Opinion Flat Living what the expertS think


Bob Smytherman


explainswhy theclamping banwillbeacharter for the selfish parker


Most peoplewho live inablock of flats in atownorcitywillbe awareofthe debatethathas been raging in recentmonthsoverthe government’s plans to banclamping of cars parked illegallyonprivate land. Despite vigorous lobbying by theFederationofPrivate Residents’ Associations (FPRA)which representsflatowners in England andWales andarange of other interested parties, theban,which is includedinthe newProtectionof FreedomAct, received Royal Assent at thebeginning ofMay. The FPRAhas accusedHomeOffice


Minister LynneFeatherstoneMPof completely ignoring the views and therightsofflatowners andtenants in drawing up the newlegislation. ThenewActignores allthe issues wehave raised regardingthe car clampingban during thepassage of this Bill andwhenitcomes into forceinOctoberweanticipatemajor problemsforordinaryresidents living in blocks of flats with a parking space. Idonot believethe Coalition’s


knee-jerk proposaltobanwheel clampingoutrightinanattempt to outlawrogue clamping companies will be thepopulistmeasure they expectittobe.What the Government has failed to appreciate is that thousandsofpeopleliving in blocks of flats with carparking spaces areconstantlyatthemercy of illegalparking.And as anyone involved in themanagementof parkingknows,the only serious deterrenttoillegal parkingisthe threat of clamping. Theissuingof penaltytickets is notaneffective deterrentbecausetheyare very difficulttoenforce,ashighlighted by theBBC’sWatchdog programme. TheGovernment’sresponseto


our concerns is that landowners can 28


erectbarriersaroundtheir property to controlillegal parking. Thismight be fineforwell-heeledcompanies, the landed gentry and government departments, butitdisplaysa dismal ignorance of howthis canbe achieved in blocks of flats. TheFPRApointed outtotheHome


Office that nResidentsand leaseholders of


blocks of flatsmaynot be able to installbarriersbecausethe termsof


the lease will not allowthem; nIf thelease does alloworif it isamendedtoallow(a very complicatedand costly process) the installation of barriers, thecost of installing andmaintainingthem will fall on theordinaryleaseholder, whichincludes pensioners and the not-so-well-off.Will the government


contribute to this cost? nBarriersare restrictiveand inconvenient to residents, visitors andtrade vehicles interferingwith thefreemovementinand outof wheretheylive,work or visit. Iamsaddened that theCoalition


Government’sunderstandingof carclampingisdepressingly naive. Ministersseemtothink that this is asimpleblack andwhite issue of driversasvictims,wheninfact many residentsare also victims; theirlives plaguedbyillegally parked cars.Ministers seemto


CorreCtion


inmylast article i inadvertently referred to the limit of bank protectionas£50,000 butinfactafterasuccessfulcampaign by Fpraand others thiswas increased to £85,000 in the event of a bank failure. the £85,000 limit is theamount any individual can claim on the Financial Service Compensation Schemeand this can includemonies held in trust for leaseholders. the rules are more complex than this and full details are available fromFpra. weapologise for the confusion.’


Seealsoletters,page33formoreonthissubject fromarMa


Thereal problem with the systemwas therogue car clampers and thesolution should have beento regulate them


Leases may not allow installation of barriers


assumethat landowners canjust erect barriers, with nounderstanding that these‘landowners’alsoinclude ordinarypeople-leaseholders -in blocks of flatswhocould be forced to payfor theinstallationand management of barriers, if thelease allowsit. Inmany cases the lease will notallowit,inwhich casethere is little that thoseresidents candoto effectively keep outunwantedcars. The newlawwill bringmiserytoalot of peopleand certainly notthe ‘freedom’ the Government claim. Ourargumentwas that thereal


problemwith the systemwas the rogue car clampers, and the solutionshould have beentoregulatethem, notban clampingcompletely. Sowheredowegonow?The


FPRAhasn’t givenup on this issue andwewillcontinuetocampaign vigorously on leaseholders’behalf. WearenowcallingontheHome Office towork with us to comeup with robust regulation of the parking industry,and avoidtheunintended consequences of this rashand ill- conceived legislation.●


BoBsMytherMan Chairman, TheFederationofPrivate Residents Associations Ltd


emailbob@fpra.org.uk


Go towww.fpra.org.ukto find outmoreabout theFPRAand itslegal advice servicewhichis free tomembers.


Summer 2012 Flat Living


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