Legal adviser Mariam Abu Hussein at Lawhive has explained whether homeowners can stop someone from parking in front of their house, and what the law says about blocking driveways.
Public roads vs private property
Public roads are managed and looked after by local councils or Government bodies. Since they are available to everyone, parking is allowed as long as drivers follow local parking rules and guidelines.
Private property, such as a driveway or a personal parking spot, belongs to a specific person or organisation. This means the owner gets to decide who can park there and who cannot. If someone parks on private property without permission, it counts as trespassing, and the owner has the right to have it removed.
Rights to the space in front of your house
If the parking area in front of your home is on your own private property, like a driveway, you can set and enforce your own parking rules. However, if the space is on a public street, Mariam pointed out that you cannot claim it as your personal parking spot, even if it is right next to your home. In this situation, anyone is generally welcome to park there, provided they respect local parking laws.
When a car parks across a dropped curb and blocks a driveway entrance, this is illegal, and homeowners have the right to contact their local council or police department, since it prevents access to their own property.
Asking someone not to park and 'no parking' signs
A vital point Mariam made was that any request not to park in front of your house on a public road is a courtesy and not a legal requirement. She explained that they do not have to accommodate the request, and there is no legal recourse for refusal provided the person follows local parking regulations and restrictions.
Homeowners are welcome to display a “no parking” sign, but it is not legally enforceable unless it is part of an official scheme approved by the local council. The legal adviser said that to have a sign with legal power, you must go through your local council to request an official sign be installed, as 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 curb 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 councils and law enforcement teams enforce these regulations and have the authority to issue fines, impose penalties, or remove vehicles parked illegally.
In most situations, reaching out to your local council is the way to go when reporting illegal parking, as councils typically have specialised departments or parking enforcement units. If the violation poses an urgent safety concern or disrupts the peace, the police non-emergency line or an online report can be used.
Mariam urged people to use official channels when reporting illegal parking, adding: “Don't take matters into your own hands or confront the individual parking illegally, as this can escalate the situation.”
