Legal adviser Mariam Abu Hussein at Lawhive has outlined what UK homeowners need to know about parking disputes, including whether they can stop someone parking outside their house and what to do if their driveway is blocked.
Private and public highways
Public highways are maintained and overseen by local authorities or governmental organisations. Since they are accessible to all, parking is permitted on these roads provided drivers comply with relevant parking regulations and restrictions.
Private land, such as a driveway or designated parking bay, is owned by an individual person or company. This means the proprietor has the authority to determine who may park there and who may not. Should someone leave a vehicle on private land without authorisation, this constitutes trespassing, and the owner is entitled to arrange its removal.
Rights outside your property
If the parking space outside a house is situated on private land, such as a driveway, the owner is entitled to establish and enforce their own parking regulations. However, if the area is on a public road, Mariam highlighted that it cannot be reserved as an exclusive parking space, even though it is directly outside the property. In these circumstances, anyone is typically free to park there, provided they comply with all applicable parking regulations and restrictions.
When a vehicle parks across a dropped kerb and obstructs driveway access, "this is illegal", and the homeowner is fully entitled to report it to the local authority or police force, as it stops them from entering their own property.
Requests and signs
Mariam emphasised that "any request not to park in front of your house on a public road is a courtesy and not a legal requirement". She added, "This means they do not have to accommodate your request, and there is no legal recourse for refusal provided the person follows local parking regulations and restrictions."
Homeowners are free to put up a "no parking" sign at their property, but it is "not legally enforceable unless it's part of an official scheme approved by the local council". The legal expert explained: "To have a 'no parking' sign that carries legal power, you must go through your local council to request an official sign be installed. The council has specific criteria and processes for installing official signage."
Blocked driveways and reporting
According to the UK Highway Code, parking in front of a dropped kerb is "illegal" because these spaces are designed to keep driveways accessible and must remain unobstructed at all times. The same rule applies to shared driveways. Local authorities and law enforcement teams enforce driveway-blocking regulations and have the authority to issue fines, impose penalties, or remove vehicles parked illegally.
In most cases, contacting the local council is the appropriate course of action to report illegal parking, as councils typically have dedicated departments or parking enforcement units. If the violation poses an urgent safety concern or disrupts the peace, the police non-emergency line or online report can be used. Mariam urged, "When reporting illegal parking, use the official channels provided. Don't take matters into your own hands or confront the individual parking illegally, as this can escalate the situation."
