Last reviewed: 23 October 2026. Council fees checked on each council’s own website in October 2026.
If your street in London has residents’ bays, pay-and-display bays or yellow lines, you will usually need your council’s permission to keep a space free for the removal van. That permission is a parking suspension. Each borough runs its own scheme with its own prices and notice periods, so the safest plan is to check your council’s page as soon as your moving date is fixed and apply straight away.
This guide explains what a suspension is, what four London boroughs charge, how much notice they need, and what to do if someone parks in your bay anyway.
What a Parking Suspension Is
A parking suspension takes one or more parking bays out of use for a set time, so your removal van can park outside. The council puts up signs before the date, and any other vehicle parked in the suspended bay can be given a Penalty Charge Notice.
It is different from a dispensation, which some councils issue to let a vehicle wait on a yellow line for longer than normal. Your council’s page will tell you which one your street needs.
Suspension signs have to follow the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, and the wider rules for council parking enforcement are in the government’s guidance on the civil enforcement of parking contraventions.
Parking is one part of planning the day. Our moving checklist covers the rest.
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Do You Need One?
There’s no single London-wide rule. As a guide:
- You probably need one if the only space outside your home is a residents’ bay, a pay-and-display bay or a shared-use bay, and the van will be there for longer than a quick stop.
- You may not need one if your street has no restrictions and there is room for the van outside.
- Some councils don’t require one for removals. Kensington and Chelsea, for example, says on its parking suspensions advice page that domestic and office removals don’t have to suspend bays. You can use an ordinary bay or a single yellow line if there is space, as long as loading is continuous and nothing is obstructed. It also says you can’t put out barriers or notices to keep the space free.
The rule that always applies: check your own council’s page. What worked for a friend in another borough may not work for you.
What It Costs: Four London Boroughs
These figures come from each council’s website, checked in October 2026. Councils usually review their charges each April, so check the page before you apply.
Camden
From the Camden parking bay suspensions page (checked 23 October 2026):
- Space charge per space per day: £79.63 for 1 day, £87.61 for 2 to 5 days, rising to £151.34 a day for 43 to 183 days.
- Administration charge: £66.66 per suspension.
- Short-notice charge: £349.81, which may apply if you book less than 17 days ahead. The minimum is 3 days before the start.
- For house moves: Camden doesn’t charge the space charge for the first day (up to 3 consecutive spaces), and the short-notice charge doesn’t apply. The administration charge still does.
Westminster
From the Westminster parking bay suspensions page (checked 23 October 2026), per space:
| Days | Zones A, C and D | Zones B, E, F and G |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | £51 | £55 |
| Days 2 to 5 | £55 a day | £59 a day |
| Days 6 to 42 | £84 a day | £90 a day |
| Day 43 onwards | £112 a day | £121 a day |
Westminster asks for 10 working days’ notice and adds a £20 short-notice fee if your request arrives within 10 calendar days of the start date.
Islington
From Islington’s suspend a parking bay page (checked 23 October 2026), for residents:
- Day 1: £164.80, however many spaces you need.
- Day 2: £62.25 per space. Day 3 onwards: £67.50 per space per day.
- Notice: at least 10 days for Pay by Phone bays and 14 days for other bays. Late requests carry an extra £100 administration fee and may be refused.
Islington also has separate guidance on parking to move home, which is worth reading before you apply.
Hackney
From Hackney’s parking bay suspension page (checked 23 October 2026):
- Bay charge: £44 per bay per day.
- Administration fee: £100 per suspension.
- Apply at least 7 working days ahead. The 7 days start on the next working day after you apply, so an application made on a Friday starts counting on the Monday. Late applications may still be considered, with an extra £161 admin fee.
- For house moves: Hackney discounts the bay fee for up to 3 bays on the first day. Its own example: 3 bays for 1 day costs £100.
- For domestic removals, Hackney allows loading on single and double yellow lines for up to 40 minutes, as long as loading is continuous. For longer, you need a suspension or dispensation.
Lambeth: check current charges on Lambeth’s parking suspensions costs page before you apply.
What this means for a one-day move
Using the figures above, a one-day house move needing up to three spaces would cost £66.66 in Camden, and £100 in Hackney if you apply within its 7 working days’ notice. In Westminster it is £51 or £55 per space for day one, depending on the zone. In Islington it is £164.80 for day one. Moves that need more spaces, more days or a late application cost more.
It’s worth asking your removal company early which bays they need, so you only pay for what the van needs. A good removals company that actually cares will help you plan this rather than leave it to the day.
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How Far Ahead to Apply
As soon as your moving date is fixed. Notice periods differ by borough:
- Camden: 17 days to avoid the short-notice charge (house moves are exempt from that charge); 3 days minimum.
- Westminster: 10 working days.
- Islington: 10 or 14 days, depending on the bay type.
- Hackney: 7 working days, counted from the next working day after you apply.
If your completion date moves, contact the council’s suspensions team as early as you can. Changes and refunds have their own deadlines: Camden accepts changes up to 4 days before the start, and Westminster needs to hear by 3.30pm the day before if you no longer need the bay.
