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Applying for a council garage

You need to contact your local council and ask for a garage application form. Once this form has been completed and returned, you are added to the waiting list and told when your turn is reached. How long you have to wait for a garage depends on the site you want and how many other people are waiting. Many councils do not offer rented garages to tenants with rent arrears.

The following links will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local authority website where you can find out more.

• Apply to rent a council garage Opens new window
• Pay your garage rent Opens new window
• Find out about renting a council garage Opens new window

What can you use the garage for?

Council garages are for personal private use only and for the storage of a motor vehicle. They are not sufficiently weather-tight or secure for the storage of any other goods. They are not for commercial activities. You should not store petrol or any other inflammable materials in your garage. You should not sublet your garage to anyone else.

What if you no longer need the garage?

Councils usually require four weeks advance notice if you want to give up your garage. When you return the keys the garage should be empty and swept through. Your council will charge you if they have to clear it.

What happens if you fall into arrears?

Garage rents are due in advance. Council officers monitor accounts and take action to recover arrears. Where rent arrears rise to an unacceptable level or an account is in arrears for too long, the council may decide to terminate the tenancy and repossess the garage.

Unlike houses and flats, the council does not have to apply to the courts for a Possession Order in order to regain possession. Should a garage be repossessed and found to contain goods, the tenant will be contacted and asked to remove them. Should the council have to clear the garage, the cost of the clearance along with the cost of a lock change should one have been necessary, will be charged to the former tenant. This is in addition to any arrears outstanding.

Most arrears cases can be dealt with relatively simply provided tenants get in contact early enough. Ignoring the situation can only make matters worse. Due to the low level of rent compared to a house or flat, some may regard garage rent as low priority. However, councils have a duty to recover all rent owed in order to fund the services they provide. Councils are also required to maintain overall levels of outstanding rent including garage rent, within limits set by central government.