Can u own a visitors parking space

Mrs_ted · 12 June 2013 at 9:26PM

The house we are buying has only one parking space. The space next to it is apparently a visitors space but is owned by our neighbours apparently. So that have 3 parking spaces in total. The visitors car parking space is right outside our kitchen window.

So, I thought you could not own a visitors parking space? Obviously we will get our solicitors to look into this but wanted to hear peoples views on here about this. :money:

monty-doggy · 12 June 2013 at 9:29PM

Who told you it's theirs?

Land_Registry · 13 June 2013 at 9:07AM

If the parking spaces are 'owned' then they should be registered in some way

If the property is in England & Wales you could check online at Land Registry via our FAQ. If you search against the post code for the properties the service will tell you what information is available, namely the register and title plan for both your own and the neighbour's property.

If the parking spaces are owned by each of you then the registers may well refer e.g. 1 Acacia Avenue and parking space but only the title plan will show the space(s) location. Your solicitor will be able to do this as well if instructed and I suspect that they have already obtained the information re your own purchase anyway.

If you wanted to view the available information online then you would need to register for the service and pay a fee (starts at £3 per register or plan) before doing so.

sirmosh · 13 June 2013 at 10:30AM

You would assume that if it were a visitor parking space then it wouldn't be owned by anyone and would in fact just be your neighbours space.

For me the fact it's being referred to as a visitor space implies that it belongs to no one in particular.

princeofpounds · 13 June 2013 at 10:44AM

Land is ALWAYS owned by someone. Unless you have discovered a new country arising from the waves!

Yes, it's possible for the parking space to be owned by one title with the other title having rights to use it. The deeds should say something about this.

Normally something like a visitor space would be owned under some kind of freehold title which owned common parts, but then normally this situation arises amongst leasehold flats, not houses (though you are vague on the exact layout on title situation)

theGrinch · 13 June 2013 at 2:45PM

a visitors space is just that. an unowned commual space for visitors and tradesmen.

princeofpounds · 13 June 2013 at 2:51PM

a visitors space is just that. an unowned commual space for visitors and tradesmen.

Again, I reiterate that this is not true. The land will be owned by someone. It may well be unregistered, impossible to establish who owns it etc. But it does not just exist in some nebulous 'communal' otherworld.

Guest101 · 13 June 2013 at 6:00PM

The simple quetion is, is this space on your land or not?

BobQ · 13 June 2013 at 8:04PM

The "visitors space" is owned by someone. The House owner may own it or they may not (see your land registry entry as suggested). They may just have a right to use it. Or it could be owned by one of the neighbours with no right for others to use it.

Just because its referred to as a "visitors space" does not mean a thing.

It could in fact be owned by the original builder. Its of no value to the builder but they may still own it because it was not sold to anyone at the time the houses were sold.

C_Mababejive · 13 June 2013 at 8:08PM

Sometimes people sequestrate public parking spaces simply because they are adjacent to their home. Close to me there is a gable ended house. On the gable end is two parking spaces. The owners have put up no parking signs and taken them over.

mjdh1957 · 13 June 2013 at 11:06PM

There is definitely no 'unowned' land in Britain. As a relic of the feudal system, the monarch is the head landlord of the whole country so if there is no other owner then she has it. It's called 'bona vacantia' and is the same basic principle whereby estates without any heirs revert to the Crown.