A flat owner living in a famous UK seaside town is cashing in on his location in a prime spot. Gary Jones, who lives in Brighton, doesn’t drive, but his abode comes with the parking space.
He has revealed it’s not totally redundant with tourists and builders paying him up to £6,000 a year – with keen visitors paying £21 a day for the privilege.
The 52-year-old was YourParkingSpace’s highest earner for 2023 when he earned £6,462. He started the “low maintenance side hustle” in 2021 and now he regrets the four years it sat empty.
Married Gary, a director at a language school, said: “I was so surprised how much it made last year. I’m very happy with the situation – I joke I should try to buy the space next door too!
“Now, If I were to ever move to a new place I’d look for one with a parking space even though I don’t drive.” Gary said he was always aware central Brighton was a difficult place to park, but was unaffected by it.
But when the bookings started rolling in, he invested a “few hundred pounds” installing a bollard and lock box.
Apart from the odd bit of weeding and occasional phone call from a customer who struggling to find the spot tucked down a one-way road, the side huddle manages itself.
The space is sometimes rented by concertgoers staying overnight at hotels without parking.
Gary, who goes the extra mile by texting bookers to check they arrived safely, said sometimes he gets tradesmen too who recommend him to others. He said: “It’s word of mouth – if you come for a weekend and the service is good, they recommend it to their family and friends.”
While Gary earns enough from his full-time job, he said the extra income helps with extra financial pressure due to inflation.
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