Neighbor Parking in My Assigned Spot

I need to vent and ask for advice.

I live in an apartment complex where each unit has one assigned space (the number is written into the lease). I've been here for over a year and there's a sign posted right next to my parking spot that says something like "Assigned Resident Parking. Violators Will Be Towed at Owner's Expense." I park there every day, so there's no way anyone would think that the spot isn't assigned.

The first time the neighbor parked there (a couple of months ago), I went to the office and asked the manager if she could contact the owner and ask them to move their car. (I have no idea who owns the car, or which apartment they are in.) The manager either spoke to the owner, or left a note on the windshield saying the car would be towed. About an hour later, the car was gone.

I thought the problem was solved, but this evening the exact same person was in my spot again! I don't understand why this person thinks she (I think it's a she) can keep parking there. I couldn't ask the management to track down the owner this time, because it was 10 PM when I came home and the office was closed.

Has anyone had this problem with a neighbor? If so, how did you resolve it?

Are the numbers on the parking spots easy to read or maybe they are faded? If it is an elderly lady and she can't see too well, then re-painting the numbers would be an option. You could also write down the plate number of the car and tell the manager about it in the morning and ask him/her for suggestions.

Originally Posted by WELDRWOMN

Are the numbers on the parking spots easy to read or maybe they are faded? If it is an elderly lady and she can't see too well, then re-painting the numbers would be an option. You could also write down the plate number of the car and tell the manager about it in the morning and ask him/her for suggestions.

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The numbers on the parking spots are easy to see. They're the kind that are used to mark addresses on houses, and the color contrasts with the wood they're on. The parking lot is lit so the numbers and the sign (which is posted on the vertical support beam immediately next to the parking spot) are visible at night.

There is another car of the same make and model that parks in the vicinity, and I'm not sure if the woman I saw belongs to that car or the one in my spot (I didn't check the plates because I thought the issue had been resolved). I do know that the car in my spot is the same one as before because I took pictures both times and compared the license plate number. If the woman I saw is the owner, she's in her 30's or 40's. If not, then I haven't seen the owner.

I think I'm irritated more than I'd normally be because the person's timing has been awful. The last time, I had to lug foster kittens (and the supplies I took to an adoption event) around my complex in 100F+ weather. This time, I was feeling ill and went to the grocery store to pick up some things that couldn't wait until morning. The last thing I wanted was an extra long walk, especially when I'm paying for the spot as part of the rental agreement.

I have had an issue like this only in my case I was living on a college campus. It was a 19 bedroom house split into four units of three 5 bedroom apts and a 4 bedroom apt. Each apartment had two spots, very clearly marked. However, other apartments would have friends over and allow them to park in any of the open spots knowing they were taking other peoples spots and they didn't care.

We started leaving notes on the cars (after taking down make/model/color of car & license number) stating that the car needed to be moved within an hour (listed the time we noticed it and the time an hour was up) or we would be calling a tow truck. Funny enough, they would look outside within the hour and move the cars and eventually stopped parking in the spots. Can your rental company give you the number for the tow truck company they use so you can call after hours if someone is in your spot? A lot of rental companies try to settle it without towing but it isn't fair to you after hours when you have to park far away.

Originally Posted by frankthetank

We started leaving notes on the cars (after taking down make/model/color of car & license number) stating that the car needed to be moved within an hour (listed the time we noticed it and the time an hour was up) or we would be calling a tow truck. Funny enough, they would look outside within the hour and move the cars and eventually stopped parking in the spots. Can your rental company give you the number for the tow truck company they use so you can call after hours if someone is in your spot? A lot of rental companies try to settle it without towing but it isn't fair to you after hours when you have to park far away.

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Thank you WELDRWOMN and frankthetank for the replies. I did call the leasing company and their recording gave the phone number for a tow truck company. I feel bad calling, because I think it would cost a lot for the neighbors to get their car back. On the other hand, they've been given a warning/ have been spoken to already and that didn't stop them from parking there again. I want to be fair with them, but I also don't want to be taken advantage of. How many warnings should they get before I call a tow truck?

I just don't understand why people would park in a spot that isn't theirs.

How long was the car parked there for last night? If it was there all night I wouldn't hesitate to contact the towing company if it happened again. If it was there only for a brief time, perhaps while someone was unloading, etc. then I would go to the leasing company again first.

