Our neighbours have a perfect driveway but they don't use it, instead choosing to park on the road outside their house. They don't even park in front of their driveway. This causes many problems for the rest of the people in our road as it's a small road with not many parking spaces. We have problems parking and find it very hard to park at night! Is there a law which says that if you have a driveway that you can use that you should use it?
Is it legal to park on the road when you have a driveway?
Parking disputes are a common source of tension between neighbours. When someone parks on the street despite having an empty driveway, it can feel deliberately inconsiderate. If a neighbour repeatedly does this outside your home, our letter template for inconsiderate parking can help you raise it politely. But what does the law actually say about this?
The short answer is that parking on a public road is generally legal, even if you have off-street parking available. There is no legal requirement for anyone to use their own driveway.
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Most residential streets in the UK are public highways. On these roads, anyone with a properly taxed and insured vehicle can park, provided they follow the Highway Code and any local restrictions.
This means your neighbour is within their rights to park on the road rather than their driveway. While it may seem inconsiderate, it is typically not against the law.
There are some basic rules that do apply:
- In London, parking on pavements is illegal unless signage specifically permits it. Outside London, rules vary and enforcement depends on local council policy.
- Parking must not cause an obstruction to other road users or block access for emergency vehicles
- The vehicle must be taxed, insured and roadworthy
- Any local parking restrictions must be followed
Outside of these requirements, a driver can choose where to park on a public road.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
No right to park outside your own home
Many people assume they have a right to the parking space directly outside their property. This is not the case. Under UK law, no resident has a guaranteed right to park on the public road outside their home.
This can be frustrating, particularly in areas where parking is limited. Households with multiple vehicles often compete for the same spaces, and tensions can build quickly. Residents of blocks of flats may face additional complications if allocated spaces are part of their lease or tenancy agreement.
While it may feel unfair when a neighbour takes up street parking unnecessarily, the law does not distinguish between residents based on whether they have driveways.
What you can do about it
If a neighbour's parking habits are causing you difficulty, speaking to them directly is usually the best first step. Many people do not realise their actions are affecting others. A calm, polite conversation can often resolve the situation and maintain good relations.
If talking does not help, you may wish to contact your local council. Councils can introduce controlled parking zones, though this typically requires public consultation and community support, making it a lengthy process.
For ongoing disputes that affect your quality of life, mediation services can help both parties reach an agreement. You can find accredited mediators through the Civil Mediation Council.
Where parking causes a genuine obstruction or safety issue, you can report it to your local council or the police. However, simply parking on the road when a driveway is available is not grounds for enforcement action.
For information on vehicle tax and roadworthiness requirements, see the vehicle tax and MOT guidance on GOV.UK.
My neighbour insists on parking to the right and the huge stupid discovery parks opposite. I cannot get out to turn right towards the roads exit.
Theres not enough turning space nor space ahead of me to manoeuvre.
So I've been stuck in the road trying. If I go left I can't see the people coming on the wronsode at me.
Being a corner and having cars parked in their albe. They're over before they can see around the corner.
I'm struggling not to feel endangered.
I'm at loss. The council were supposed to put in double yellows as part of the panning but never did. Decades later they won't even recognise the issue. Any thoughts?
There are eight properties on Arcadia Avenue and we are all responsible for maintaining the lane.
All my neighbours park there and yes lots off parking spaces in the road its a close
I recently applying for a driveway which i need a crossover
The crossover was refuse because will obstruct the road and will benefit one owner
But there is another neighbour with one .....
By the highway code you cant park on a turning point
My question is is the law equal to everyone?
Theres other roads like mine near by
With same situation and some have drives with a crossover
Am i different,?
My next door neighbour drives a big van (he’s a builder). We live on a cup de sac and he refuses to park it on his driveway. Always parks in the street which causes an obstruction.
You either can’t get past his car to exit the street. Or he parks it on the pavement and blocks the walk way.
Is there anything that can be done?
There is oil across my drive now, i already have told them where it is, and the council is on about fining me a lot of money because of this, i have told them it's them over the road, and shown CCTV evidence, for which was assaulted.
In the past they have parked cars that has no MOT, TAX, and Insurance, and because there asian i have suggested i am racist for reporting them.
There are other incident's including having a firework thrown at my car for which i have CCTV evidence, but nothing was done by the police on this matter.
I have just asked them today when they was working over my drive. And was told "they can do what they want" And 8 people have threatened me with violence, i have logged it with the police. But i don't think they will do anything about them as they seem to get away with murder. Can you give me advice on this matter.
They have 2 cars, one van, and a lorry!! These are parked along the drive way since they do not have where to pay the cars thus I am always blocked, and have to struggle in and out of my driveway every day. It is a night mare!!!!
(3 of which belong to their children who don't live here) They use there vehicles to deliberately harass me and ensure I can not park in my street.
This stems from me intervening when they were assaulting another neighbour who has learning diffiulties shortly after moving in for jet washing his garden and a little spray went on their car bumper because it was in front of his driveway and this has now been going on for 2 years.
They have threatened to burn my house down, slash my tires and have my car towed and stripped by a "mate" who owns a tow truck if I park on the street. They have thrown eggs at my vehicle and park big vans inches from my car on either side. If I use my driveway (which is difficult because they park in the middle of the road) so I can't get out all weekend. They only work half days so by the time I get home every night they have arranged all there vehicles to block me from parking. The police and council have done nothing to help and they have been telling people I am a grass and it's having a serious affect on my mental health. They have posted videos on social media of me attempting to park with laughing emojis where they have blocked up all the spaces. There are 7 houses and bays for 12 cars and each house has a driveway. Some choose to use them others don't but this one family who are in a council property make everyone's lives miserable because that's what gives them satisfaction and makes them laugh and smile. Out the windows to see the difficulties their behaviour causes. It is impossible to reason with them. Even if I speak really politely they will phone the police and say I am threatening them they treat people horribly and hide behind security cameras which they have covering Avery angle of the street. Whenever the police have asked for the videos (for example during the assault) they have told them the cameras don't work and the police have not bothered to pursue it.
of our property (private access easement
Ingress and egress ) When he has a driveway in front of his house can we cut of access easement
This is in California mountains
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