Neighbours trespassing private car park

[banz]

We have a 6 ft metal fence around the car park with a pin code lock on the gate. This car park is solely used for staff. Few months ago our neighbors started building flats/apartment next to our property. Somehow the builders has got hold of our pin code. We told them they are not allowed to use the car park. After several months of using it and leaving trash inside the car park, we have had enough. They were dragging heavy equipment through our roof and trespassing the car park without any consent. We changed the pin code last week and yesterday they broke down the fence.

 

I've contacted the police and they said unless we have caught them in the act or have any evidence to prove that they were the one that broke in, then they can't do anything.

 

What should I do? We tried speaking with the neighbors but they are just the tenants and are unable to pass the landlord contact details to us.

 

I'm thinking of installing a CCTV and then perhaps hire some sort of private parking company to enforce it?

 

I will also try and get photos of them inside the car park. But when we last confronted them about trespassing the property, they laughed and ask what are we going to do about it. They seem to be Eastern European and have very broken English. They said they will get their boss to come over and discuss it with us but he never turned up.

[unimatrix1066]

I suppose fit covert cameras and repair the fence and catch them in the act.

Cameras can be bought a lot cheaper now and can be run on Isdn lines , would the police not speak to them at all?

[banz]

I was thinking of just getting a cheap wifi webcam and put it on the window overlooking the car park.

 

I called the non emergency number and just logged a crime case. I didn't ask them to come over as I didn't see the builders there this weekend. However they have only started building the flats so it will take sometime and I'm sure they will continue to dump the trash in the car park and use our roof to store their machinery. Which is a bit of a problem because the roof is fragile and nearly 20 years old.

 

This would've been so much easier if the landlord just notify us in advance and that they will pay for any damage done to the roof / car park..... We don't mind them using it if they have asked us.

[silverfox1961]

Hi

I wonder if this is 'reasonable cause' to approach the DVLA to get the vehicle keeper details? They are trespassing on your land and it is fair to assume they have done the fence so a good quality camera which can be used for identification purposes and possibly catch them in the act of breaking in which is a criminal offence. I would make sure the camera is as covert as possible but ensure it only covers the land and the gate area.

[i hate bailiffs]

Yes CCTV would help

 

Private parking waste of time

If they are storing machinery on the roof it is potentially making it unsafe and could fail

 

Generally a roof is not load bearing and designed to take its own weight so should not be used to store equipment

[ericsbrother]

the builders are obviously working for someone-the landowner next door- so your approach should be to them. Get a solicitor to fire off a letter threatening them with an injunction unless they make the builders cease their activities affecting you and make good the damage as they are responsible for the builders' behaviour. In the long run it will cost you a few quid for an injunction but the court order will also include all of your costs and the landowner will have the threat of jail hanging over them if he doesnt comply so he will.

Did it a couple of years ago regarding a tenant of a property next door to one of mine and it cost me £8k in legal fees but I got the money back within a week as the next stage was to have a charge put on the property and then seek bankruptcy. The tenants left shortly afterwards, no doubt as a result of the threat of prison ( contempt of court) if the owner didnt stop their behaviour.

The solicitors letter should be enough if it is worded strongly.

[unimatrix1066]

I would make sure the camera playback quality was good enough if do buy a cheap web cam, as picture quality can vary, if they need to be identified.

If the police visited and saw the 'Boss' it might stop it, depends on the local police.

Around our way they would make a visit

[caro]

Change the PIN on the gate.

[i hate bailiffs]

[quote=banz;4840594t. We changed the pin code last week and yesterday they broke down the fence.

 

 

They tried that

[mikeymack2002]

Now with the Beavis case heard and settled, maybe if you put up signs for your carpark and added terms and conditions you can safely add a charge of £85.00 per breach of contract, It has been decided the amount of money charged is ok. So set your fee and then maybe get some good money for your problem? Thinking out loud here that's all. Crazy but legal maybe?

