Could my friends car, parked on my drive stop me from selling my house?

ndonnellan

Hi,

I would like to sell my house, but my friend's car is parked in my driveway. He has been working on the vehicle for over the past four years, doing very little to it. I did tell him I want to sell my house, and could he move his car off my driveway? I'm starting to lose my patience with him as I now want to move this year.

My question is: could my friend's car, parked on my driveway, stop me from selling my house?

user1977

"Stop" you how? Because potential buyers won't like the look of it? Nobody is likely to expect the house comes with the car…

soolin

Anything can stop a house selling and lot depends on what buyers would think normal or not. Many houses have cars on their drive whether someone particularly cares might depend on something as simple as it is a nice car that fits in with the general ambience of the house and neighbourhood, or is it a bit of clapped out rust bucket.

Since you want to sell the house the car will have to move at some point anyway as the new owners are unlikely to be as accommodating as you. So be firm, give your friend a time frame, put it formally in writing and outline what you plan to do if car isn’t removed within that reasonable time frame.

eddddy

Are you asking if you can start marketing the house with the car parked on the driveway? If so, there's nothing to stop you doing that.

Or are you asking if the presence of the car will put off prospective buyers? If it's a 'wreck', for example, with the wheels taken off and bits of engine lying on the drive - I guess that might put buyers off.

Or are you asking if you can complete the sale (and move out) but leaving the car on the driveway? In theory, you can state in the contract that the car will remain on the driveway. But I suspect that would be unacceptable to a lot of buyers - so they would walk away.

sheramber

Does itjust look like a car parked there or idoes it look like a repair job withg bits missing, parts lying around.

Would ot put ypou off to visit a house with such a car sitting on the drive?

saajan_12

1. Is it an eyesore?
   If yes, it may put off buyers and you're better off getting rid asap. If not, you can get the ball rolling on advertising, viewings, negotiating offers, etc.
   
2. Once you get closer to searches and surveys, you should give notice to the friend to remove the car in x days or you'll have it towed, so they can't come back to bite you.
   
3. Get it removed one way or another before exchange. Reason being, from exchange you are obligated to give the buyer vacant possession and a car on the driveway would fall foul of that *

*provided you don't agree something different in the sales contract but that's unlikely.

theartfullodger

Tell (don't ask) "friend" to remove car ASAP. Any potential buyer is likely to be less interested in buying the place whilst this alien car is there. Obvs..

Was there ANY documented agreement for him to use the drive??

MEM62

If it is in a state of disrepair, at the very least, it is not going to improve kerb appeal.

born_again

If they are not going to move it before you start selling, then how can you be sure that they will move it once sold?

HedgehogRulez

their car's been on your driveway for 4 years? 😮

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6665162/could-my-friends-car-parked-on-my-drive-stop-me-from-selling-my-house

There was another recent thread with a similar question. I will try to look for it this evening and add a link, but you might locate it more quickly using search.