Homeowners draw line over motorists parking outside their homes says survey

Many Britons who regard their home as their castle are also pretty proprietorial about parking outside their house, according to a new poll. As many as 44 per cent believe they “own” the nearest public parking space to their home, the survey by insurance company Churchill found.

Around 18 per cent have felt distressed when a stranger has parked in front of their property. And 5 per cent have used their own car, traffic cones or road signs to block the space to stop others parking there.

A further 2 per cent have put up notices banning motorists from parking, while more than 4 per cent of the 2,028 adults polled had argued with a neighbour over parking in the last year.

The survey also showed that 18 per cent had been prevented from entering their property as someone had parked across their drive. Three per cent said a motorist had parked on their garden or driveway.

Scottish homeowners were the most relaxed about anyone parking near their property.Churchill Car Insurance head Tony Chilcott said: “Parking issues can lead to heated arguments, but people need to be tolerant of drivers that are parking entirely legally, even if it is directly outside their property.”