Buying a house but concerned about designated parking space

Buying a house but concerned about designated parking space

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Discussion

Acuity30

Original Poster:

286 posts

25 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
We all know there's no such thing as a dream home unless you design it yourself from the ground up, so compromises must be made.
All in all I'm happy with the house I'm going for. My only concern is designated parking.
I've not completed yet, it's early days with the solicitors, so I just wanted some reassurance I guess. I'm a FTB. The back garden leads to a door which grants access to the back of the garage, with a parking space up front. Mine will be on the far right (where the car is parked in the pic). To the right of that space is an alleyway where the neighbours can access their rear garden. Not too concerned but if they're wheeling their bins around, there's a chance something could hit my car.
To the left is the neighbours garage which I'll assume usually has a car on it, so there's potential for dings if they open the door too wide.
I was wondering if I should think about erecting a few posts attached by chains to avoid anything/anyone bumping my car, on both sides. Or am I overreacting? I can't park the car in the garage because I have two motorbikes.
You might say 'find a house with a front drive', but I've been looking since Feb and this is one of the best ones which ticks the most boxes, and for a good price. This is basically the biggest downside I've found
Thoughts?


BoRED S2upid

20,319 posts

247 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
Looks a big enough space to avoid dings. You can park over to the right hope they park over to the left. Overthinking it as is normal for a FTB.

Acuity30

Original Poster:

286 posts

25 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
BoRED S2upid said:
Looks a big enough space to avoid dings. You can park over to the right hope they park over to the left. Overthinking it as is normal for a FTB.
Yes I did think it was quite a wide space. One of the first things I'll probably be doing is installing CCTV above the garage door anyway. Not so much for the car but for the garage contents. There aren't many mounting points for the camera so it would probably have to be directly above the garage door pointing down to the parking space so should overlook the car and catch anyone trying to break in.
I did just notice that there doesn't seem to be much in terms of water drainage either? I'm big into detailing and like to wash my car with a jetwash. Hopefully water doesn't just run straight under the garage door.
I'm skeptical of new builds. This one was built in late 2014 so just out of warranty. Current occupants are upsizing into a bigger new build.

nuyorican

1,779 posts

109 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
FTB?

nuyorican

1,779 posts

109 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
BoRED S2upid said:
Looks a big enough space to avoid dings. You can park over to the right hope they park over to the left. Overthinking it as is normal for a FTB.
And then the neighbour crams in a massive builder's van into the new space...

Dazdot

166 posts

40 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
nuyorican said:
FTB?
First time buyer.

Indecision

513 posts

87 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
nuyorican said:
FTB?
First time buyer

nuyorican

1,779 posts

109 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
Doh, of course.

Acuity30

Original Poster:

286 posts

25 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
nuyorican said:
And then the neighbour crams in a massive builder's van into the new space...
Ok barriers are going up lol

dickymint

25,804 posts

265 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
Check there isn't a covenant that says no fence between garages.

Andeh1

7,202 posts

213 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
Better then city centre parking, or busy tescos parking, or on street parking round the corner, or communal parking, or non designated parking, or no parking itself.

And we also spent 3 years building our dream house, with an over sized 7m double garage. Kids still dented my door with wife's door. irked

Acuity30

Original Poster:

286 posts

25 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
dickymint said:
Check there isn't a covenant that says no fence between garages.
How do I find that?

Alex Z

1,506 posts

83 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
Acuity30 said:
dickymint said:
Check there isn't a covenant that says no fence between garages.
How do I find that?
Ask your solicitor

Bill

54,196 posts

262 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
Acuity30 said:
Or am I overreacting?
Yes, IMO. If it's bothering you that much you need to make compromises elsewhere.

ninepoint2

3,495 posts

167 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
I would not be happy with that, particularly as you seem to want to minimise the risk of any damage to your car, there's a whole lot of potential grief in that scenario, anything shared like that has a huge list of probable things that will go wrong

Edited by ninepoint2 on Friday 27th September 20:58

Fatboy

8,081 posts

279 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
dickymint said:
Check there isn't a covenant that says no fence between garages.
Plant pots instead :⁠-⁠)

DS129

162 posts

78 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
Your solicitor will/should find out if any exist.
Be aware that putting up a barrier or fence screams " I don't trust you" so might not endear you to your neighbour

skeeterm5

3,688 posts

195 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
I would have thought neighbours are likely to be more careful than random folk in public car parks which are likely to be tighter than you drive space.

Do you avoid all car parks and other spaces for you car with the same worries? If not, then yes, you are over thinking it.

Acuity30

Original Poster:

286 posts

25 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
ninepoint2 said:
I would not be happy with that, particularly as you seem to want to minimise the risk of any damage to your car, there's a whole lot of potential grief in that scenario, anything shared like that has a huge list of probable things that will go wrong

Edited by ninepoint2 on Friday 27th September 20:58
Yea I was thinking that, what would be on the list of probable things?

FMOB

1,994 posts

19 months

Friday 27th September
quotequote all
I think it has potential for issues, suggest OP visits one evening during the week to see whats what.

This sort of thing is another reason to avoid estate houses, still it has the house number painted in big letters which is helpful.

Where to start.

Bins and other crap flying about in bad weather.
Inconsiderate neighbour letting door fly open.
Little Jimmy next door not thinking and uncontrolled door opening.
Etc, etc, etc.


Edited by FMOB on Friday 27th September 21:23