Lawer explains rights if neighbour abandons car on street and moves | UK | News
A homeowner told how a van was parked on the corner of a cul-de-sac for five months (Image: ASphotowed via Getty Images)
Residents frustrated for months by an abandoned vehicle on their street may have more recourse than they think, according to a legal expert.
One homeowner described a van being parked on the corner of a cul-de-sac for five months, forcing neighbors and visitors to move around it in a way they felt was both inappropriate and unsafe.
The local resident explained: “All my neighbors and visitors have to drive on the wrong side of the road to get around it, which is frustrating and potentially dangerous.”
They added that the owner of the vehicle had previously lived nearby but was thought to have moved abroad. “The owner lived in a nearby village, but rumor has it he moved to France,” they said.
Consumer lawyer Dean Dunham KC, who discussed the issue in the Daily Mail, said that cases involving vehicles apparently abandoned on residential streets were becoming increasingly common, but residents had remedies, according to the Mirror’s report.
Leaves and bird droppings on the windshield of an abandoned blue car (Image: Tim Parker via Getty Images)
“This is more common than you might think, but the good news is that you have more than one way to lift the van,” he explained.
He said the first step was to determine whether the vehicle was road legal by verifying whether it had been taxed, insured and had a valid MoT through the government’s online vehicle inquiry service. “The first port of call is to check whether the van is taxed, insured and has a valid MoT. To do this, go to the Gov.uk website and run the registration through the free vehicle inquiry service. This will tell you instantly whether it is taxed and has a valid MoT,” he said.
If the vehicle is properly taxed and remains roadworthy, Mr Dunham explained that the owner generally has the right to park the vehicle on a public road, provided there are no parking restrictions.
However, if the relevant documents have expired, the authorities may have grounds to intervene. “If both have expired, you can report this to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). Untaxed vehicles on public roads can often be docked, seized and ultimately scrapped within a matter of weeks,” he said.
Authorities may have grounds to intervene if relevant documents have expired (Image: John Myers)
If these checks fail to resolve the issue, residents can contact local authorities to determine whether the vehicle has been effectively abandoned.
“If the above steps do not help, contact your local council and ask them to investigate if this is an abandoned vehicle,” Mr Dunham said.
The official urged residents to provide as much detail as possible, especially in cases where there is reason to believe the owner has left the country.
“Make sure you explain the circumstances, including how long the vehicle was left unattended and why you think the owner left the country,” he said. Local authorities have the power to remove vehicles deemed abandoned under legislation, including the Waste Disposal (Cleanup) Act 1978, after a notice has been served; Police may also intervene if a vehicle poses a danger.
“If the van is causing a genuine obstruction or danger you can also report this to the police as highway obstruction on 101,” Mr Dunham added.
He also encouraged his neighbors to thoroughly check any overlooked parking restrictions and raise the issue as a group. “Agreeing with your neighbors to report the issue together is more important than a single complaint.”
