COMMON QUESTIONS
Straight answers, in plain English
The questions landowners and property managers actually ask us, answered the way we answer them in person. If yours is not here, ask us directly: the advice is free either way.
Is the advice really free?
Yes. The advice, the site review and the connection to the right operator or supplier are all free to you: no fee, no obligation, and no pressure to act on what we tell you. If our recommendation is to change nothing, that is what we will say.
Who does TPMC advise?
Landowners, landlords, property and estate managers, centre managers and site managers: anyone responsible for a site with parking on it. We advise across retail, healthcare, residential, leisure, education, commercial car parks, industrial, hospitality, places of worship and transport, whether the site has a long-standing arrangement or no arrangement at all.
Can I change my parking operator mid-contract?
It depends on what your agreement says: notice periods, break clauses and renewal terms vary widely. The most useful moment is the renewal window. If you are within six months of the end of your current contract, that is exactly when a conversation is worth having; further out, it is still worth knowing your options. A free site review establishes where you stand.
What happens if my operator loses its trade-association membership?
An operator that loses BPA or IPC accreditation loses access to DVLA keeper data, and without that the enforcement side of your arrangement stops working, potentially with very little notice to you. A well-drafted agreement anticipates this with termination rights; older agreements are often silent. It is one of the first things we check in a free site review.
Is the government's new parking code law yet?
Not yet. The government consulted on a statutory Private Parking Code of Practice from July to September 2025 and its response is awaited. In the meantime the industry runs on the joint BPA/IPC single Code of Practice, with full compliance required by the end of 2026. Our parking law tracker keeps the current position on one page.
What is the difference between the industry's single Code and the government's code?
The single Code is the industry's own rulebook, in force since October 2024. The government's statutory code, when it arrives, will sit above it with independent oversight and certification. Operators answer to the first today and will answer to the second in time, so any agreement you sign now should assume the rules will keep moving.
Can I set my own rules on my site, such as grace periods or exemptions?
Largely, yes. The industry Code sets minimum standards for operators, not maximums for sites, so more visitor-friendly settings are usually available if your agreement gives you the say. Whether it does is a drafting question, and worth checking before any renewal.
My customers or tenants are complaining about parking. What can I do?
Complaints are usually a symptom of settings: signage, grace periods, enforcement hours, or rules that no longer fit how the site is used. Those settings can normally be changed or renegotiated, depending on your agreement. An independent look at the arrangement tells you which lever to pull, and it costs nothing to find out.
How long do parking management contracts usually run?
Often several years, and frequently with automatic renewal unless notice is given. The renewal clause matters more than the headline term: diarise the notice window, because it is the moment you have the most room to act. If you tell us when yours falls, we will make sure the conversation happens in time.
Do I need ANPR cameras on my site?
No. ANPR is a tool, not a requirement, and the right technology follows from what you want the site to do. Barriers, permits, patrols and ANPR all suit different sites; a supplier proposing its standard kit regardless of your objectives is answering its own question, not yours.
What should I expect from an operator once one is appointed?
Clear service standards you can hold them to, regular reporting on how the site is running, complaints handled the way you would want, and open communication when something needs to change. If an arrangement offers none of that, that is itself information, and a free site review is a good way to check where you stand.
Does TPMC work for operators or suppliers?
We advise clients: landowners and property managers. Operators and suppliers are the supply side, and our relationship with them is professional, not commercial: every one we work with is fully vetted, and no supplier can pay to be recommended. If you are an operator or supplier, our supply-side page explains how introductions work.
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