Rental arrangements can be really frustrating at times, especially when something we need, like a parking spot or laundry services, is not included in our rental fees.
But that doesn’t mean we should entitle ourselves to someone else’s features, agreed the “Am I the A**hole?” (AITA) subReddit.
Redditor winemug89 wasn’t sure what to do next when their downstairs neighbor repeatedly demanded that they let her use their parking spot, for free, since they didn’t have a car.
But when the landlord was unwilling to adjust the rental cost, and the neighbor didn’t want to pay, the Original Poster (OP) found themselves in a tough position.
They asked the sub:
“AITA for not giving up my parking spot for my downstairs neighbor? Even though I don’t have a car?”
Parking arrangements varied between the OP and their neighbors.
“I moved into a house with 3 apartments. Upstairs people, me on the main floor, and the basement girl.”
“There are only two parking spots which belong to the upstairs people and me. The landlord said the basement girl doesn’t have a parking spot. The parking spot is part of my rent.”
“I don’t have a car so that spot goes unused mostly except when I have friends over or if they stay with me on the weekend, then they use my spot.”
The downstairs neighbor was hoping for a change in the rental agreement.
“Basement girl, I guess, got a car now and has been parking on the street, but she needs to move her car every few hours to avoid a ticket.”
“I guess she asked the landlord if she can have my parking spot since I don’t use it.”
“The landlord asked me, and I said I can give her the spot if there is a reduction on my rent.”
“He said no to that, so I said, no, sorry then, it’s my spot.”
“Also, in my email back to the landlord, I asked if she wants to pay for the spot and he said she’s not willing to do that because it should be included in her rent already.”
The downstairs neighbor lashed out.
“Apparently, this really p**sed the basement girl off, and she left a note at my door saying how she needs the spot and I don’t need it so give it to her blah blah blah. I ignored the note.”
“I told my friend this and she said the friendly thing to do would be to give up my spot and now I’m just seen as the a**hole neighbor.”
“So AITA?”
Fellow Redditors weighed in:
- NTA: Not the A**hole
- YTA: You’re the A**hole
- ESH: Everybody Sucks Here
- NAH: No A**holes Here
Some thought the landlord was truly the one to blame in this situation.
“I would say the landlord is the AH here. He could very easily have come up with a charge, deducted it off your rent, and added it to hers so everyone is whole.”
“Maybe you can arrange a cost with her directly?” – afleetingmoment
“It’s the landlord’s fault here, if it’s included in rent, and it sounds like it is for OP as well, then the landlord is the AH.”
“But parking might be tiered out so she might not qualify either way looking at the rental agreement would solve this issue.” – Lilpops13
“They didn’t start off neighborly. So no they shouldn’t oblige. They’re literally not even being logical. They just want s**t for free and act entitled. There’s no way any arrangement between them will be kept considering the neighbor’s behavior.”
“The landlord has the power here. If he can’t be logical either to satisfy both parties then no, he needs to stand firm and keep the spot. He might even get a car at some point and he still makes use of it for his guests.” – Mundane-College-3144
“If it ‘should have been included in her rent,’ then it’s the landlord’s problem. If her lease states a spot is included, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to provide it. Reference your lease agreement and bring up sections regarding parking to your landlord if he pushes.” – saltyyy_
“This is an issue between her and landlord, not you. If her lease doesn’t include the spot and yours does, then tough toodles. She can either rent it from you on a separate agreement, or your landlord can amend both leases to reflect price differences and parking spot rights.”
“Hold your ground on this, and remember that a tenant and landlord relationship is a business one. You don’t owe either of them to be ‘friendly,’ you pay your rent for a service and have the right to that service. If the basement girl wants a new service, she can also pay for it. OP, you are NTA.” – Fashion4Fun
“Did the landlord lead her to believe parking was included? I know the landlord told YOU parking wasn’t included in her rent, but do you know that she was told that?”
“You’re NTA either way, but if the landlord was deceptive then the landlord is an AH.” – throwawayas1775
“NTA.”
“Check what’s in your lease. If the lease specifies you have a parking spot, then it’s your spot whether you use it every day or never. You’re paying for it.”
“By the sounds of it, parking was explicitly not included in the basement girl’s lease. Sucks for her, but she chose to rent somewhere where she wouldn’t have off-street parking. It’s obvious to me that the basement girl wants to use the spot for free. She doesn’t want to pay the landlord for it, and I doubt she would want to pay you to use it (you could ask).”
“I used to pay to rent an off-street spot that my upstairs neighbors had been using without paying for. The first time they took my spot, the landlord sent an email reminder. The second time, the landlord had them towed. Document and photograph every time she parks in your spot and send it to your landlord.” – aangziety
“While OP is at it, they should send a follow-up email with the landlord and basement girl, clarifying that,”
“‘While it unfortunate that [girl] and [OP] were not able to come to an agreement over renting parking space [number] from me, [OP] would like to clarify with [landlord] that the parking space remains exclusively available for [OP’s] use, entirely at [OP’s] discretion, throughout [OP’s] tenancy agreement with [landlord] unless otherwise renegotiated.'”
“Then when she inevitably parks there without asking, OP has some nice written proof to get an illegally-parked car towed.” – Mudkip-Mudkip-Mudkip
Others pointed out that the OP had already done all they needed to do for their neighbors.
“OP offered to have her pay the cost but both landlord and basement girl refused, it’s not OP’s obligation to resolve this issue.”
“To keep the peace I would suggest OP send a note to the basement girl that they are willing to part with their space for the difference in cost.”
“If you live in an HCOL (high cost of living) area, a parking spot unfortunately just isn’t guaranteed. Which is shitty, but it’s reality.” – educatedvegetable
“That means you offered to lend her your spot, and she refused to pay, which means she doesn’t want the spot. If she did, she would pay. You definitely NTA, she is definitely the AH, and the landlord is also kinda an AH.” – Reddit_User_385
“Should be included isn’t a thing, she rented out the room that didn’t have it included. Aka, she wants something not just for free, but at your cost. Put a cone in your parking spot.” – JCBashBash
“The only thing you could possibly do to help her then is to offer to rent it to her for what it costs in your rent. Tell her since you are paying for it all you want is reimbursement.”
“Do not give it to her for free, she’s already showing a worrying level of entitlement considering she isn’t paying for the privilege of a designated spot.”
“Whether you make that offer or not you are NTA, I’m sure it’s also nice that when you have visitors they don’t need to park on the street.” – opinionswelcomehere
“NTA based on the added comments. You are paying for the parking spot in your rent. The landlord isn’t willing to reduce the amount for you and she isn’t willing to pay to rent the spot. Sounds like someone else’s problem to me.” – Chaotic-Consequence
“Aaaand she’s about to learn a lesson about adulting. It’s in the rent alright, your rent. Tell her she can pay you $75/month or whatever the going rate is, upfront in 6-month increments, or she can pound sand. I wouldn’t even do that, she sounds like drama, but definitely do offer a month-to-month situation. If she hassles you, report her to the landlord.”
“NTA.” – capmanor1755
“SHE made that choice. It’s included in YOUR rent. You signed a rental agreement with it in your rent. That’s legally binding.”
“She signed her rental agreement with knowing there was no parking. HER CHOICE…”
“If she wants your parking that is in YOUR agreement then she needs to pay or keep doing the parking dance.”
“Be aware she may try to park in your spot, and it could get nasty.” – prozackat83
“NTA. If she thinks the parking fee is added to the rent then she should demand her own parking spot and not yours. If she is coming directly to you, tell her you will rent it out to her. If she doesn’t agree, tough luck!”
“You are not at fault here. Even if you go for a little bit of kindness, chances are you’ll never get your spot back for your guests or for when you decide to get a car.” – Miserable_Smoke585
While the subReddit could understand the “basement girl’s” frustrations with having to frequently move her car to avoid tickets, they didn’t think a free parking spot was the solution either. Ideally, the landlord should be able to do something about this, and reflect in both of their leases who needs parking and who does not.