Cabinet minister Eric Pickles has vowed to clamp down on a "back-door parking tax" to allow homeowners to cash in by turning their driveway into a car park.
Households can earn more than £200 each month renting out their parking space, according to moneysavingexpert.com. Credit: Yui Mok/PA Archive
Figures from the RAC Foundation released this week claimed some councils were racking up huge surpluses from their parking-charge activities.
In 2011/12, English councils had a total current account surplus of £565 million from their on-street and off-street parking operations, after an annual rise of £54 million.
Eric Pickles said residents would now be allowed to rent a single parking space without planning permission, provided there was no main concerns such as public nuisance to neighbours.