How to stop people parking on my drive?

Loopy28

My drive is not directly in front of my house, it is a double drive on the side of my house and I admit that it isn't necessarily obvious that it is a drive and perhaps looks like two parking spaces to some.

During the day, tradesmen keep parking in these spots. At times when my car is parked there, I have seen them getting all sorts of tools and ladders and this could damage my car.

I have been out and told them to 'beat it' in of course a polite way but it seems a constant problem. I clearly need to make it obvious that it is a driveway because most people wouldn't just go and park on someone's driveway.

Should I put a sign up on the wall e.g. private parking or private driveway? It is driving me around the bend (pardon the pun)

Lokolo

Can you not park your car at the end of the drive so they can't get on?

torbrex

Put up a gate with a sign or even string a chain accross with a sign dangling from it.

LEJC

You could put a sign up...but it depends if they take notice of it....many may just claim they didnt notice it...no pun intend....
We have a similar sign noting a private road and its amazing the number of people who either didnt see or are just going to be a short time,or indeed have nowhere else to park!!!!

you could also try a locking post...the type that lock in an upright position to prevent parking and can be retracted down to allow you to drive over

ambioni

If you are in England (and Wales and NI I think) then there are trespass laws and those who park on your drive (which you own) are trespassing and in theory you could take a civil action against them. In Scotland, there ARE also trespass laws (despite what many think) but these differ somewhat from the rest of the UK and I am not sure how they would cover this situation.

In practical terms, you need a physical way to block the space when you are not occupying it and perhaps a sign reminding people that it is private property and that trespassing is an offence

gadgetmind

Loopy28 wrote: »

I clearly need to make it obvious that it is a driveway because most people wouldn't just go and park on someone's driveway.

I'm afraid that many people will, and they'll become verbally abuse if challenged and sometimes threaten physical violence. Now that it's close to impossible to clamp people for this, a large number thinks that it's open season for parking on other people's private property.

Marktheshark

Start by marking the boundary clearly then a sign, private land, parking available £100 a day

ambioni

Have you ever thought about renting out your space when you are not using it? That way you would generate extra cash AND have a permanent deterrent parked there.

princeofpounds

Don't waste time with trespass; if you have suffered immaterial loss or damage it's a dead end.


Pretty much the only thing to do is create a physical barrier. It is inconvenient to you, but you cannot clamp and it's probably more trouble than it's worth to try to set up a mini car park and charge, for all sorts of reasons (planning, tax, liability insurance, and ultimately the bad guys will still park there and not pay).


Use a chain or a retractable bollard (solar perhaps)

lxpeanut

Sadly a physical barrier is your only reliable option. You can try a sign but in my experience people will just shrug and say they didnt see it.

Gordon_Hose

Anti-personnel mines. Have a hose and brush to hand.