Accountant Seonaid Reid earns £5 per day for parking space

Published on 16/07/2012 00:00

Management accountant Seonaid Reid has been renting out the driveway of her Edinburgh home for three years now.

“It is a win-win situation,” she says.

She charges £5 a day and says the spare space outside her home is always occupied during the Fringe.

“It is really easy. I am often away from home so I have set up an honesty box. People just pop the money into the honest box and it works fine.”

Although some home owners prefer the hands-off approach, Ms Reid is always happy to welcome her driveway guests.

“People tend to be very friendly and I think it is nice if they are coming from a distance that I can be here to welcome them to the area.”

Many of her driveway guests are people from out of town who have booked into hotels that do not offer parking.

“It’s good for them because they know their cars will be safe for the length of their stay.

“And it saves money. Parking rates on the street can be horrendous.”

During the Fringe, Ms Reid has rented her parking space to performers and visitors.

Having made several hundred pounds already from parking, she’s decided to donate her festival earnings this year to lifeboat charity RNLI.

CLAIRE SMITH