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To report car dealer neighbour for taking 5 parking spaces

68 replies

itswhatsinsidethatcounts · 17/03/2024 20:02

Hi all.

A neighbour who's moved into the estate recently is taking the utter piss with 'stealing' every available parking space in the area for his cars. I am almost certain he is dealing illegally and selling from home. As of this evening 5 bays are occupied by his cars, which I find ridiculously unfair and inconsiderate.

I'm annoyed as he's taken my space that I've been parking in for the last 9 years. I'm kind of forced to park in the unassigned bay next to it which I hate as it's so tight and awkward to get into. A few weeks ago, I was looking out of the window and I could see him really struggling to get his car in which is smaller than mine, so he just went and parked elsewhere. This was before he conveniently stole my space.

Would I be unreasonable for reporting him to the council?

OP posts:
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fishingfor · 03/10/2024 13:18

Lifebeganat50 · 18/03/2024 17:13

No don’t make a criminal of yourself. Let them down, nuisance value but not a crime

Yes it is. Section 22a of the 1988 Road Traffic Act.

Energiserbunny · 02/10/2024 23:24

It is illegal to act as a car dealer unless licensed. Try reporting to DVLA.

JohnofWessex · 02/10/2024 22:24

Does he own the house or is it rented?

billybear · 19/03/2024 20:09

when i bought my house i had to agree not to run that type of business from home,a neighbour does similar everyones fed up with him blocking 5 or6 spaces, cars are usually accident victims all bashed up, council came out to him,

zingally · 19/03/2024 19:58

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 18/03/2024 19:17

Do you live on my street?! Confused

Are you in Northamptonshire?

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 18/03/2024 19:17

zingally · 18/03/2024 17:28

I had a neighbour a few years back doing the same thing in the same situation. Allocated parking of one space per household, a few visitor lay-bys for others.
I took to monitoring the MOT and tax status of every car that I'd seen him be associated with. And the DAY it went over, I'd report it to the DVLA. I could do it because these lay-bys could be argued as being "on the road".
He did seem to stop eventually.

Now I have a different neighbour with umpteen transit vans. They all belong to big businesses, so I'm not sure why they have to come home with him. There's one in his parking bay, and often at least 2 others taking up visitor spots.

Do you live on my street?! Confused

Crumpleton · 18/03/2024 19:12

itswhatsinsidethatcounts · 18/03/2024 19:00

Sorry that should say useless.

Yes, we do pay a fee. They're rubbish all around though!

There was an incident once where a neighbour went abroad but left his car parked in a bay that belonged to (at the time) an unoccupied property. 2 months after his departure, a couple moved in and had nowhere to park. Management referred them to the police. Nothing was done. The said neighbour eventually came back from Europe and moved his car.

They had to wait over 6 months to recuperate their bay.

Then I'd be telling them you pay a management fee to them on the understanding that they actually manage the area.

That's what my DD did when her management team were charging but not doing the actual managing, she was found to be correct and had the management fee for her and a neighbour lowered.

itswhatsinsidethatcounts · 18/03/2024 19:09

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 18/03/2024 18:40

Check if the cars are taxed and mot's
The cars may belong to him and or his family.
A few people on our roads own an extra car, EG a couple with 4 cars, one for the weekend, a classic that is rarely driven and their daily drivers but thankfully we all have drives and the smallest drives on our road can take two avg sized cars their drive can take 8/10

Once you check with the council = possibly try checking facebook etc inc ebays etc for those cars if being sold etc - then send the info to the Trading standards if they still exist

you may want to report them to the HMRC.
Also, ascertain if they are on benefits and if so report them

However, don't give you name as people know people and they talk even when not allowed

The council may refuse to help if you don't give your name - then you have to decide what next

Thank you. I don't like the idea of giving my name to the council or HMRC.😥

All 5 of his cars are gone this evening even his daily. He had a customer in last night revving the engine of what seemed like a sports car so loud, I think this may have lead some neighbours to complain or call the police.

OP posts:
itswhatsinsidethatcounts · 18/03/2024 19:00

Crumpleton · 18/03/2024 18:31

But do you pay a management fee at all?

If so what they're doing is a bit like a shop referring you to the manufacturer when goods are faulty...
Which as I'm sure many know is so out dated and a no no now.

Sorry that should say useless.

Yes, we do pay a fee. They're rubbish all around though!

There was an incident once where a neighbour went abroad but left his car parked in a bay that belonged to (at the time) an unoccupied property. 2 months after his departure, a couple moved in and had nowhere to park. Management referred them to the police. Nothing was done. The said neighbour eventually came back from Europe and moved his car.

They had to wait over 6 months to recuperate their bay.

OP posts:
Tara336 · 18/03/2024 18:49

Many years ago I owned a flat with undercover parking, I kept having people park cars in my allocated space. I came home one day to fine once again a car in my space and it turned out one of the other residents was running a car valeted business from home and using not only our parking spaces to store the cars while they were waiting to be collected...but the communal water supply and power to jet wash and hoover them! Needless to say the rest of the residents soon put a stop to it by informing the management company.

Tara336 · 18/03/2024 18:43

We have someone who lives on the main road and runs a mechanic business from home he parks the customers cars all along the entrance to our road and a road opposite. Was also using the local shops car park as well, lots of people have complained and at one point they were clamped and ticketed, he stopped for a while but they are creeping back again. It's a pain as he parks them right near the turning and there's a island with bollards so makes it narrow as well.

