In most cases, the person moving house is responsible for arranging parking for the removal van, not the removal company, unless both sides have agreed otherwise in writing. The rules described here are those of English councils, and the exact process depends on the borough where the property sits.
Why a removal van needs parking permission
A removal van needs somewhere legal to stand close to the property for several hours. If the street has restrictions, the van has to follow them. Removal companies and man and van services across the UK can advise on vehicle size, but the council decides what is allowed on the street.
Where a van would stop in a controlled bay, on a resident bay or on a yellow line, the usual route is a parking bay suspension or a dispensation. Some councils allow loading arrangements for removals, while others require a permit or advance application. Councils set these rules themselves, so the position on your street may differ from the next road over.
How the suspension process works
Councils will suspend a bay for a house move if you ask. Westminster, for example, states that removal van parking in central London can be requested through a bay suspension. Merton explains that if you live in a controlled parking zone, you can ask the council to suspend a parking bay, for instance if you are moving house.
Notice periods vary. Councils also differ on whether a removal company or the resident can apply, so check which route your council uses.
What happens if the van is not covered
An unauthorised vehicle parked in a suspended bay can be penalised. Merton states that any unauthorised vehicle found parked in the suspended bay (including those with resident or visitor permits) will be issued with a penalty charge notice (PCN). Brighton and Hove notes that unauthorised vehicles parked in the suspended bay could be liable for a Penalty Charge Notice and relocation.
Ask your removal company, in writing, who will be responsible for any parking fine on the day. Some firms take this on, but many expect the customer to have arranged legal parking.
Checklist before moving day
- Check whether your street has resident, visitor, loading or disabled bays, and whether the van would stop on a yellow line or in a controlled zone.
- Find your council's parking suspension page and confirm the notice period.
- Measure the van and the bays.
- Confirm the cost directly with the council before you apply. Charges vary by borough and the figure is not included here.
- Ask the removal firm to confirm in writing who books the suspension and who pays any penalty.
- Keep the suspension notices in place and make sure no other vehicle blocks the suspended bay.
Your contract rights while you wait
Whoever arranges parking, the removal firm still has duties under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which applies across the UK. Section 49 of that Act, titled "Service to be performed with reasonable care and skill", provides that every contract to supply a service is to be treated as including a term that the trader must perform the service with reasonable care and skill. If a firm does not perform a service with reasonable care and skill, section 54 sets out the consumer's remedies.
If you are planning a move in the capital, compare firms serving removals in London and check their parking guidance before you book. For smaller moves, the same parking rules apply to a man and van as to a full removal company, so ask the same questions of both.
Find local removal firms, man and van services and haulage operators on GetBrent. Compare firms near you, check how each one handles parking and insurance, and request a quote direct from the company.
