One homeowner detailed how a van had been left parked at the corner of a cul-de-sac for five months (Image: ASphotowed via Getty Images)
Residents left exasperated by a vehicle abandoned on their street for months may have more recourse than they think, according to a legal expert.
One homeowner detailed how a van had been left parked at the corner of a cul-de-sac for five months, forcing neighbours and visitors to navigate around it in a manner they consider both inconvenient and unsafe.
The resident explained: “All my neighbours and visitors have to drive on the wrong side of the road to get around it, which is annoying and potentially dangerous.”
They added that the vehicle’s owner had previously lived nearby but was thought to have moved abroad. “The owner used to live in a nearby village, but word is, he has moved to France,” they said.
Addressing the matter in the Daily Mail, consumer lawyer Dean Dunham KC said cases involving apparently abandoned vehicles on residential streets are becoming increasingly common – but residents do have remedies available, reports the Mirror.
Leaves and bird excrement on the windscreen of an abandoned blue car (Image: Tim Parker via Getty Images)
“This is more common than you might think, but the good news is you have several routes to get the van removed,” he explained.
He said the initial step is to determine whether the vehicle is road legal by verifying if it is taxed, insured and has a valid MoT through the government’s online vehicle enquiry service. “Your first port of call is to check if 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 enquiry service. It will tell you instantly if it is taxed and has a valid MoT,” he said.
Should the vehicle remain properly taxed and roadworthy, Mr Dunham explained that the owner is generally within their rights to leave it parked on a public road, provided there are no parking restrictions in place.
However, if the relevant documentation has expired, the authorities may have grounds to intervene. “If either has lapsed, you can report it to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). Untaxed vehicles on a public road can be clamped, impounded and ultimately scrapped, usually within weeks,” he said.
If the relevant documentation has expired, the authorities may have grounds to intervene (Image: John Myers)
Should these checks fail to resolve the matter, residents can approach their local authority to establish whether the vehicle has effectively been abandoned.
“If the above steps do not help, contact your local council and ask them to investigate whether it is an abandoned vehicle,” Mr Dunham said.
He urged residents to supply as much detail as possible, particularly where there is reason to believe the owner has left the country.
“Make sure you explain the circumstances, including how long the vehicle has been left unattended and why you believe the owner has now left the country,” he said. Local authorities have the power to remove vehicles deemed to have been abandoned under legislation including the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, after the service of notice, while police may also intervene should a vehicle pose a hazard.
“If the van is causing a genuine obstruction or danger, you can also report it to the police on 101 as a highway obstruction,” Mr Dunham added.
He also encouraged neighbours to thoroughly check for any overlooked parking restrictions and consider raising the issue as a group. “Agreeing with your neighbours to report the issue together carries more weight than a single complaint.”