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Care Home Parking Charges: Visitors Deserve Better

Care home parking charges affect visitors who are spending time with vulnerable and elderly relatives. These charges are particularly distressing and are widely regarded as unfair. Time limits at care home car parks often do not account for the length of a meaningful visit, and visitors may be too focused on their loved one to think about parking restrictions.

Received a parking charge at a care home parking? Many care home parking parking charges can be challenged on grounds including inadequate signage, POFA 2012 non-compliance, and mitigating circumstances.

  • --You were visiting a vulnerable or elderly relative -- strong mitigating circumstances
  • --The time limit is unreasonably short for a meaningful care home visit
  • --The care home (landowner) does not support charges against visitors
  • --The charge is disproportionate and morally indefensible against care home visitors

Key Advice for Care Home Parking Charges

  1. Keep a record of who you visited and the purpose of your visit
  2. Ask the care home to provide a letter confirming your visit
  3. Note any medical or personal circumstances that extended your visit
  4. Contact the care home management to request they cancel the charge
  5. If the care home is part of a group, contact their head office

Why Care Home Parking Charges Happen

  • Exceeding the time limit during a visit to a resident
  • Not registering your vehicle at reception or on a system
  • Visiting at meal times or during activities, which extends the visit
  • Dealing with a medical situation or end-of-life care requiring a longer stay
  • Not being aware of the parking time limit as a first-time visitor
  • Attending a care review meeting that lasted longer than expected

Parking Companies at Care Home Sites

See our parking company guides for detailed information on appealing to specific operators.

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Defence Arguments for Care Home Parking Charges

  • You were visiting a vulnerable or elderly relative -- strong mitigating circumstances
  • The time limit is unreasonably short for a meaningful care home visit
  • The care home (landowner) does not support charges against visitors
  • The charge is disproportionate and morally indefensible against care home visitors
  • You were not informed about parking restrictions when visiting
  • Medical circumstances (the resident's health) required an extended visit
  • Signage was inadequate or you were too distressed to notice it

Your Rights

Visiting a loved one in a care home is an act of compassion, not a parking offence. Care home operators should ensure their parking arrangements do not penalise visitors. Contact the care home management directly -- many will support your appeal and write to the operator on your behalf. POPLA and the IAS are sympathetic to these cases.

What You Should Do

  1. 1.Keep a record of who you visited and the purpose of your visit
  2. 2.Ask the care home to provide a letter confirming your visit
  3. 3.Note any medical or personal circumstances that extended your visit
  4. 4.Contact the care home management to request they cancel the charge
  5. 5.If the care home is part of a group, contact their head office
  6. 6.Photograph the signage and note whether visitors are informed about parking on arrival

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I appeal a care home parking parking charge?

Yes. All private parking charges can be appealed. You should first appeal directly to the parking operator, then escalate to POPLA or the IAS if your appeal is rejected. These independent appeals services are free to use and their decisions are binding on the operator but not on you.

Who manages parking at care home parkings?

Parking at care home parkings is typically managed by private parking operators such as ParkingEye, Euro Car Parks, APCOA, or Smart Parking, depending on the site. The operator's name will be shown on the parking charge notice and on signage at the car park.

What are the best defence arguments for care home parking parking charges?

Common defence arguments include inadequate or unclear signage, POFA 2012 non-compliance (such as late service of the Notice to Keeper), mitigating circumstances specific to care home parking visits, ANPR camera errors, and disproportionate charges under ParkingEye v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67.

Will a care home parking parking charge go to court?

Most care home parking parking charges do not reach court. Operators typically send debt collection letters as a pressure tactic, but only a small proportion of charges result in county court claims. If a claim is issued, you have 14 days to acknowledge it and 28 days to file a defence. A well-drafted defence often leads to the claim being discontinued.

How long do I have to appeal a care home parking parking charge?

You typically have 28 days from the date of the parking charge notice to appeal to the operator. If your appeal is rejected, you then have a further 28 days to escalate to the independent appeals service (POPLA for BPA members, IAS for IPC members). You should appeal promptly to preserve your rights.

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