[banz]

Okay I went there to inspect the damage this afternoon. They removed part of their fence and replaced it with a wooden door into our car park. They put a skip inside there property but it is impossible to do that unless they move it through the car park. I've logged the case with the local police and they will go and investigate. Although there is no CCTV footage, it is impossible for them to move a skip into their side without trespassing.

 

I'm going to try and reach out to the neighbor landlord again. I'm not even sure if he/she knows what is going on as I haven't been able to get hold of them. I'll ask the tenants to pass the letter on. I don't mind them using the car park but they are damaging the roof, fence, gravel and leaving rubbish around.

 

Then I'll change the pin back so that the builders will continue to access the car park so I can take photos of them and jot down the number plates.

 

The police will come next week and investigate, hopefully they will have enough evidence. If they don't then we will get CCTV installed.

 

I'd prefer to speak to the landlord first as this is a small village. Everyone is fairly friendly and nice. I'm sure he/she doesn't know the builders are trespassing and hopefully if I ask nicely, they still stop breaking into it. If they don't then I'll get an injunction.

 

Thanks for all the advices!

[caro]

They tried that

 

Doh! What a dimwit. Should have read it properly!

[armadillo71]

We have a 6 ft metal fence around the car park with a pin code lock on the gate. This car park is solely used for staff. Few months ago our neighbors started building flats/apartment next to our property. Somehow the builders has got hold of our pin code. We told them they are not allowed to use the car park. After several months of using it and leaving trash inside the car park, we have had enough. They were dragging heavy equipment through our roof and trespassing the car park without any consent. We changed the pin code last week and yesterday they broke down the fence.

 

I've contacted the police and they said unless we have caught them in the act or have any evidence to prove that they were the one that broke in, then they can't do anything.

 

What should I do? We tried speaking with the neighbors but they are just the tenants and are unable to pass the landlord contact details to us.

 

I'm thinking of installing a CCTV and then perhaps hire some sort of private parking company to enforce it?

 

I will also try and get photos of them inside the car park. But when we last confronted them about trespassing the property, they laughed and ask what are we going to do about it. They seem to be Eastern European and have very broken English. They said they will get their boss to come over and discuss it with us but he never turned up.

 

It took you months to change the pin code?

 

These builders don't care about trespassing or causing criminal damage and you think a PPC sticking an invoice on their van will stop them?

 

Confronting the landlord is the way forward along with any police action you have instigated imo.

[armadillo71]

Now with the Beavis case heard and settled, maybe if you put up signs for your carpark and added terms and conditions you can safely add a charge of £85.00 per breach of contract, It has been decided the amount of money charged is ok. So set your fee and then maybe get some good money for your problem? Thinking out loud here that's all. Crazy but legal maybe?

 

How does the Beavis case relate to this situation? The car park is for staff not the general public...

[stu007]

Hi

 

Please remember that the Landowner that is building the Properties is the one that is liable here as they will be the one that has employed the services of these different contractors to build the Properties so you need to approach them and put everything in writing, keep copies, get free proof of posting from post office and keep a good paper trail.

[JoeyJoeC]

Personally, I'd get a large concrete block barrier delivered to block anyone using the wooden fence they put up, blocking in the skip and costing them money. Leave a sign up for them to contact you for access to the car park, along with an invoice for the damages.

[mikeymack2002]

The reason for my post was this. It's a private car park so you can now lawfully place signs up station g any breach of the T&C's you can charge those breaking the rules a set fee. Simples...

[armadillo71]

The reason for my post was this. It's a private car park so you can now lawfully place signs up station g any breach of the T&C's you can charge those breaking the rules a set fee. Simples...

 

 

You could before the Beavis case.

 

This is a private car park not open to the public, so any unauthorised parking is trespass.

 

Simples... you say? I don't think you understand the Beavis case or judgement really.

[labrat]

i would suggest a IP camera

there is very good software called Ispy for recording from IP cameras - and its free unless you want high tech settings like face recognition

 

i had a cheap £30 foscam/sricam/netwave (there all the same just differnt names) and thats fine for recording in the day and has good night range as well