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

[ParkMyFace]

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.

• it was £1 to park for the years it is claimed he was doing this
• it was Bristol Zoo, and the attendant was paid by them
• the story is an urban myth, even if fun

I’ve recently had to write a history of the zoo, and have been visiting for over 50 years, so I’m pretty sure that I, and the zoo, are right about this.

“Negative” is one of those words people love to throw about when someone points out the very obvious flaws in a so-called plan. “Oh, why do you have to be so negative?” It makes you sound like you’re trying to be helpful and upbeat, without any of that pesky thinking or consideration of the pitfalls to get in the way. It doesn’t actually mean anything.

It’s not negative or self-righteous to point out that this is a bloody stupid idea riddled with potential problems. If you can’t see how it could affect the OP’s tenancy, you’re incredibly naive. You really don’t think illegally making money from part of a housing complex just might affect your right to live in it? I despair.

Literally all it takes is for one person whose space OP is renting out to go on sick leave, change jobs or working patterns, go on maternity leave etc. and bang - cover blown. That’s before you even consider what happens if one of these people decides to move out and is replaced by a car owner expecting to use their space as and when (because it’s, you know, theirs).

If OP had put the time she’s spent watching her neighbours and then fannying about with diagrams into something legitimate, she’d be halfway there.

I'm not sore your tenancy would be at risk as surely you'd be renting out privately owned spaces not HA ones so nothing to do with them?

As a housing officer - you would lose your tenancy if this came to light, which in my view it would pretty quickly. People are insane about parking and on it. I am also a non driver who has rented apartments that come with spaces and I always knew when they were being used by someone else (I never minded or said anything as it was usually neighbours who had a guest), I would have figured out if someone was renting my space out and been pretty pissed off about it.

But surely the Housing Association must have some kind of contract with the owners of the development? I’m pretty sure they’d be responsible for dealing with any of their tenants illegally using sections of the property.

How would they find out? I would check with the parking people about what information they share with land lords etc. I would use a fake name and set up a dedicated email.

It’s CFery for sure but who are you harming exactly? People who are allocated the spaces could rent them out but CBA because they earn enough that it’s not worth their time. You are creating money in the economy! Lolz.

Fraud is absolutely not a victimless crime

I used to do this when I lived in a flat, but the difference was I owned my flat and it also had it's own parking spot. I would park in one of my neighbours spots (lots of students) who didn't mind me parking there, whilst my space was rented out. I informed the person renting my space that they could also park in one of the many visitor bays should someone have parked in my space, which often happened as I was near the front door of a block.
I don't think I'd have risked renting out a space that wasn't mine though as that's a bit cheeky, as what if your neighbour have guests over that day or similar, plus if they found out you were making money off their space they might decide to do it themselves. You could offer to do it on behalf of your neighbours, if they can't be fussed with the admin, and offer them a split of the money?

This could easily cost you more than you earn

Look at your lease or covenants for the estate. There may well be something in there about conducting a business on the premises, use of car park spaces (like for residents of the estate only with the brief exception of visitors and tradesmen/deliveries).
If there are some permanent spaces vacant, why not ask the estate as a whole about renting them and using the money for upkeep of the estate or splitting the money?
Otherwise I think it won't take long before someone sees odd cars being parked and challenges someone and the whole thing falling apart - great way to piss off your neighbours as well as the legal consequences.

When I moved into my home the residents’ association of the building next door wrote to me ‘proposing’ that they extended their car park into my adjacent garden, my ‘payment’ for this was to be a parking space in this extended car park. This is a plot of land worth circa £30k. Obviously I declined, helps that I don’t drive!

You'll probably find it's your neighbours who would meter out the justice as opposed to anything more official.....

Ofcourse it's not a victimless crime, the person who the space belongs to may have visitors one day, or circumstances change and they need a carer or an ambulance. Their space should be free to suit their needs, they are likely paying a premium for it!

How would they find out?

They come home early one day.

They take annual leave or are off sick.

They change jobs and work different hours, or from home.

They have builders or other tradespeople in who need the space and find someone in it.

They move out and are replaced by someone who does want to use the space.

Their partner, who wants to use the space, moves in.

This isn’t an am dram production of Box and Cox. This is reality.

You'd be better off just selling feet pics on Only Fans.

There are so many obstacles that would potentially cause you issues with this it's not worth the hassle, even if it works short term.

Custody is a possibility (though unlikely). Google fraud sentencing guidelines.

It's fraud. Criminal conviction and jail time.

No point, you'll get found out and have to pay all earnings back and also lose your tenancy. You say you're in a HA property so your rent is cheaper than private renting. Well you'll be turfed out of your cheap council property and have to go private and be even more skint. Are you on UC? They'll stop your claim for being fraudulent. Sounds like you have a lot of time off work so perhaps increase your hours for some extra cash? Renting out other people's parking spaces is not the way to make some easy cash when it will backfire on you in a terrible way!

If you are close to town & there is always/regularly parking available, I'm surprised it hasn't already been noticed & used tbh.

Haven’t RTFT so others have probably pointed out that there are plenty of threads on MN about CFs who do this sort of thing.

Pedant Alert: it’s boracic, as in boracic lint.

If you spoke to the HA/estate, set this up as a proper snap business (legally) then I can’t see why there’d be a problem. But there will always be one person who disagrees or thinks OP is being cheeky.

But as pp including @PumpkinsAndCoconuts say , do it but do it properly.

I don't know that I've noticed AquamarineGlass on the site before but her posts, not just on this thread, are excellent.

Look into that scenario, OP. Good luck!

I would be so hacked off if someone did this to me! Whether they use their space or not is irrelevant, it’s THEIR space not yours to rent out. Broke it not this is a horrible attitude to have.

It’s fraud.

you could get evicted. Housing association has pretty strict rules about criminal activity.

If I was the owner of the space I would, without question, pursue full reimbursement of any money made and all costs associated with that recovery.

You are quite a shock!

Why not offer your time in renting out these spaces on behalf of the other tenants? Pop round and say 'I run a carpark servicing business, I see you dont use your space, would you be interested?' then offer you services at 20% of the amount they get.

You know your initial proposal is so morally wrong, don't be that person.