How to stop my neighbour from using my parking spot – what are my rights?
IT’S annoying to see that someone took up your parking space outside your house, when you have just arrived from a long day at work.
This is what you need to know about your parking spot rights.
How to stop my neighbour from using my parking spot?
If you have a designated parking space, then it is recommended to first talk it out with the person who is parking there if you know them.
If you cannot find them, try maybe leaving a polite note on their windscreen.
If the matter can be settled peacefully, then it’ll be less stressful for both parties.
If your neighbours keep persisting and keep parking in your spot, then you have to contact your local authority and they will take action from their end.
Read More on Parking
What are my rights?
There is no law to say you have the right to park outside your own house – unless you have a designated parking space.
In terms of on-street parking, anyone is allowed to park outside your house, as long as there are no parking restrictions.
If your street issues parking permits, anyone with one will be able to park any where along the road.
Drivers may be tempted to save the spot outside their house using a wheelie bin or cones.
most read in motors
However, this can be classed as an obstruction in the road and you may end up being reported to local council or the police.
These rules also apply in America – parking spots are not allowed to be saved unless it is a designated parking space.
In some of the colder states, drivers will put out a chair if they’ve shovelled snow from the spot to park there.
It has become an un-spoken rule that other motorists won’t park there is they see this.
However, it isn’t the law and other drivers are still able to move the chair to park there.
There is a bizarre loophole which means anyone can park on your driveway.
There’s no law to say someone cannot park on your driveway, even if you haven’t let them do so.
The driver of the car can be classed as trespassing on your property.
However, trespassing is classed as a civil offence, not criminal, so the police won’t have any power to make an arrest.
If a car parks on your drive, it is technically on private land meaning local councils cannot enforce anything.
Local councils have the right to move abandoned cars both on public and private property, but if the car is insured, taxed, has a valid MOT and isn’t in any dangerous condition, its unlikely that the council will move it off of private land.
So, yes, anyone can park on your drive and there isn’t much you can do besides having a conversation with the driver and asking them politely not to park there again.
It’s also not a good idea for you to park on anyone’s driveway, even if it’s not an offence – you could stop someone getting in and out of their house.
It is a parking offence if someone is blocking your driveway.
Local authorities can get involved and issue a fine, with the amount varying depending on your local council and the severity of the offence.
Cars are not allowed to park on dropped kerbs, which are usually in front of peoples driveways.
Even just parking partially on the drop kerb can see you get a fine.
If you think a car has parked illegally, you can report it to your local authority.
Most councils will have a webpage motorist can go to if they would like to report a parking incident.
If not, there will be contact information on who is best to speak to on the matter.
When reporting an illegally parked car, you will need to give extra details such as the location, the time and the type of parking offence.
Laws for parking in America can vary so check with your state’s road rules.
Elsewhere, a parking expert gives The Sun their top tips on avoiding parking fines.
Read More on The Sun
Plus, if you wish to appeal a parking ticket you have received, we detail how you can do this.
And in London, you can park on the red routes single red lines for longer than you may think.