Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What's the worst that could happen if I advertised a parking space that doesn't belong to me?

267 replies

ParkMyFace · 24/07/2023 23:20

I live in an estate with one parking space per apartment. Quite a few of the parking spaces are never used because people don't have cars. I've lived here for years and know which ones they are. Also I am brassic. If I advertised on a parking site that they were available to rent, and collected money, even though they're not mine, what's the worst that would happen? I don't mind paying money back but I don't want to go to jail.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
BitOutOfPractice · 24/07/2023 23:22

Oh I don’t know. It’s probably well dodgy but I have to admit I admire your ingenuity.

You could make it legit by offering to manage the process for the owners and splitting it with them?

vodkaredbullgirl · 24/07/2023 23:22

Good luck with that.

SlowlyLosing · 24/07/2023 23:22

Enterprising.....

No chance of jail time. Some chance of losing money if you have to pay over what you made plus fees plus tax.

NutellaNut · 24/07/2023 23:23

It’s fraud, but unless you have a long criminal record you’re unlikely to get sent to jail. More likely you’ll have a very pissed off neighbour who might want to use their space for visitors and find someone in their spot.

SaturdayGiraffe · 24/07/2023 23:23

Well you’d pee off your neighbours for a start.
If you know who they belong to why can’t you approach the owners and ask to give them some money for the use, then let them out legitimately?

toochesterdraws · 24/07/2023 23:23

Well, it would be fraud.

Why don't you park in one of the spaces, and rent out your own space instead?

TakenRoot · 24/07/2023 23:28

If one of the neighbours complained would the management company do anything like clamp the car? That could end up costing you a lot, one way or another.

You will piss off your neighbours.

Do you rent? Could it compromise your tenancy?

Original poster
ParkMyFace · 24/07/2023 23:29

I would rent out my space but I don't have a designated space because I'm in housing association. We don't get car parking spaces with our tenancies. That's how come I know which ones aren't used because I have to, so I know where is ok to park nearish to my apartment. I have done a long and careful and ongoing study. I have diagrams!

OP posts:
FrillyGoatFluff · 24/07/2023 23:30

Surely you rent out your own space and park in one of your neighbours unused ones? That's not illegal then, you're just a cheeky fucker

ButterCrackers · 24/07/2023 23:33

Why not rent out your own parking space? The parking spaces that are empty can be left empty because their owners are the people who decide what to do with their property.

Original poster
ParkMyFace · 24/07/2023 23:36

Yes I would, but I don't have a parking space of my own. It's only because I don't have one that I know which ones are never used.

OP posts:
Rogue1001MNer · 24/07/2023 23:40

Congratulations OP, you're a CF.

Expect to see a thread about yourself on here

Original poster
ParkMyFace · 24/07/2023 23:42

I'm thinking I could advertise them for weekdays only, working hours. We're close ish to town and parking in town is expensive. Contractors and the like would still bite. Then if someone does have a guest at the weekend or whatever they'd still have the space, and if they're at work during the week and don't have a car themselves they'd be none the wiser.

OP posts:
Plexie · 24/07/2023 23:45

If you're a housing association tenant, would that be at risk if the HA found out?

Original poster
ParkMyFace · 24/07/2023 23:45

Rogue1001MNer · 24/07/2023 23:40

Congratulations OP, you're a CF.

Expect to see a thread about yourself on here

I don't give a crap about that. I'm just worried if I'm going to be done for fraud or lose my tenancy.

I really am broke and need money.

OP posts:
Clymene · 24/07/2023 23:46

I don't think you'd go to prison but I suspect this is the sort of thing that could mean you lose your tenancy

Danikm151 · 24/07/2023 23:47

It’s fraud. The management of the building will have a clause about subleasing the spots.

They will most likely have registrations of the users cars- my old flat did and clamped cars that weren’t recognised unless in the designated visitor spots inside the gate.

skilpadde · 24/07/2023 23:49

It's all very enterprising until the point it goes pear shaped.

Your parking space renter parks on a day when the parking space owner is at home... there's a confrontation... in the ensuing heated conversation it's realised that they're paying money to you, a non-parking space neighbour. Your neighbour and renter both think you're a bit shitty. Word gets around the street, and your name is mud.

You won't go to jail, but can you brazen out the potential shame?

Original poster
ParkMyFace · 24/07/2023 23:49

Clymene · 24/07/2023 23:46

I don't think you'd go to prison but I suspect this is the sort of thing that could mean you lose your tenancy

Yeah bummer you're probably right.

Ok then back to selling 20 year old DVDs on eBay. Ffs.

(I do work btw.)

OP posts:
RichardMarxisinnocent · 24/07/2023 23:52

ParkMyFace · 24/07/2023 23:42

I'm thinking I could advertise them for weekdays only, working hours. We're close ish to town and parking in town is expensive. Contractors and the like would still bite. Then if someone does have a guest at the weekend or whatever they'd still have the space, and if they're at work during the week and don't have a car themselves they'd be none the wiser.

What makes you assume people only have guests at the weekend, and they they never take leave from work so that they are home during the week? They'd find out at some point and then you'd have very pissed off neighbours.

beancount · 24/07/2023 23:55

I'm gutted for you about all the negative replies on here (sometimes I wonder if MN has just become a really mean self-righteous place over the years)
It's the ultimate victimless crime.
Can you give it a go and see what happens? I can't see how that would affect your tenancy, it's horrible being skint all the time with no way out, I would probably risk it personally.

Maddy70 · 24/07/2023 23:56

You could park on the one not being used and rent yours out. No issues then

WannaBeRecluse · 24/07/2023 23:57

The owner of the spot could have the car towed if they wanted it for any reason (visitors, tradespeople, suddenly bought a car). I don't think anyone you'd rent to would be very impressed with that.

Not your spot to rent out.

Original poster
ParkMyFace · 24/07/2023 23:57

RichardMarxisinnocent · 24/07/2023 23:52

What makes you assume people only have guests at the weekend, and they they never take leave from work so that they are home during the week? They'd find out at some point and then you'd have very pissed off neighbours.

Show quote history

Like I said, I have diagrams, photos etc. That's one benefit of being a povvo - I have to be alert. There are a number that haven't been used for several years. I rotate around them to park my own car and they are always free. There are others that are always free but if anyone parks in them the owner puts a shitty post on the local neighbourhood page. Obviously I wouldn't list them.

OP posts:
AquamarineGlass · 24/07/2023 23:58

You sound enterprising.

Why stop at your estate. But do it properly.

Get owners to register.

Advertise the spaces.

You could take 15% commission but on many more spaces.

You could do license and logbook checking for peace of mind and justify the commission.

A lot of people wouldn't want the hassle of advertising their space but would appreciate the cash.

Call it (yourtown) Parking Angels

Promote on social media. A website is pretty easy to build these days. You could accept advertising on your website to drive extra income.

You could partner with car valet services etc

I really think you could be onto something

15% of 50 spaces charged at £30 a week is £225 a week