Who has the right to park in front of a garage? POMIDA answers

Finding a parking spot in Athens has become a daily "thriller" for drivers, particularly in the Attica region. Densely populated neighborhoods like Kypseli, Pagrati, and Zografou see residents spend up to an hour circling for a free space, turning a simple return home into a test of patience.

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Can the owner prohibit others from parking in front of his garage?

The scarcity of parking often leads to conflicts, especially when private garages are involved. According to a report in the newspaper "TA NEA," the lack of space prompts some to illegally "reserve" parts of the road. But what are the actual rules when a garage is converted into storage?

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He can only do so if he is actually using this space as a garage, that is, for parking cars.

Stratos Paradias, president of the Panhellenic Property Owners Association (POMIDA), clarifies the situation. A garage owner can only prohibit others from parking in front of their garage if they are actively using it for vehicle access. This means the garage must have a functional door, and cars must regularly enter and exit.

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In this case, there is no actual entrance-exit for parking, so there is no reason to prohibit parking for other vehicles.

If a garage is used for storage, lacks a door, or is never used for parking, the owner has no right to restrict others from parking there. The law does not recognize a "reserved spot" on the street simply because someone once had a garage. While owners can park in front of their own garage like any other citizen, they cannot obstruct others by claiming it as "their spot."

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Because the law does not recognize a 'reserved spot' on the street just because someone once had a garage.