exhaust, key, bollard (close it when they're parked there!) Options are endless
Wheel clamp. Cheap and easy. Attach note to car saying that the first time is free, after that it's a fine.
super glue the wipers…it's a long con
towing while satisfying is actually fraught with issues as pointed above, and body corps aren't always that helpful
…and intentional property damage to another car isn't?
:O
And how is that action going to get rid of him parking in your parking spot??
Please also consider the possibility retaliatory action/s when doing something illegal to the illegally parked car at your space. Investing in a bollard is the best advice that I saw in this thread so far.
Is probably that the strata manager is a newbie to his industry and doesn't have enough training on how to deal with the situation. There definitely are things that a strata manager can do (eg. a letter drop to all the mailboxes to remind residents of the bylaws).
If you still want the strata to do something then try contacting the manager, then the director of the strata company to let them know of your issue. Perhaps they are unaware that their new trainee is out of their depth. Some real estate agencies are cunning and know that all rental tenants are temporary. They have no incentive to help rental tenants but its different if you are an owner since they know you are in it for the long haul.
The quickest and least confrontational solution is to write a note and leave it on their windscreen. Rinse and repeat, keep leaving a note each time you spot the car. I've seen my past neighbours glue a note in the drivers line of sight. I've also seen permanent marker on the windscreen and/or driver side window.
Another simple option is to get a giant witch hat and plonk it in the middle of your parking spot each time you leave. It sounds simple but it works more often than you think.
Strata managers cant do much here. No teeth unfortunately
Follow him home, buy a $200 bomb for cash, block him in his own drive way. Leave car forever
without seeing the spot, can you drag a chain through the spot and padlock it in place?
Don't know if this has been already suggested. Personally, someone who ignored your polite/friendly note, I would discretely remove and dispose their number plates…
No bikies needed.
Happened to me once. I let down all four tyres. Never happened to me again.
This is the best solution. Doesn't destroy their car but it does inconvenience them - as much it does you when you need your own bay and someone's taken it.
what if after that you start getting flat tyres and that stops you from going to work? Or worse, your car starts getting key scratches, broken windows and all that crap? Be careful who's you're doing this to, if they turn out to be some nasty low life scum.
I think best way is to leave them some notes, if that doesnt work, just deal with the building manager/body corp directly. Take them to court if they're not doing their work.
just remove one of the valves from one of his tyres,
if this doesn't help remove all 4 next time.
i have used this a couple of times, only had the same car in the bay once after the first valve removal, he didn't come back after the 4 valve removals.
you are not slashing his tyres, its just an inconvenience that they have to get valves screw them in and pump them up. its just a timely reminder that they need to find a bay you don't own and they wont loose the valves again.
I recommend a wheel clamp too. If he goes looking for the property manager maybe he'll say there's nothing much he can do about it as it's not part of his jurisdiction too
Sounds like another tenant has sold use of their second swipe card for a fee and told the purchaser to park in your spot as you're at work all day. So clearly sounds like another OzBargainer is at fault here…
Refuse to pay your next parking rental until the building manager/body corp do something about it. but make sure you keep all written communication records as proof.
Maybe its just me but I would just him park there.
Only ever be an issue if I wanted to use it and it was taken, in which case he would get a warnign and then Id start letting the air out of tyres.
Your body corporate is lazy! Tell them you will be paying less $15 per day for the strata fee because you no longer entitled to a parking spot that they are supposed to provide
Whoever said that the Internet is simply just a useful tool? lol
it takes a bit of time, but waxing their windscreen with surfboard wax is the best way to go. use a whole bar of it. would take a lot longer to take off. a house mate of mine has done that before, THEN called the police and they slapped a fine on them as well. the cops would've seen the wax as they slapped the penalty notice under the wiper. this was a slightly different circumstance (parked on road in front of driveway), but the point is that the cops didn't consider it to be damage as they didn't come after my house mate for waxing the car's windscreen.
Sorry but that definitely can be considered damage. Not a good idea. Letting down tyres or applying wheel locks is a better idea and again isn't considered as causing damage to a vehicle. The car is on private property so cops wont be interested if there is no malicious damage.
how is that damage? keep it on the glass and it can be removed with no damage at all
You are defacing their windscreen. Thats damage.
