»
Sell parking spaces... official MoneySavingExpert...
(Page 1)
Welcome to MoneySavingExpert.com's Forums!
THE EASY WAY: All the Forum's best tips go in MoneySavingExpert's weekly E-mail Plus you'll get all the new guides, deals and loopholes. It's free & spam free
IMPORTANT! This forum isn't moderated. If you spot a spam, illegal, offensive, racist, libellous post or PM please email abuse@moneysavingexpert.com
Remember, this is an open forum! Anyone can post so always exercise caution when acting on info. Don't post links for personal gain. Except in the referrers section and always declare any interest.
Have a garage that I own but never use near to my property, which is in Leeds, and wondered if I could generate a small extra income from letting it.
Where can I find out about letting this and how much could I charge?
Would I need to set up a legal document and could anyone let me have a sample?.
Any help from someone who has already done this would be very much appreciated.
HELP!! An unfriendly neighbour has complained to the local planning office today and I had a visit from the planning inspector. He told me that I was breaking planning rules by selling parking sapces on my driveway for gatwick airport. I've been very successful at this over the last few months by advertising on ebay.
Do you have any advise or knowledge of disputes etc. How do ZIP and Streetcar and Parkatmyhouse.com cope with planning legislation?
I'm up for a fight, because I don't make a lot of money and I donate some money to charity. I will be pointing these other websites out to the planning offical. And I will tie him up in complaints for a very long time. I'll go to court if I have to. If there is a line I WILL walk it!!
The offical said that it infringes change of use rules and includes non paying family or friends parking for two weeks.
I have 3 cars here at the moment and it's putting a few extra pounds in my pocket for me and my 10yr old son who has just moved in with me. I don't own a car myself.
Any advice or suggestions welcome. I'm really fruious, but I've dropped a note through the neighbours tdoro to let them have their say and get to know me better, but this won't stop the Jobs worth at the council!
Lee (Horley)
Last edited by Wicksay; 21-10-2008 at 9:05 PM..
Reason: Spelling
I'm no legal expert but can't see where there is any change of use. If you own the property and have previously used the driveway for parking then there is no change. Does it infringe on your neighbours land or block his access?
Suggest you give your local CAB a call as thousands of people do this around the country.
Martin, you are on the ball when you state parkatmyhouse is a helpful website!
I used parkatmyhouse to find somewhere to leave the car when I went on holiday and it was far cheaper than the airport parking option. The renter of the space had given clear instructions as to where he was situated so I didn't traipse around the airport looking for a hidden car park and I left the guy my keys but only because I was happy to. He turned off the lights I had forgotten to and he de-iced the windscreen the morning I came back.
It was a quick and easy, cheap and hassle free way for me to get to the airport at an ung-dly hour without having to leave all excessive contingency time.
The website is a doddle to use, the service so user friendly and when my family come and visit me, I'm going to suggest they use it to park near my (rented) house which is otherwise requiring a parking permit.
Who knew I could get so passionate about parking but it really was so helpful. How sad am I, when I look to buy a house I'll be considering if there is money to be made from a driveway.
You need to be careful about liability. Even a contract with 'no responsibility' clauses does not rlease you from the general duty of care that you owe to everyone who comes on to your property - invited or otherwise.
I'm the MD of www.parklet.co.uk, the largest agent specialising in letting peoples unused parking spaces.
We have been trading since Feb 2004, and let well over 10,000 spaces. Nearly all the concerns raised in this thread can be addressed:
Liability - our contracts very clearly remove all liability for the landlord. If the tenant renting the space, has his car damaged, the landlord is not liable (unless it's deliberate). This is the same as parking in most public car parks - you will see a sign stating "cars left at owners risk"
Planning Permission - having let over 10,000 spaces on a long term basis, we have come across very few problems with the local authorities. It comes down to what is reasonable. For example if you tarmac over your large front garden, paint white lines, put a sign up outside and install a pay and display machine, you are asking for trouble.
If anyone has any specific questions, I would be happy to help?
The article mentions income tax but not any potential capital gains tax issues when you come to selling your house. I think anyone doing this should check that out first as you might no longer be treated as using your house solely as your main residence
I've been trying to do my own bit of research about the three parking space companies mentioned.
It seems like Parklet have been around the longest and act as a normal letting agent.
YourParkingSpace acts like a classified site, free to list and no obvious way that they make any money (please enlighten me Mr YourParkingSpace).
parkatmyhouse is trying to be a flashy web 2.0 company giving users full control and seems to be doing a good job if the press they've received is anything to go by (http://www.parkatmyhouse.com/press/articles/).
Technically, renting out your driveway to someone else requires planning permission, as the parking is no longer in direct connection with the residential use of the house. There is a distinct functional and physical separation betwen the house and the parking area (which there is not when residents of the house park there). Whilst many local authorities can't really be bothered to enforce this, it is something worth bearing in mind!
The Following User Says Thank You to planning_officer For This Useful Post:Show me >>
I would like to address the negative reviews the user above refers to. It refers to a case where payment to a landlord was delayed because we had incorrect bank account & sort code details on record. This error was immediately corrected when brought to our attention, and the landlord remains a happy customer to this day. If you read the bottom of the thread you will see that the user has updated his comments to reflect this.
We have let well over 10,000 parking spaces, all requiring monthly payment collection and remittance onto landlords. We do our very best to minimise any errors, but occasionally it does happen. When an error occurs, we do our best to put it right ASAP.
Is it possible to rent out a parking space if you don't own the property? My flatmate and I rent a flat from a landlord, and it comes with a parking space that neither of us use. We live opposite an overland station in zone 2 in London so are quite keen to make some use of it!
may want to check that any car left is actually owned by said driver, and also what access you have to your own garage etc, if it gets abandoned (removal costs? insurance if damaged etc?)
Here's another one to add to the mix. This one seems to cover all aspects of space and is free to use.
Can't post the web ad but look up Spareground on google.
Pls be nice to all MoneySavers. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps. Take care over copyright. Use excerpts and links rather than copying long text. This site asserts copyright on all comments posted on the board.
Pls be nice to all MoneySavers. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps.
Sell parking spaces... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion
http://www.parkatmyhouse.com - highly recommended
but it really was so helpful. How sad am I, when I look to buy a house I'll be considering if there is money to be made from a driveway. 
Renting your parking space/driveway
Reviews of the big players
Linear Mode
