Parking and abandoned vehicles

Nuisance Parking and abandoned Vehicles

The local authority is usually your first point of contact for neighbours parking in your space or across your driveway and abandoned vehicles.

In some cases, illegal parking and abandoned vehicles may be causing an offence. In these cases, you should contact the police.

We’ve included guidance on what to do and where to go if you need help with nuisance parking and abandoned vehicles.

Common types of parking issues

Abandoned vehicles

An abandoned vehicle is one, which has not been moved or visited for a long time. There may be visible damage to suggest a crash or signs the vehicle has been stolen, such as:

Significant damage;
Looking run-down or un-roadworthy including being rusty;
Missing or suspicious number plates;
Broken windows and flat tyres;
It contains lots of rubbish.

Abandoned vehicles can obstruct roads, traffic and pedestrians. The sight of a damaged or abandoned vehicle can be an eyesore.

What you can do about abandoned vehicles

If you know the vehicle owner, ask them to move it before contacting the authorities,

If an abandoned vehicle doesn’t appear to be stolen, contact your local council. The council should be able to trace the vehicle’s owner and arrange for it to be removed.

If you believe an abandoned vehicle could be stolen, report it to the police.

Parking disputes

If a parking space is available on a public road, even directly outside your house, anyone is allowed to park there.

Designated parking spaces

If someone has parked in a designated parking space without your permission, try to resolve the dispute peacefully. If you can’t find the driver, leave a polite note on their windscreen.

Contact your local council, if this doesn’t work. The council will try to trace the owner. It can arrange for the vehicle to be removed, if necessary.

If you lease a property with a parking space, contact the person responsible for your building, This may be the freeholder, council or managing agent. They should try to help resolve the issue.

Someone parking on your drive

If someone parks on your driveway without your permission, this is trespassing. Try having a word with the driver first. If this doesn’t work, you may want to seek advice from Citizen’s Advice or a solicitor, as this is a civil dispute.

Someone blocking your drive

Firstly, ask the driver to move his/her vehicle if they block your drive and you can’t drive onto it.

If you can’t find the driver, try leaving a note on their windscreen.

If a person has blocked your driveway and is preventing you from driving your own vehicle out, this could be seen as anti-social behaviour (ASB.) ASB can be reported online to Cleveland Police.

Illegal parking

As per the Highway Code, it is illegal to park:

Opposite or within 10 metres of a junction;
Over a dropped kerb;
On a pedestrian crossing (including the area marked with the zig-zag lines)
In spaces reserved for Blue Badge holders, residents or motorbikes (unless you are entitled to do so;)
In marked taxi bays, cycle lanes or red lines;
Near a school entrance or bus stop;
Anywhere blocking access for the emergency services.

If you see a vehicle parked illegally, report it to your local council. The council may issue the owner with a penalty charge notice.

If the vehicle is parked: