'dumped' Car On Private Property

[237SJ]

My late Mum`s house has a garage in a block and a parking space at the end of the block which is hidden from view from the entrance to the garages. Someone has left a car in the parking space. I looked on the gov site and the car is untaxed. I phoned the police and they are not interested in it as far as it being stolen, etc. The DVLA say they have no record of it. I left a note on the windscreen to say that if the car is not removed, I will have it towed away. I have done this a couple of times because the notes were being removed. Eventually, the 'owner' left a note telling me not to remove the car as it was his and he lives around here. I couldn`t believe the audacity. Anyway, I left another note telling him that if the car was still there when I got back from holiday (yesterday) I would remove it. Needless to say, it`s still there with another note from the 'owner' who tells me that he is the owner as his name is on the log book and the DVLA are lying. His latest excuse is that he parked it there to stop people fly tipping on the spot and he needs some parts from the car before he removes it. I have been leaving notes since the middle of August so he has had plenty of time. The house is sold and will complete at the end of the month and I have told him (via yet another note) that it MUST be removed as I can`t sell the house with his dumped car on the property. Where do I stand legally if he won`t remove it? A tow away person told me that the window and steering lock would have to be broken to take the car away which could have legal implications.

[ummmm]

Like Edmund says...it was the council that knocked on my door.

[EDDIE51]

Get 4 or 5 men and 'bump' the car out of the parking place and into the middle of the public road. That is what my local pub landlord does when people block his car park with dumped cars. Then phone the police and report that the car is obstructing the road.
'Bumping' a car is easy , you just get 3 or 4 men to lift / bounce the back of the car so that most of the weight is off the rear wheels then just 'bump' or jog it alone until you get it where you want it. It takes less than 2 minutes for the guys at the pub to 'bump' a car out of the way!

[cassa333]

Get a handful of strong blokes and shift it 5 or 6 ft over and out of your space and then put something there to stop him moving it back.

Alternatively put another note on it and tell him if it is still there on X date he will have gifted it to you and you will do with it what you want.

I do think (not sure of the legalities) that by engaging him in dialogue for so long you have played into his hands. After all this towing and growing you still don't know who he is or where he lives!!

However as an alternative alternative, on the day of completion move it onto the public highway and call the police about an abandoned car.

[cassa333]

Oh Eddie same thought you just got in while I was writing. Lol

[237SJ]

Thanks for the further replies. Bumping it would be difficult because the front tyres are flat. I can`t just bump it out of my space either because it would be blocking other peoples` access to their garages. It would have to be bumped 20 metres to reach the public highway.

[Barmaid]

Nooooooo! Do not under any circumtances give him a note saying he has gifted it to you.

[ubasses]

This may be a useful read, especially the last 2 paragraphs. Perhaps if Barmaid has a couple of minutes she could give you an opinion on it.
https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q441.htm

[237SJ]

ubasses - I looked at that a couple of weeks ago and ended up phoning the police to ask further and they were very helpful. It`s surprisingly difficult to remove someone else`s property from my land as you can see from your link.

[237SJ]

I`m just off to leave him another note as the plastic bag I put the last one in leaked and it`s soggy. I`ve amended it to mention my Solicitor and the trespass with injunctive relief. Maybe that will scare him.

[jennyjoan]

know this is maybe a difficult question - can you not get a "notion" of when he is at his car so that you can get him in person. "Times" when you put the note on the car etc.

[TWR]

It seems to me that this car is obstructing you from getting to / from your garage, I would put a rope on it and drag it out of the way, even though the car's Steering may be locked & the handbrake on it will would still drag, should you decide to do the get someone you know to witness you doing it.

[ladybirder]

Surely one of your neighbours must know who this chap is and where he lives. He's certainly got some front.

[Baldric]

The first 3 lines of the OP make it clear that ^^ is not the case.

[HansUrbancka]

In my opinion, you are prohibited from moving the offending vehicle (even a few yards) without a Court Order. To do so could result in yourself being prosecuted because you are Not legally entitled to interfere with the car concerned. Read the following Official Police Link and note the last part of the first paragraph which reads .... "Those who have lawful authority and in fact a duty to remove vehicles from roads or other land include the police, local authorities, traffic wardens, parking attendants and civil enforcement officers".

https://www.askthe.police.uk/Content/Q441.htm

It might be worth further contact with the Police and also an approach to your local Authority, along with an e/mail or telephone call to your local Councillor.

Hans.

[Barmaid]

I do not think 237SJ can remove it - the police wont care and nor will the Council. It has not been abandoned the "owner" is just being a twerp.

I think County Court action is necessary. I would go for action in trespass. I suppose you could go for a possession action against person or persons unknown although I am not sure that the latter would work. I still think an action for trespass with a mandatory order to remove or permission for 237 to remove.

[chiaroscuro]

Local papers may be interested - one of them may like to photograph the car and run the story asking why the police and local authority are not interested in helping a taxpayer.

[ladybirder]

I know Baldric but when 237 wrote // I was talking to one of the other garage users last night and apparently he is a pleasant enough lad who works on cars. It's been there about three months. \\ I would have thought the garage user in question might know where he worked on cars etc.

[Barmaid]

The police are not interested because no crime has been committed. The council are not interested because it is on private land and only causing a nuisance to the owner of that land. It is a civil matter.

[chiaroscuro]

I'm aware of that, Barmaid, but a local paper causing a stink can work wonders.

[ummmm]

BM...why did the council knock on my door regarding my car that was no obstruction to anyone?