RETURNING home to find someone else parked in your spot is one of life’s inconveniences.
In recent times, parking disputes have often disrupted the harmony amongst residents, so we decided to find out what can and can’t be done legally if you find yourself at loggerheads over a parking space.
Parking can be a rare commodity even in your own street[/caption]
According to RAC the average car is only use for only 4% of the time.
Our cars are parked at home for 80% of the time, and elsewhere on average for 16% of the remaining, so it’s no wonder motorists can become territorial about their parking space.
With many streets now updated with residential parking, this warns off the competition from other drivers who don’t live locally.
But parking rows between residents still arise, but it’s important to know your rights and not let disputes escalate.
How to stop my neighbour from using my parking spot
The first thing to remember is that nobody has an automatic right to park outside their own home.
With this in mind, you will need to resolve the situation in an amicable manner, so it is important to remain calm.
Always remember, providing they are not breaking the Highway Code, all road users are technically entitled to park outside your house in most instances.
Having a friendly word with the neighbour in question is the first port of call, you may find that they did not realise that their parking habits bothered you.
A friendly conversation could bring about a way to compromise with your neighbour so that you share the desired parking space and have designated days that you each can agree on.
What are my parking rights?
The main thing to consider when it comes to the law on parking and also recommendations from the Highway Code is that is all comes down to common sense and good manners in the main.
While people look upon it as an “unwritten rule” that the owner of a house should be entitled to park directly outside, that’s sadly all it is.
Even in the case of someone blocking your driveway, it is only a common courtesy not to park directly in front of it, giving the property owner access to their own drive.
The Highway Code, paragraph 207, asks that people DO NOT park their vehicle where it might cause an obstruction to other pedestrians or road users, and cites the example of not parking in front of another person’s driveway.
Permit parking has become a popular way to warn off other drivers from taking up the limited parking spaces of residents but it comes with its down-sides[/caption]
In essence, while there are certain rules and regulations under the Highway Code relating to parking on public highways, mostly it’s a matter of common decency and courtesy.
If your street issues parking permits, anyone with one will be able to park anywhere along the road.
Drivers may be tempted to save the spot outside their house using a wheelie bin or cones.
However, this can be classed as an obstruction in the road and you may end up being reported to the local council or the police.
Am I entitled to the space outside my house?
Anyone can park in a public road space, even if it’s directly outside your house, as long as they aren’t breaking the Highway Code.
However, if you have residential parking then you are entitled to park outside your home, so long as a space is available.
Disabled motorists can claim a parking space by contacting their local council and request that a disabled bay be marked out to deter other drivers from taking their designated parking space.
To be eligible, the driver must be a Blue Badge holder.
If you’re a blue badge holder you can apply for your own parking space to be marked out[/caption]
How to report a parking problem?
The Metropolitan police website state the following:
“If a parking space is available on a public road, even if it’s directly outside your house, anyone is allowed to park in it.
“We appreciate this can be frustrating, especially if spaces are hard to come by on your street.”
Police also deem an illegally parked car to be:
If the vehicle is parked:
- On zig zag lines
- Dangerously
- In a way that would prevent emergency vehicles from accessing
If these apply to your situation then you can go to your local police constabulary website and fill in the relevant contact form.
Whereas if a vehicle is parked in the following cases it needs to be reported to the local council:
- Over a dropped kerb
- On a pedestrian crossing (including the area marked by the zig-zag lines)
- In spaces reserved for Blue Badge holders, residents or motorbikes (unless entitled to do so)
- In marked taxi bays, cycle lanes or red lines
- Near a school entrance, bus or tram stop
