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Original poster

I've fallen for a house BUT.... parking....

22 replies

puffylovett · 26/04/2010 20:00

Its on a main road, which isn't ideal. But in this town, 1930 properties with original open fires, pine doors, pictures rails etc are few and far between.

It's a beautiful house that just needs someone to love it and give it some TLC. It has a lovely secluded garden.

The main road has double yellows and the house is quite elevated with no driveway. There is a bank of houses in the same position, most people park on the local Jewsons a few doors down.

It's a mjor issue for my partner, and the rest of the town, so it would seem, as it's unbelievable that it's not sold yet.

It's got me thinking, would it be possible to excavate a small drive ? there are plenty of other houses on that road that have driveways off, so it can't be the double yellows that would cause an issue. How would I go about finding out if it would be possible to put a driveway in ?

Anybody got any ideas ?

OP posts:
HerHonesty · 26/04/2010 20:06

get a builder round to tell you!

BigBadMummy · 26/04/2010 20:08

You will need planning permission for a drop kerb and the Council will need to do it.

Call them and ask?

And go and ask the neighbours how they did it / how much it was.

londonmackem · 26/04/2010 20:10

Ring the council as you will no doubt have to pay for a dropped kerb (which will cross double yellows). Then ring a builder, excavation won't be cheap and you will need quite deep foundations as the supporting wall will be keeping your house up. Probably worth it in the end if it is your for life house.

Original poster
puffylovett · 26/04/2010 21:01

Cheers

OP posts:
CarGirl · 26/04/2010 21:03

around here a dropped kerb now costs at a starting price of £500 btw

onepieceoflollipop · 26/04/2010 21:05

As others have said liaise with local council.

fwiw I would never buy a house without designated parking. We managed to excavate a very small driveway (1 car) plus we have a garage at the back. Planning dept were very helpful btw, a chap rang me personally to discuss it. It is likely that parking will get worse in the future in most areas.

The Jewsons car park seems to be quite a temporary option for you, not worth relying on as an option. At any point they could restrict parking (clamping etc) or the land could be sold. Also, it is a pain for any visitors you might have. Dh and I can park, but it is very frustrating when we have visitors.

Original poster
puffylovett · 26/04/2010 21:35

Yes my mum has raised the issue of visitors ! It would mean a small walk from parking on a side street, or down the road on the pub carpark.

I had a brief chat with the manager at Jewsons earlier, and he pretty much said the same which is things could change at any time ! at the mo there is no agreement in place, people just park on their carpark and it only becomes an issue when it causes problems for customers.

It's a dealbreaker for my DP, but if we could excavate a space for 1 car, it would solve the prob, in addition to raising the value of the house.

Is it still OK talking to the council despite us not owning the property ?

OP posts:
moondog · 26/04/2010 21:36

NEVER go for a house without proper parking unless you have no option.
It makes life a misery.

Original poster
puffylovett · 26/04/2010 21:38

Ah, you see I have never had a house WITH proper parking

So to me, tis not an issue

OP posts:
LadyBiscuit · 26/04/2010 21:40

I've never had one with parking either - I cuss and moan about it sometimes but it's really not that big a deal

moondog · 26/04/2010 21:47

Puffy, I used to live in the centre of town and had no parking. Didn't bother me it seemed.
Then I moved out and got a house with a drive and plenty of parking space.My quality of life soared.It still makes me ridiculously happy.

cassell · 26/04/2010 21:55

We looked at a gorgeous house which would have been perfect for us but similar to your situation it was on the main road and no parking. The estate agent said it had been on the market for 2 years (and this was before the recession) and that everyone loved it but for the parking issue. We decided against it for the same reason. It just wasn't going to be practical and I didn't want the problem of possible difficulty selling the house in due course. Our house now (in London) has no designated parking but there is unrestricted parking on the street which is fine for us but to not even be able to stop outside your house, I think that would be really annoying! And the Jewsons thing sounds very temporary and uncertain.

If you could definitely excavate then maybe worth it but I'd say you need to be pretty sure of that before you went ahead.

Original poster
puffylovett · 26/04/2010 21:55

Gah.

You are right.

Washing & hoovering ones car on the drive... check.

Driving to the local garage & jetwash sucks the big one & is the reason my car is a shit tip.

OK so builder estimate, or forget the house

OP posts:
cece · 26/04/2010 21:58

I currenlty have a house with a drive big enough for 2 cars.

Previously I would not have put a drive on my list of essentials.

Now I would - it is soooo convenient.

cece · 26/04/2010 21:59

Plus I don't think I would want to live in a house on the main road again either.

Original poster
puffylovett · 26/04/2010 22:00

Also, where would Mr Ocado man park

OP posts:
emsyj · 26/04/2010 22:24

Dropped kerb from our local council we were quoted £126 so check check check - the prices seem to vary wildly judging by the posts on here!

CarGirl · 26/04/2010 22:26

emsyj

strawberrycornetto · 26/04/2010 22:36

We recently offered on a house with no parking on a high street in a village. The arrangements were that we could part in a public car park on the street behind.

I had real misgivings and we ultimately pulled out and I am very relieved. What made it clear to me (other than a really helpful thread here about what people love about their house) was that often my DH is away and I come home from a day out with my two DCs who are 5 and 2 and are often asleep in the car. I realised that trying to get them both in while pulled up opposite on a yellow line, then needing to go and repark the car, leaving them both on their own inside the house, then walking back home down the alleyway that cuts through to the high street from the carpark, was not practical.

Also think about carrying shopping, or bags if you have been out. If you have or are planning to have DCs, pushchairs, baby in car seat...

We had fallen in love with the house but when the practicalities sunk in, I realised it was just too much of a compromise.

Unless you are sure you can excavate I wouldn't.

Ponders · 26/04/2010 22:36

can you have a dropped kerb on a double yellow? (I mean I can't see why not, but there might be weird planning restrictions?)

I would kill (almost) for a drive Where I live, parking during the day is a nightmare, between town centre people & college students, but is OK evenings, weekends & school holidays. (It's just bloody frustrating when you come home with a boot full of shopping & have to park 2 streets away )

MamaG · 26/04/2010 22:40

I've moved froma terraced house with "outside the front door if it wans't for myh ignorant neighbour having a massive fucking truck so having to block my gate" to a hosue with a drive that would fit 5 cars.

it is BLISS

Original poster
puffylovett · 26/04/2010 22:41

Good point strawberry. My 3 yr old regularly has a major strop when I have to wake him up to get him out of the car !

I do sling my youngest, so he's not so much of an issue, and the idea of moving into our town is so I can walk everywhere and not be car reliant.

Still, very valid points raised, thank you

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