Set his car on fire
problem solved
inform tracy grimshaw their car is lowered
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4124046/Residents-re…
This lady was named and shamed for parking across driveways. Somebody is friends with a Daily Mail journalist.
Trying to avoid any damage or chances he will take revenge, I would keep it simple:
- type an official looking warning (perhaps mention wheel clamp)
- Make an official sign to place in front of the bay something like "Private bay - offenders will be towed at their expense"
All you really want is to scare them enough to make them park in a different bay.
Can't believe op hasn't left a note under the car's wipers yet. Do that first. No one cares about signs, you need a handwritten note.
If that fails, put traffic cones on the parking spot.
Put wheel locks on his car and charge him whatever they cost you to release him. He will never park there again! Just don't damage his car. Alternative - let down all 4 tyres. This is not illegal as you are not causing damage to his car…Just a major inconvenience! Again he wont park there again.
Letting down tyres can be classed as malicious damage.
Would be very difficult to prove as nothing is damaged. Anyway they would need to catch you in the act and have evidence as well.
Take a day off work and wait there with a baseball bat…
Some guys are big enough to cop a baseball bat to the chest/arms, and then take it off you after. Then what?
I did not suggest the OP use the bat, just sit there and wait…
Might as well sit there with a gun then..
Make like Jurassic Park and run.
You could buy those hard to remove 'No Parking' stickers from Amazon they sell in packs of 50, and stick them all over his front and back windscreen during your lunch break if you can sneak back to your place. Actually lunch break bad time, he might return to vehicle to go out. After lunch between 2 and 4 whilst he is at work. The poor fella won't be able to drive his vehicle home though and then you'd really lose your spot for the night.
Get rid of your partner and your problem will be solved
My suggestion is to put a sign up as big and clear as possible that says the following - it will look so serious probably no one would ever dare park there as they would be like, is that real?!!:
WARNING - LEAVING ANY VEHICLES OR OTHER PROPERTY IN THIS PARKING SPACE CREATES LEGAL CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AS FOLLOWS:
"Parking Space Owner" is (Insert Your Name Here).
It is a contractual condition of entry to the parking space that any vehicles and other property in this parking space are transferred to become the real unencumbered property of the Parking Space Owner as consideration for the convenience of parking here or leaving property here; and the driver of the vehicle and/or other person leaving property here warrants:
Any person who leaves property in the parking space who does not comply with the above conditions, agrees to compensate the Parking Space Owner $10,000 and a further $5000 per day thereafter liquidated damages that the property remains in the parking space, together with default interest rate of 12% per annum after 24 hours unpaid.
If you do not agree with these terms and conditions, please vacate the parking space and take all property you brought with you within 30 seconds.
If this was designed as a joke or to frighten a legal illiterate or first year contract law student, then well done. If you are serious, any solicitor worth their salt who didn't double over in laughter at the sight of this deserves to be struck off.
Edit: Sorry, I didn't realise you were being facetious.
Visible note that can be clearly read by all tenants placed on car stating that we have reason to suspect owner of illegally parked car with number plate yyyy is a convicted xxxx and to exercise caution.
Replace xxxx as appropriate with socially unacceptable crime
Whilst I would love leave such a note regarding someone illegally parked in my spot (to paraphrase Sheldon), I'm fairly sure that's slander / defamation… so do what the media does, add the word "allegedly" !
Is he doing you any harm? If not, don't worry about it.
Same principle as driving, right? When you speed or run a yellow light, you're not harming anyone, so who cares…
I would try the civilized manner first. If you are home before he leaves, then I would just try to speak to him politely in person explaining it is a private parking bay and find out if there's a legitimate reason such as being a tradie and he is there temporarily. If you can't hang around to speak to him, I would leave a note saying, "Hello, this is a private parking bay and should not be used at all times. If you do wish to discuss or make any arrangements, please contact me on so and so number". Who knows, you could end up making some money by renting out the spot during work hours to them if they require it long term and you don't use it during the day. Win win situation for you.
Was going to recommend the same idea and try renting the spot to him/her if you can talk to them.
My partner rents a parking spot in one of the apartments in Docklands and its a win-win for both parties.
