Removal of a car from private property.

[yerbamate]

Does anyone know if I have the right to have a car removed from my private land. It is being parked on a regular basis, and making it difficult for me to get my car out.

[WendyS]

I'd phone the police and get some advice first in case the car gets damaged in the process and the owner tries to sue you. However, if it's blocking your entrance the police might be able to charge the driver with obstruction.

Suppose you could always put a note on it saying that it's trespassing on private property and if it happens again you will have it towed away but following through on this might be difficult.

Maybe a jar of tin tacks accidentally dropped around the tyres might deter him !

[Ethel]

If it's on private land the police will not get involved - it is a civil matter of trespass.

Leave a note on the windscreen asking him not to park on your land in future.

You are entitled to remove it - but it could prove expensive.

Keep a diary of when he parks there and any action you take.

If it persists stick a very large notice onto the windscreen with a 'gunky' substance. Nothing that will cause permanent damage, but would be difficult to remove.

You have had to do this to ensure that he gets the message and it hasn't blown away.

Or block him in. You can put whatever you like on your own property and if it stops him getting off, that's tough. Do you need a skip?

Have a good think, and good luck.

[Thunderbird+]

In the first instance, to avoid any possibility of a feud or tit-for-tat hostility, I would desplay a sign on your land stating 'private property no parking' and if that dont work, take it from there.
A chat with your local councils enforcement officer may offer some good legal advice. Good Luck Tbird+

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

The government website that deals with this question isn't particularly helpful.
Quote:
"Someone has parked on my land, what can I do?

As the vehicle is on private land, it is for you (or the owner of the land) to resolve the issue.

The following suggestions may help you:
*Make local enquiries to see if you can trace the driver or get information about when the vehicle was left.
*You may be able to arrange for its removal by contacting your local authority. There may be a charge for this service which you could claim from the owner if he or she can be traced.
*Seek legal advice from your solicitor or from your local Citizens' Advice Bureau.
*Contact your local police if you have further evidence or information which suggests there is something suspicious about the vehicle."
Source:
http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/faq7.htm

I suggest putting up a sign stating that the land is private and that a charge will be made for parking. (I'm not suggesting that you spend a fortune on having a sign professionally made. Type something out on your PC, get it laminated and display it - or preferably several copies of it - prominently). Leave a note on the windsreen of the car and/or drop a note through the letterbox of the driver (if you know who/where this is). Keep a record of when and where you displayed the signs and when you placed a note on the windscreen.

[Buenchico]

The charge you make for parking must be 'reasonable' if it's to be legally enforceable. (You can't charge a million pounds per day!). I suggest that your laminated signs should read roughly as follows:
"PRIVATE LAND. Unauthorised parking will be charged at �30 per day (or part thereof). Where necessary, legal action will be taken to enforce payment of this charge".

I also suggest that your notice left on the windscreen should read roughly as follows:
"THIS VEHICLE IS PARKED ON PRIVATE LAND. Your attention is drawn to the notices displayed hereon, which advise that a CHARGE OF �30 PER DAY (OR PART THEREOF) will henceforth be made for unauthorised parking on this land.

TAKE NOTICE that, should further unauthorised parking occur, it is my intention to pursue collection of the said parking charges (if necessary, through legal action) and/or to engage to services of a company, licensed by the Security Industry Authority, to immobilise (through wheel-clamping) vehicles parked without authorisation, until such time as the relevant parking charges (together with a reasonable 'release fee', as permitted by law) have been paid.

Signed:
Date: "

Chris

[naz_nomad]

How big is your car ... how big is theirs?

In my experience (don't ask) I find that towing/dragging the car into the middle of the road and leaving it there usually produces rapid results ...mind you I did have a massive vehicle.

[joko]

you could knock up some kind of large stand to display the signs buenchico mentions - something akin to a bird table or portable bus stop sign - but with a flat at the top. place the sign on that and weight the base - that way they have to get out of the car to move the sign - you could also put a padlock and chain across the entrance perhaps?

basically anyway you can obstruct their access but so you yourself can easily get by. i know it woul dbe a pain for you but it would give him the message

[RATTER15]

Tie a hungry Pit Bull to his door handle on a long rope

[tellboy]

Put up a sign "Parking �5 an hour" please pay at the house

[yerbamate]

Thank you all so much for the imput. I have taken some of those steps i.e. notes on the windscreen, and there is already notices up saying PRIVATE. NO PARKING.
I would dearly like to do what Laurence2 suggests, believe me, but I am a 65 year old woman with arthritis, and this car is mean looking, black with blacked out windows!!
Thanks again for taking the time to reply, I shall persist with some suggestions.

[welshnutter]

if someone ie.(bailliff)keeps calling at my address i have a sign stating unless u have a appointment you maybe charged with trespassing can this be done and can i inforce it
regards chris

[Iainmc]

Mean looking with balcked out windows, probably a chav car, in which case its a spotty 18 year old that weighs about 6 stone lol. I too am faced with a simular problem in that my neighbour has deemed fit to stell not only my parking space but about 45 foot square of my land, its now going to be handled through solicitors, if you want to take that route, I would suggest that you download your property deed from the land registry web site, they only cost £4 per download and this will show you a map with your boundary outlined in red, print this out and then affix this to the windscreen of the vehicle in question with a note stating most of whet you have already been told to above, pointing out that the area marked red is private property and in parking where they are they are in fact tresspassing. Take photo's and keep a record of any further parking and occourences, speak to a solicitor and present them with your collected evidence, this will allow you to present a civil case against this person, oh and its worth bearing in mind that your buildings insurance MAY cover the cost of any legal action against this person. Hope this helps :-)
Iain Halstaed