Hope you feel better!

Originally Posted by AbbysMom

How long was the car parked there for last night? If it was there all night I wouldn't hesitate to contact the towing company if it happened again. If it was there only for a brief time, perhaps while someone was unloading, etc. then I would go to the leasing company again first.

Hope you feel better!

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The first time, they moved their car soon after the manager went looking for them. Less than an hour. I don't know if they meant to be out of the spot quickly or if they moved the car because a manager told them to.

Last night, though, they parked it there for the evening.

Thank you for the kind wishes. I skipped making dinner last night and sent my SO to feed the ferals because I wanted to sit still as much as possible, but I feel like my neighbors took some control over that away from me.

Originally Posted by Going Nova

I need to vent and ask for advice.

I live in an apartment complex where each unit has one assigned space (the number is written into the lease). I've been here for over a year and there's a sign posted right next to my parking spot that says something like "Assigned Resident Parking. Violators Will Be Towed at Owner's Expense." I park there every day, so there's no way anyone would think that the spot isn't assigned.

The first time the neighbor parked there (a couple of months ago), I went to the office and asked the manager if she could contact the owner and ask them to move their car. (I have no idea who owns the car, or which apartment they are in.) The manager either spoke to the owner, or left a note on the windshield saying the car would be towed. About an hour later, the car was gone.

I thought the problem was solved, but this evening the exact same person was in my spot again! I don't understand why this person thinks she (I think it's a she) can keep parking there. I couldn't ask the management to track down the owner this time, because it was 10 PM when I came home and the office was closed.

Has anyone had this problem with a neighbor? If so, how did you resolve it?

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Do you know the name of the towing company? If so, call the company yourself, tell them that someone is parked in your spot, and it states that cars will be towed. Tell them you can prove that the spot in question is yours because it is on your ease.

The tow truck will come and tow the car. Before the people can get their car back they will have to pay the cost of the towing.

I understand feeling bad about them having to pay the towing fees...afterall, here it costs at least 130 to get cars after they have been towed. And 50 if you stop the person in the middle of the tow!
Maybe if they do it again leave a note....stating that they have parked there two times already and no action has been taken. And if they park in a spot that is not theirs anymore, they will be towed. It might be someone visiting a neighbor and the neighbor didn't tell them. Either way, two times would be enough for me.
I would leave a note first, and then call if it happens ANY more times after that. Leaving a note ensures they see that the car can be towed, and also gives them a 3rd warning that is more in their face then posted signs.

Hmm, yeah that sucks. We used to live in an apartment building with an undergroung parking garage with assigned spaces. Every once in a while they'd stick notices under everyone's doors reminding people to only park in their assigned spot, and thay their car can be towed without warning or notice, etc etc. I think only maybe 2-3 times in the almost 9 years BF lived there, someone was in his spot, and he had the management people contact the car owner and it actually got sorted right away.

Since it's happened to you twice now, with the same person, I'd say just call the towing company next time. They had their chance.

Good luck!! And I hope you're feeling better!

If there is a sign right next to your space, and this is the second time...it's time to forget about being nice and call the towing company. It's their problem, not yours...they've had their warning already.

Take a picture of the car and the license plate # and the spot it's parked in. Put a note on the car. Email the pics to the apt mgr with a note explaining the situation and how long the car was parked there. Also inform the mgr that in the future if the car is parked in your spot, you'll call the towing company. Don't hesitate to do it either.

what we used to do when someone was parked in our assigned spaces (this was me and my next door neighbor, who was one awesome lady), we'd park our vehicles right up behind their car when they were in our spaces. It happened a lot as we were both right at the end of the lane of the complex. We'd put a note on the window telling them to move their car and where they can find us. our windows faced the parking, so we'd sit and watch. When they came out and found themselves stuck, we'd go out there and explain these were assigned spaces and they were not to use them. the uncovered parking was for guests and extra cars. They got the message every time. we never had the same person doing this twice. I got it a lot because mine was the last space in the row... no guest parking next to it either... but I kept an eye on it and made sure they understood to not park there again. If they did, they'd get towed. Sounds mean, but it got the point across. We had every right to block them in to send that message.

Amanda