You are paying the real estate agent for the unit+ parking?
Inform them and let them know that you intend on reducing the payment by an appropriate amount if they do not address the problem.
You do not pay body corp, so have no relation with them. The owner does, and the REA is the owner's agent.
Plus, they get paid to manage these things.
Probably wise to get advice from the Police on the appropriate course of action. They should be able to point you in the right direction.
In lipstick, "For a good time, F*** THE HELL OUT OF MY SPACE!"
Are there any fences or posts nearby that you could secure chains or cables to? If so, just padlock a cable or chain or two diagonally across it - that gets around the whole securing bollards to the ground issue.
Hi Op,
Just get 2 business cards from your local tow truck driver.
Tape it to his windscreen with a hand written message.
Call this number if your car isn't here next time!
That should do the trick!
It shows that you have already started preparation if they park there again.
They known it's not their spot and at least you have given them the number of the Towie in advance!!!
Ye, I like this idea. Fairly simple to do and an assertive warning. Don't have to give away personal identity either.
Friend of mine has a shop in the main drag of a Western Sydney suburb. They have parking in their backyard. One car persistently parked there ignoring notes left daily. One day he came back and found FOUR flat tyres. He didn't park there again.
Another time I happened to be in the backyard a bloke in a FWD drove in. Locked his vehicle and was walking away when I said "this is private property you can't park here." He said "sue me" and walked off. I now have a beautiful Hayman Reese adjustable tow bar coupling worth around $250.
Like it. Although even being private property, it probably wouldn't stop you getting in trouble with the law for this sort of action.
PS- FWD = Front Wheel Drive, I presume you mean 4WD (or 4x4) for four wheel drive.
Tell the building manager that if they are not able to ensure that the service you are paying for (i.e. the car space) will actually be available to you, then you should not have to continue paying for it. i.e. Refuse to pay for the car space until they either a) take action against the problematic car or b) install a bollard/gate/lock thingy for you free of charge. Basically make it their problem. They are charging you for this space.
Can you get it towed?
Thick layer of graphite grease on the inner or under side of the door handle should peeve anyone off.
Spray oil over the windscreen, just a lite spray so its not obvious at start.
Take the wiper blades off the arms and dirty the windscreen.
Deflatin gb thw tyres is old school but you need to do more then 1…. he will have to choose whoch wheel gets the damage.
chalk an outline of a dead body and secure ur parking lot with 'crime scene do not enter' tape on temp poles.
Buy an old scooter even if it doesn't work.. Park that at the front of your bay when you leave… (provided you can fit your car in too when you wish)
If your spot is free during the day why not rent it to someone that will pay you using parkhound or Gumtree etc. At least then whoever is parking in your spot will be paying you for the use.
Just remove his licence plates and take them with you. What are they going to do? Report the theft to the police and then have to explain why they are parking somewhere illegally? Police don't have time for you, they don't have time for stolen plates ;)
Stick a note somewhere not to park there, if they still do you know brake fluid does wonders for paint job.
but whatever you do, don't ask on a public forum that will leave a written record that shows up the top end of a google search on the topic.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=What+to+do+when+someone+illegally+parks…
Leave him a note offering to agree a fee for the use of the space whilst you're not there. May as well make upside from downside.
Nail the tire evry single time when he park he will learn lesson.
Store some road spikes on your property.
I'm absolutely certain this has already been mentioned, but why not just buy a $20 locking wheel clamp off eBay, wait until they park there, then go down and lock it and leave an accompanying note to effect of "if you'd like to move your car, see Body corporate or unit X"
Is it part of your property? An allocated park space or actually on your Title as part of the apartment?
you can get it towed if you own the space.
Report to the police as bomb threat 'suspicious vechicle' parked in your car space. You might see a bomb squad.
If you have tried to be polite about it and got no response there are still some ways of getting your point across. For example, put a "For Sale" sign up, as if you are selling the car.
I was advised that you can call a towing company to tow it. However it is har for them to operate in multi-story car parks.
leave a polite note under the wiper. if he parks there again leave another polite note, but remove the rubber strip from his wiper
What if offender one day damage your car and you never hear from them. They know your parking spot but you don't know them.