Car parks and parking
Our approach to car parks and parking
Parking on the shared areas of our estates is limited. On some of our estates, you can only park your car in a shared area if you have a parking permit. On estates that do not currently have a parking permit system, we can consider introducing one if residents request it.
In October 2022, we are moving to a new online parking portal system which gives you control over your parking 24/7 365 days a year. You will be able to apply, renew and cancel your permit online. The portal will give you more control and flexibility in managing your parking. You can access the portal by visiting https://octavia.zatpermit.com/applicant
What we mean by parking controls
Where permit parking controls are in place, cars that are parked without a valid permit on display may receive a parking charge notice from our parking contractor. This means the owner of the vehicle must pay a fine. Parking permits last for 6 or 12 months. When you have been issued with a permit, you will be given the parking bay number that you have been allocated and the date that the permit expires. Our permit system does not apply to:
- parking on private driveways
- use of individual garages
- parking on roads controlled by the local authority
- parking on developments under shared management where another housing association is responsible for the parking.
What you can expect from our service
We display signs to inform residents, visitors and members of the public where parking controls are in place. We allocate permits in a consistent way, to be fair to all applicants. We give priority to disabled drivers who have a Blue Badge. We aim to approve permits within five working days and we send parking permit renewal reminders out at least four weeks before a permit is due to expire. You can also set up bespoke reminders in your parking portal account. We keep the fees for parking permits reasonable and we do not increase fees more than once a year. We may charge higher fees for secure gated and underground parking to meet the extra costs involved in providing this service.
What will happen after you apply for a parking permit
Depending on the system used to allocate permits where you live, we will add your name to the waiting list, inform you of the ballot system, or if a suitable parking space is available, invite you to apply online by visiting https://octavia.zatpermit.com/applicant
Once your application is approved you will receive an email link to pay for your permit. Blue Badge holders and homeowners who have purchased the right to a parking space do not have to pay for the permit but do still need to register for an account and complete Parking application and agreement form. You will need to provide us with copies of your vehicle registration document and insurance certificate, showing that the vehicle is registered to your home address. We may ask to see further information such as confirmation from an employer if it is a company-owned vehicle. We will only consider you for a parking permit if your vehicle is roadworthy, your rent account is not in arrears, you have not breached your tenancy and your Gas Safety Certificate is valid. Some of these conditions do not apply to Blue Badge holders and homeowners who purchased the right to a parking space.
Displaying your permit
All permits are electronic and there is no need to display a permit in your vehicle unless we have agreed to issue you with a display permit.
Renewing your permit
On some estates, parking permits are issued through an annual ballot. Parking permits issued in this way do not have an automatic right of renewal and you will need to reapply through the ballot each year. We will send you a parking permit renewal reminder each year if annual ballots are not in place. You will be able to keep renewing your permit as long as you renew on time, pay on time each year and you do not breach any of the conditions of the permit. All permit holders are responsible for ensuring they renew their permit. If you do not renew your permit on time and continue to park in the bay you were allocated, you may receive a parking charge notice. If we allocate the space to someone else you will need to apply for a new permit.
Conditions of your permit
We may refuse or withdraw a parking permit if you have rent arrears, have breached other conditions of your tenancy or if your vehicle is abandoned. If we decide to withdraw your permit,we will explain our reasons to you in writing and give you up to 14 days’ notice of your permit being withdrawn. You can appeal against our decision through our complaints process, but we do not issue temporary permits while appeals are being considered. If there are unused spaces, we may issue conditional parking permits to residents or members of the public to allow temporary use of a parking space. We may withdraw these conditional permits at short notice. If we do this, we will refund the temporary permit holder for the remainder of the term they have paid for.
Visitor Parking
Visitors can park on estates where permit controls are in place provided they park in the allocated bay. Temporary parking and visitor scratch cards are issued virtually and by post and must be purchased in advance. For more information on temporary parking or scratch cards, including costs, please contact our Contact Team on 0208 354 5500 or visit https://octavia.zatpermit.com/applicant
What to do if someone else is using your parking space
Your parking permit does not guarantee that no-one else will park in your allocated parking space. If someone has parked in your space, please contact our contact team or the parking contractor. If our parking contractor finds a car without a valid permit parked in the space allocated to you, they will issue a parking charge notice to the owner of the vehicle. If you park in someone else’s space because your allocated space has been taken, you could still receive a parking charge notice.
What to do if you receive a parking charge notice
The person who owns the vehicle is responsible for paying the fine. If you believe the parking contractor should not have issued you with a parking charge notice, you can lodge an appeal. You must appeal directly to the parking contractor – we do not deal with parking charge appeals ourselves. The parking contractor will assess your appeal within 35 days. If the fine is upheld and you do not pay the fine by the deadline, the parking contractor will take you to court to force you to pay.
Reporting abandoned vehicles
We always investigate reports of abandoned vehicles on our estates and will take action to remove vehicles that have been abandoned on land that we own. However, we are not responsible for vehicles that have been abandoned on public roads or on privately owned land, including gardens or parking spaces purchased by residents with their homes. If you believe a vehicle has been abandoned on land owned by Octavia, please contact our contact team with details of the vehicle and its location. To report a vehicle that has been abandoned on a public road or privately-owned land (including parking spaces purchased by homeowners), please visit gov.uk/report-abandoned-vehicle or contact your local authority.
SORN
We do not allow vehicles with a SORN to be kept on our land. We may however, grant permission in exceptional circumstances on a conditional basis and for no more than 6 months. At the end of the 6 month period, we will withdraw permission for you to park the SORN vehicle on our land and ask you to find alternative storage or renew the tax on your vehicle.
Making sure that we are succeeding
We monitor the service we receive from our parking control contractor to make sure that high standards are being maintained and that contract conditions are being met.
How to contact us about parking permits
Parking permits
If you want to apply for a parking permit or have questions about applying for or renewing a parking permit, please contact our contact team on 020 8354 5500 or parking@octavia.org.uk
Parking charge notices
To pay or appeal against a penalty charge notice, please contact our parking contractor. You can find their contact details on the penalty charge notice, or on parking control signs at the property.
Abandoned vehicles
To report an abandoned vehicle on land owned by Octavia, please contact our contact team. If you need to report an abandoned vehicle when our offices are closed, please contact our parking contractor. You can find their contact details on parking control signs at the property.