She Bought a Condo With a Designated Parking Spot but Doesn’t Own a Car Yet, and Her Neighbors Keep Parking in it Without Asking so Her Guest Have Nowhere To Park
A woman recently bought a condo in a small building where each unit comes with one deeded parking spot. She doesn’t own a car right now, though she expects to buy one within the next year.
Her neighbors seem to have noticed. They’ve started treating her empty spot like guest parking, and she’s trying to figure out how to claim it without starting conflict in a building where everyone shares a small HOA.
New Condo With a Deeded Spot
She’s a new homeowner in a small condo building. Each unit has one assigned parking space.
Those spots are deeded, meaning each one legally belongs to a specific condo. Hers is part of what she bought.
In many cities, a deeded parking space can add thousands, or even tens of thousands, of dollars to a property’s value. It’s an asset, not just a convenience.
No Car Yet
She doesn’t currently own a car. Living in the city, she can get by without one for now.
She expects that to change soon. She plans to buy a car sometime in the next year.
Until then, her spot often sits empty. That’s where the problem started.
City Street Parking
Street parking in her area can be difficult. It isn’t impossible, but finding a space often takes time.
Some cities also charge for street permits or have time limits. That can make reliable parking even more valuable.
Because of that, an empty off-street space stands out. Her neighbors seem to have noticed.
Neighbors Treating It Like Guest Parking
The other owners all have cars. Some have started parking second vehicles in her spot.
Others use it for guests. Nobody asks her first.
When she points it out, they’re usually apologetic and move their cars. Still, she doesn’t think she should have to ask every time.
Friends and Family With Nowhere to Park
Her friends and family visit from time to time. She’d like them to be able to use the space she owns.
Several times, she or a guest has arrived to find someone else parked there. They’ve had to search for street parking instead.
That’s frustrating, especially since the spot belongs to her. It feels like she’s losing access to something she paid for.
Last Night’s Uninvited Car
Last night, one neighbor had friends over. Their guests parked in her space.
Nobody asked for permission. It was simply assumed the spot was available.
That made her realize she needed to address it soon. She doesn’t want it to become an accepted guest space.
Buying a Cheap Car Just to Hold It
She’s considered buying a car sooner than planned. She’s even thought about getting a very cheap used car just to keep the spot occupied.
That option would come with real costs. Insurance, registration, maintenance, and the purchase price itself could add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars a year.
It seems silly to spend money just to protect a parking space. Still, she wonders if it might be the easiest solution.
Setting a Boundary Without Animosity
Her neighbors are friendly, and she wants to keep good relationships. Since they all share a small HOA, getting along matters.
At the same time, she worries that letting people use the space now will make it harder to reclaim later. She’s left trying to find a way to be firm about her parking spot without damaging the neighborly relationships she’s just starting to build.
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