Car parked on private driveway - what can we do?

lydjar

A car has been parked on our driveway for three days. We have no idea who it belongs to, none of our neighbours know either. We've left a note on the car asking them to remove it from the drive immediately, but it hasn't been touched.

We have also contacted the police and they did a trace on it, but since it is parked ON the driveway rather than obstructing it from the public road, and because it has not been reported stolen, they have no interest in pursuing it. Islington council seem to suggest they can't do anything either because of it being on private property.

So what are our rights when it comes to getting it clamped/towed away?

From what I've read it seems like the perpetrator has more rights than we do, the police suggested we are entitled to get it removed by a company, but the internet seems to suggest recent changes in the law means we can't do this.

We really want it removed as soon as possible as we can't park our car on the drive.

turniphead_2

this is what it says on the
askthe.police.uk/content/Q441.htm
website.


If a car is on private land then normally it is the landowner's responsibility to remove it. However, you cannot have it moved straight away. The safest way is to put a notice on the car stating that if the car is still there in 14 days time then you will have it removed. If there are number plates on the vehicle, send a recorded delivery letter to the registered keeper giving the same information (and keep the proof of postage and a copy of the letter). A Form V888 from the DVLA will get you registered details so long as your request is considered legitimate.
Once you have given reasonable notice that the car will be towed away you will prevent the owner from subsequently claiming theft or damage to the vehicle. If you sell the car to, perhaps, a scrap dealer, you can keep the costs of removal, but any surplus should go to the proven owner if s/he ever turns up.
The police can move cars on land in open air in limited circumstances. The power is discretionary and they are unlikely to remove a rusty old car which has been rotting on the land for several years.
If the car looks stolen (i.e. it has damage to the locks) then contact the police who will make further enquiries.

ariba10

Do you have access to a tow rope and have a friend with a 4 X 4?

mrcow

I wouldn't have contacted the police as now they have it on record that it was on your property.

I would have just moved it myself and left it in the road as an obstruction - THEN have called the police and reported it. (Or better still to a place where they are likely to accrue parking fines etc and just left it).

lydjar

If only. I'm half tempted to somehow push it onto the road so it then becomes the police's problem.

Meepster

I hope the owner doesn't return to find the car with scratches all over it, all the windows smashed in and all the tyres punctured.

That would be most unfortunate. It's not as if you have CCTV covering your driveway is it? Anyone could come along and damage it without your knowledge...

flashnazia

Meepster wrote: »

I hope the owner doesn't return to find the car with scratches all over it, all the windows smashed in and all the tyres punctured.

That would be most unfortunate. It's not as if you have CCTV covering your driveway is it? Anyone could come along and damage it without your knowledge...

Now that's just being nasty! What if it isn't the owner's fault? My car was stolen with keys and dumped in Bradford. It would have been more awful if some resident had then scratched it all up!

lydjar

It must be the owner's fault though, the police have checked already and it has not been reported as stolen.

I can't believe how impossible it is to remove a car from your property. We don't have 14 days notice to give them, we need the driveway now!

caeler

Is it obvious that the car is on 'your driveway'? I ask because the owner might have parked up on what they considered to be a space, not realising that it was your driveway? eg. some of these new build estates make driveways not so obvious!

basil92

Did the police not even try and contact the driver and ask them to move it?

Meepster

flashnazia wrote: »

Now that's just being nasty! What if it isn't the owner's fault? My car was stolen with keys and dumped in Bradford. It would have been more awful if some resident had then scratched it all up!

Nasty how? I didn't in any way suggest the OP should do it. I just said it would be unfortunate if it were to happen. Sometimes things happen that you can't control.

I mean, a tin of paint stripper could fall from an open upstairs window onto the car...

Or the wheels could all get stolen...

Or some local teenagers could break into it and take it for a joyride off a bridge...

Or a meteor could come racing out of the sky and blow the car up...

ANYTHING can happen....