I'm guessing he paid the fines and it's worth the money as doesn't pay overheads for premises but he is the most disliked person around here

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 18/03/2024 18:40

Check if the cars are taxed and mot's
The cars may belong to him and or his family.
A few people on our roads own an extra car, EG a couple with 4 cars, one for the weekend, a classic that is rarely driven and their daily drivers but thankfully we all have drives and the smallest drives on our road can take two avg sized cars their drive can take 8/10

Once you check with the council = possibly try checking facebook etc inc ebays etc for those cars if being sold etc - then send the info to the Trading standards if they still exist

you may want to report them to the HMRC.
Also, ascertain if they are on benefits and if so report them

However, don't give you name as people know people and they talk even when not allowed

The council may refuse to help if you don't give your name - then you have to decide what next

Crumpleton · 18/03/2024 18:31

itswhatsinsidethatcounts · 18/03/2024 17:05

It is annoying. Our management company is useful and just direct neighbours to the police.

But do you pay a management fee at all?

If so what they're doing is a bit like a shop referring you to the manufacturer when goods are faulty...
Which as I'm sure many know is so out dated and a no no now.

karriecreamer · 18/03/2024 17:30

Seeline · 18/03/2024 09:09

If he is running the business from his home, it is highly likely he would require planning permission.

This! Most councils would require change of use planning permission to run that kind of business from a residential property.

Trouble is, evidence!

Can you take photos of the cars and record the dates etc., which you can provide to the council to prove that there's a succession of different cars over a period of say a couple of months, rather than them being the same cars?

Can you go on ebay and auto trader to randomly search for some of the cars to see if you can spot them being advertised? If so, take screen shots.

The more actual evidence you can supply the council, the more likely they are to take action. Realistically, they're not going to do that kind of investigative work themselves, so they'd just fob you off if you can't provide evidence of a succession of different cars and a few adverts matching the photos you take.

zingally · 18/03/2024 17:28

I had a neighbour a few years back doing the same thing in the same situation. Allocated parking of one space per household, a few visitor lay-bys for others.
I took to monitoring the MOT and tax status of every car that I'd seen him be associated with. And the DAY it went over, I'd report it to the DVLA. I could do it because these lay-bys could be argued as being "on the road".
He did seem to stop eventually.

Now I have a different neighbour with umpteen transit vans. They all belong to big businesses, so I'm not sure why they have to come home with him. There's one in his parking bay, and often at least 2 others taking up visitor spots.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 18/03/2024 17:25

To use the road, that should say

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 18/03/2024 17:22

Slightly off topic but fuck me its irritating when someone on your street decides to park their (or one of several) vehicle in a way that makes it hard for others Tobias the road or park just to save them walking a few extra meters to a more considerate and safe parking spot.

And you can't even name and shame on Nextdoor or the like as you get everyone jumping on you screeching "You know nothing about their lives!/they are just trying to go out and make an honest living " and such.

Inconsiderate twats

candgen625 · 18/03/2024 17:16

Wr have a neighbour doing this with delivery vans. He's got some sort of delivery business and has parked three big vans on our narrow road. Completely legal but really selfish and inconsiderate for the neighbours.

Lifebeganat50 · 18/03/2024 17:13

Cas112 · 18/03/2024 13:25

Pop his tyres

No don’t make a criminal of yourself. Let them down, nuisance value but not a crime

itswhatsinsidethatcounts · 18/03/2024 17:09

CCLCECSC · 18/03/2024 12:45

It is worthy of a conversation with your local council planning enforcement team. The question will come down to whether he is parking on land that he owns

He lives in a 4-bed house so I'm not sure if he is allocated 1 or 2 bays due to the size of the property.

OP posts:
itswhatsinsidethatcounts · 18/03/2024 17:07

randomchap · 18/03/2024 12:58

Can you check on autotrader/ebay to see if the cars are listed there?

If so get friends and family to contact him for test drives at unreasonable and annoying times, and then not turn up.

Haha! I like this idea!😅

OP posts:
itswhatsinsidethatcounts · 18/03/2024 17:05

ACynicalDad · 18/03/2024 12:58

Someone is filling a road near us to do this; I think the rule is that until they've been untaxed for two months, the authorities do nothing, so he leaves them for two months. Also, leaves the registered in the old owners' name as long as possible. It's awful and really annoying. If it is your space then tell the council/management company. If it's one you've habitually used you would need a way to stop the business or get him to move on. Do you know who owns the property, if it's rented maybe speak to the owner and let them know he's operating a business from there.

It is annoying. Our management company is useful and just direct neighbours to the police.

OP posts:
itswhatsinsidethatcounts · 18/03/2024 17:02

Hi again everyone.

Thanks for your posts.

To my surprise, this morning, all cars were gone apart from his daily. I suspect he might have come across this thread overnight 😂😅 or perhaps someone else reported him.

Anyway, I have my bay back. Happy days! 🙌

OP posts:
WarshipRocinante · 18/03/2024 15:28

Is the space actually yours? As in, when you bought your house, it’s in the deeds that you own that space? Or do you mean there are X number of spaces allocated for residents only and X number for visitors, and everyone in the street has just got in the habit of using a particular space each, so it’s “yours” but anyone can actually use it?

If you actually own the space, then report him. And go round with your deeds and show him.

CormorantStrikesBack · 18/03/2024 15:24

Kwasi · 18/03/2024 13:09

Chang of use is if changes were being made to the building; the same is required if changing from a commercial property to residential. I run a business from home but no change of use is required. I just need the correct insurance.

Really? I've reported someone for running a take away pizza place from their house and they have been stopped. There were no changes to the actual building but the council said that the increase in traffic with delivery drivers wasn't allowed. A friend has also been told she can't do dog grooming in her spare room because of people coming and going.

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