Assigned Condo Parking Space Has Impediment

P.R. from outside of Connecticut writes:

Dear Mister Condo,

My husband and I bought a condo with an assigned parking space. Included in the condo documents was a drawing of the condo parking space with each being the same size. When we tried to pull in, we noticed that there is a concrete column that projects into our space and our car cannot fit. This column is not depicted in the condo association drawing. Do we have any right to a new space?

Mister Condo replies:

P.R., in my experience, condo parking comes as is, regardless of drawings and diagrams. I am not an attorney and you may wish a legal opinion to confirm or see if you have recourse but my understanding is that you have an assigned parking space which has likely included an impediment since it was first sold as part of your unit. Assigned parking is at the discretion of the Board and you could certainly ask for a reassignment but the Board is likely under no obligation to honor that request and may not even have the available space to move you if they wanted to. Did you inspect the parking space before you made the purchase? It is a bit of a “Buyer Beware” situation. If the association built an impediment after you purchased and they took over your space you might have a bit more of a case. Also, if your parking is deeded (the exact space is part of the unit deed), you might have a case. Typically, this is not the case. The Board usually governs the common area, of which the parking lot is typically a part. Sorry I don’t have better news for you. Speak with an attorney to confirm. Good luck!