What Happens If You Don’t Get One
- A Penalty Charge Notice. London Councils sets the bands: £160 or £110 in Band A areas and £140 or £90 in Band B areas, depending on the contravention, with 50% off if you pay within 14 days. (London Councils, parking and traffic charges.)
- No space for the van. On a busy street the van may have to park further away.
- A longer day. Every extra metre between the van and your door is carried by hand, for every box and every piece of furniture.
Bays, Zones and Yellow Lines
- Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ): an area where parking is restricted during set hours, usually shown on signs at each entry point. Your council’s website shows where its zones are.
- Residents’ bays: for permit holders during the hours shown. These are the bays most often suspended for a house move.
- Pay-and-display and shared-use bays: rules vary by council; check the sign by the bay.
- Yellow lines: you mustn’t wait or park on yellow lines during the times shown on the nearby time plate, and double yellow lines mean no waiting at any time. Loading and unloading may be allowed where parking is restricted, but not where there are yellow marks on the kerb and signs showing loading restrictions. (The Highway Code, rules 238 and 247.)
If you’re not sure what applies to your street, look at the kerb markings and signs outside your home, then check your council’s page.
Once Your Suspension Is Approved
- Get the dates, times and bay location in writing.
- Check the signs go up. Hackney, for example, says it puts up warning notices around 3 to 7 days before the suspension starts. If they haven’t appeared, contact the council.
- Don’t move or cover the council’s signs, and don’t put out cones or barriers unless your council says you can. Some, such as Kensington and Chelsea, say you can’t.
- Photograph the empty, signed bay on the morning of the move.
If Someone Parks in Your Suspended Bay
- Photograph the vehicle, its registration and the suspension sign together.
- Contact the council’s parking enforcement team straight away. Councils list how to do this on their suspension pages; Hackney, for example, gives numbers for weekdays, evenings and weekends.
- Agree a plan B with your removal company, such as parking nearby and using trolleys, so the day can carry on while you wait.
This is the kind of on-the-day problem a good crew plans for. Our guide to choosing a removals company that actually cares covers what to ask before you book.
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Ways to Keep the Cost Down
- Apply early. Westminster, Islington and Hackney all charge extra for late applications, and Islington may refuse them. Camden’s short-notice charge doesn’t apply to house moves.
- Choose the house-move option on the application where it exists. Camden and Hackney both reduce the first-day charge for house moves.
- Book only the bays you need. Ask your removal company how much space the van needs.
- Check whether you need one at all. Some streets and some councils don’t require it.
A Simple Timeline
- As soon as your date is fixed: book your removal company and check your council’s suspension page for both addresses.
- At least 3 weeks before: apply. That covers the longest notice periods above, including Camden’s 17 days.
- 1 to 2 weeks before: confirm the suspension in writing and pass the van registration to the council if it asks for it.
- A few days before: check the signs are up.
- Moving day: photograph the bay before the van arrives, and report any vehicle in it straight away.
If you’re moving from or to central London, our London house movers page covers how we handle it. Moving a business instead? See our London office removals page.
At EcoGreen Movers, we survey first, at your home or on a video call, and give you a written price based on an agreed inventory. On home moves we apply for parking at both ends, so you aren’t left to sort the council paperwork on your own. If you have a moving date, get in touch for a quote and we’ll tell you what your street needs.
FAQ
Do I always need a parking suspension to move house in London?
No. If your street has no restrictions and there is room for the van outside, you may not need one. Some councils, such as Kensington and Chelsea, don’t require one for removals. Check your own council’s page.
How much does a parking suspension cost in London?
It depends on the borough, the number of bays and the number of days. Checked in October 2026, a one-day house move needing up to three spaces cost £66.66 in Camden, and £100 in Hackney when applied for within its notice period. Westminster charges £51 or £55 per space for day one, and Islington £164.80 for day one.
How far ahead should I book?
As soon as your date is fixed. Camden asks for 17 days to avoid its short-notice charge (house moves are exempt), Islington 10 to 14 days, Westminster 10 working days and Hackney 7 working days.
What happens if someone parks in my suspended bay?
Photograph the vehicle with the suspension sign, then contact the council’s parking enforcement team. Agree a plan B with your removal company in case the bay isn’t cleared quickly.
What is the fine for parking without a suspension?
London Councils sets parking PCNs at £160 or £110 in Band A areas and £140 or £90 in Band B areas, depending on the contravention, with 50% off if paid within 14 days.
Do I need a suspension at both addresses?
If both streets are restricted, yes. That means two applications, possibly to two different councils, each with its own fees and notice period.
Key Takeaway
Check your council’s page the day your moving date is fixed, apply within its notice period, and choose the house-move option where there is one. Then check the signs are up before the van arrives. Pair that with a solid moving checklist, and contact us for a quote if you’d like help with the van, the parking and everything in between.
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Sources
- Camden Council, parking bay suspensions (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Westminster City Council, parking bay suspensions (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Islington Council, suspend a parking bay (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Hackney Council, parking bay suspension (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Lambeth Council, parking suspensions costs
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, parking suspensions advice (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- London Councils, parking and traffic charges in London (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK, The Highway Code: waiting and parking, rules 238 and 247 (checked 22 Oct 2026)