A legal adviser has clarified what homeowners can and cannot do when someone parks outside their house, including the rules on public roads, private driveways, and dropped kerbs.
Private and public roads explained
Public roads are maintained by the local council and are accessible to everyone. Drivers are entitled to park on them provided they follow local parking regulations and guidelines.
Private property, such as a driveway or designated parking space, belongs to a specific individual or organisation. The owner has the authority to decide who can park there. If someone parks on private property without permission, it is considered trespassing, and the owner has the right to have the vehicle removed.
Your rights to the space in front of your home
If the parking area in front of your home is on your private property, such as a driveway, you have the right to establish and enforce your own parking rules. However, if the space is on a public road, you cannot claim it as your personal parking spot, even if it is directly outside your front door. Anyone is generally allowed to park there, as long as they follow local parking laws.
Parking across a dropped kerb and blocking access to a driveway is illegal. In such cases, you have the right to contact your local council or the police because it prevents you from entering and exiting your own property.
Can you ask someone not to park in front of your house?
Mariam Abu Hussein, legal adviser at Lawhive, said: "Any request not to park in front of your house on a public road is a courtesy and not a legal requirement."
She explained: "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."
Are 'no parking' signs enforceable?
People are allowed to put up a 'no parking' sign outside their home, but it is "not legally enforceable unless it's part of an official scheme approved by the local council".
Abu Hussein said: "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."
Blocking driveways and reporting illegal parking
According to the UK Highway Code, parking in front of a dropped kerb is illegal. Dropped kerbs are designed to keep driveways accessible and must remain unobstructed at all times, including shared driveways. Local councils and law enforcement agencies can issue fines, impose penalties, or remove vehicles parked illegally.
To report illegal parking, contact your local council, which typically has dedicated departments or parking enforcement units. If the violation poses an immediate safety risk or causes a disturbance, call the police non-emergency line or file a report online.
Abu Hussein 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."
