Pay for parking?

[wvjules]

DBF got a job in DC and we're moving down that way. For him to commute from Frederick will be a PITA. It will be much easier if I commute since I will be going against rush hour traffic. He's moving into a sublet until the end of the year and we'll be moving in somewhere together at the end of the year. We've started looking at places to live and even though the prices are high, managable but high, the parking is a killer! Heck he has to pay $280 to park for work. I don't want to have to pay to park at home too!

So my question is why do apartment buildings with a dedicated parking garage or dedicated parking lot charge for parking? I can understand if it's a permit for a public lot but when it is only for building residents, why charge additional?

 

[cluvsdisney]

To be frank, because they can. If street parking is limited or inconvenient assigned parking has value. It also adds revenue to the building and covers the expense of maintaining the parking area (security, upkeep, etc). (eta) And the expense of upkeep should be limited to the residents using the parking lot and not by other people in the building.

 

[cmwade77]

His work should be paying for his parking costs. There is no excuse for them not to. As far as I am aware, in our state, they would be required to.

I would never rent an apartment that I had to pay for parking at, it should be included with the rent and if someone doesn't need a spot, they should be able to negotiate a lower rent.

Of course, I live in California, so these both may be west coast things.

 

[capshockeygrl]

His work should be paying for his parking costs. There is no excuse for them not to. As far as I am aware, in our state, they would be required to.

I would never rent an apartment that I had to pay for parking at, it should be included with the rent and if someone doesn't need a spot, they should be able to negotiate a lower rent.

Of course, I live in California, so these both may be west coast things.

In DC (and the surrounding areas), you're lucky if your workplace subsidizes your parking! In Alexandria I never had to pay to park my car at my apartment complex, but if you're any closer than that in NoVA or in DC proper, you'll have to pay to park your car. And its not likely to be cheap. Part of the reasoning is that they don't generally have enough spaces for all of the residents. If you're living in DC, everything is generally metro-accessible, so a car is an unnecessary luxury.

 

[clarkshel]

Wish we has as cheap parking as you guys are getting. The parking for undergound parking in the downtown core of my city is around $550/month. And surface parking can be around $300. My companies office I'm working out of is on the edge of the city. So far away from downtown. I pay $185/month to park in my companies U/G parking. If I was staff it would be $65, but I'm a contractor so we pay full price.

All of the apartment buildings downtown here have parking included in the rent.

 

[DebbieB]

His work should be paying for his parking costs. There is no excuse for them not to. As far as I am aware, in our state, they would be required to.

I would never rent an apartment that I had to pay for parking at, it should be included with the rent and if someone doesn't need a spot, they should be able to negotiate a lower rent.

Of course, I live in California, so these both may be west coast things.

I live in PA and pay to park at work, it's downtown and public transportation is available as an option. We do get a lower tenant rate, $135 a month.

I have some friends in CA and I remember when they started parking in a different garage than the one for their work building because they raised the rate. Unless it has changed, I don't think free parking is a requirement.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

If adequate public transportation is available, a company will not subsidize your parking. It's your choice if you decide to drive.

 

[wvjules]

His employer does the parking pre-tax so that's something. Of all the places in DC for him to get a job he gets one that doesn't have a nearby Metro stop. We both will still need our cars so we will just have to suck it up and pay for parking if we like the apartment/condo that much. It's definately a consideration while hunting for a place to live though.

 

[Laura66]

Why would an employer be required to pay for parking?
My husband works in downtown Cleveland - I don't know anyone who's company pays. When I was in the workforce years ago Downtown I paid as well.
I see it as a nice perk if offered - but I would never pass up a job opportunity because of it. To me - it would be like asking them to pay for my vehicle and gas!

 

[Liberty Belle]

His work should be paying for his parking costs. There is no excuse for them not to. As far as I am aware, in our state, they would be required to.

I would never rent an apartment that I had to pay for parking at, it should be included with the rent and if someone doesn't need a spot, they should be able to negotiate a lower rent.

Of course, I live in California, so these both may be west coast things.

My husband works for a university and has to pay $500 a year for a parking pass (and it's very close to his office, at all).

 

[sonnyjane]

I'm in CA. They are definitely not required to pay for parking.

 

[DopeyDame]

If you're in downtown DC, many of the tenants probably don't have cars, so those that do need parking have to pay for that separately. It's crazy expensive, I know. There are lots of options other than metrorail for public transportation in DC, so it's very possible your DBF can take public transit if he wants.
And yup - parking is crazy expensive and that's a PITA.

 

[DopeyDame]

His work should be paying for his parking costs. There is no excuse for them not to. As far as I am aware, in our state, they would be required to.

.

I have never, ever heard of a requirement to pay for parking, including when I lived and worked in California.

 

[Mokat76]

There are a lot of commuters in the DC area who are looking for others to join them in their daily trek. Your DH can find out more about that when he gets up there before you join him. Many of the common commute areas have what are called "slug lines" of people who park in distant commuter lots and then get in others' cars to commute the rest of the way. It gives the driver access to HOV lanes, which is to their advantage. Maybe you can look at living in an area where that's an option to at least keep the at-work parking cost to a minimum. DC isn't easy.

 

[HM]

His work should be paying for his parking costs. There is no excuse for them not to. As far as I am aware, in our state, they would be required to.

I pay over $460 a year to park where I work (a university). My DH gets free parking at his place of employment. My DD paid $75 to park at her HS this year.

OP-
I'm sorry that it's come as such a shock. You'll just have to work it into your budget.

 

[DEA]

DBF got a job in DC and we're moving down that way. For him to commute from Frederick will be a PITA. It will be much easier if I commute since I will be going against rush hour traffic. He's moving into a sublet until the end of the year and we'll be moving in somewhere together at the end of the year. We've started looking at places to live and even though the prices are high, managable but high, the parking is a killer! Heck he has to pay $280 to park for work. I don't want to have to pay to park at home too!

So my question is why do apartment buildings with a dedicated parking garage or dedicated parking lot charge for parking? I can understand if it's a permit for a public lot but when it is only for building residents, why charge additional?

It allows them to compete on price with other apartment complexes better. If the apartment is $1500 a month, and if they're able to charge you an additional $300 for parking a month, then they're able to up their margins by charging those using the parking, while they can keep the base rent lower for people who use public transportation, and use it as a selling point for both groups: "You don't have a car? You won't pay any parking charge. You have a car? We can guarantee you a reserved parking space in our complex for the low, low price of..."

And, generally, the farther you are from DC proper, and in suburban rather than city-ish areas, the easier it will be to find free parking at home. What I mean by city-ish encompasses places like Rockville and Bethesda in MD, Arlington and Alexandria in VA.

 

[John VN]

Parking payed for by employer-

Maybe as a perk but not required anyplace I worked at.

 

[clarkshel]

My company pays up to $250/month for staff parking. All the employee has to pay is $65/month. This is at any lot the employee choices to park at, whether it is the companies lot or not.

 

[ironpig70]

Heard of places renting the space either way.

Either you as a tenant pay to park or they rent it to the general public. Years ago places had parking included and folks who didn't drive rented their space out to cover rent.