Garage rental
You can apply to rent a garage in Southwark for vehicle parking or storage.
More information
You can rent a garage from us to store your vehicle or to get extra storage space for your belongings. Our rates are competitive, and all our garages are clean, secure and dry.
The average garage is 12 feet (3.6 metres) long by 8 feet (2.4 metres) wide, but the size varies. We can confirm the actual size of the garage at the viewing stage.
You have 24 hour access to your rented garage. They are mostly located near train stations, Tube stations and bus routes within Southwark.
If we have reasonable grounds to suspect fraud, the contract will be ended immediately by service of a Notice to Quit.
Garage locations
When you apply for a garage, you can tell us what area you'd like the garage to be in.
Find garage locations on Southwark Maps (opens new window)
In Southwark Maps you can search for garages (by road, block estate name, or postcode) by using the search bar on the top left of the screen.
The Garage Waiting List Area (GWA) will be shown as a green shape and if you click on it, a list of all the blocks within the area will appear.
You can also scan the map, zoom in and click on any of the areas to see a list of all the blocks.
If you note your preferred area, you can choose it from the drop-down list when you complete the application form.
Apply to rent a garage
You can apply to rent a garage using the online form below. This will add your details to our waiting list.
You will be allocated a garage based on area and our priority list.
You will not be eligible for a garage if you currently owe money to the council, such as Council Tax, housing rent or service charge arrears, or if you have owed money for a garage in the last 2 years.
It's important to let us know if your details change while you're waiting for a garage by completing this online form.
We will contact you to offer you a garage when one becomes available. You will be sent details of the garage and a template of your Garage Licence Agreement.
View a sample Garage Licence Agreement (PDF, 343kb)
You will be invited to view the garage and check you are happy with it. While at the garage, you will complete your paperwork. The council officer will help you make the initial payment via our secure automated payment phone line.
We will ask to see your passport or full driver’s licence, as proof of identification. We will also ask to see a utility bill dated in the last three months, as proof of your address. You could provide a bill for electricity, gas, water or TV licence.
When you sign up for a garage, you must pay six weeks of rent in advance. After that, your rent is due each week in advance. Your account must be maintained in credit or with a zero balance at all times.
If you change your name or address while renting a garage, you must inform us as soon as possible. If you don’t, we may not be able to reach you with important updates.
You can contact us about a change of name or address by completing this online form.
Garage rent periods and prices
There is a minimum rental period of 12 weeks, with six weeks of rent due in advance at sign-up. The rental price rates are listed below.
For details on how to make your rental payments, visit our Garage Rental Payments and Refunds page.
The formula to work out the monthly figure for 2024/2025 is as follows:
Total weekly (relevant rent plus additional charge if applicable) x 53 divided by 12
Standard rate: £24.70 per week
This applies if you're a:
- secure council tenant paying rent directly to Southwark Council for your main home address
- leaseholder paying service charges directly to Southwark Council for your main home address
- freeholder paying service charges directly to Southwark Council for your main home address
To receive the standard rate, you must be a named person on the home rent or service charge account and living in the property you're applying from.
Concessionary rate: £19.70 per week
This applies if you're eligible for the standard rate and you're any of the following:
- registered as disabled with a mobility allowance for transport
- over 70 years of age
- a Blue Badge owner
You can apply for the concessionary rate using the online form below.
Apply for the concessionary rate
Private rate: £45.30 per week
This applies to everyone not listed above.
Extra weekly service charges
There are extra weekly service charges that may apply to some garage units:
- £6.20 if there is more space than the average garage
- £6.20 if there is extra parking outside the garage
- £0.50 if there is a water tap near the garage
Details of extra service charges will be outlined in your Garage Licence Agreement.
Insurance and maintenance
If you rent one of our garages, you should have contents insurance for your garage. Our buildings insurance will not cover damage or loss to your vehicle or other belongings.
You must not commit any action likely to invalidate our buildings insurance. Your Garage Licence Agreement will provide full details.
Ending a garage licence
If you want to end your garage licence, you must give us two full weeks’ notice. You can apply to end the licence using the online form below.
You must leave your garage clean, clear and secure. Failure to do so will incur additional costs.
You also need to clear any outstanding arrears on your garage rent account. If you don't clear your debt after termination, we may add additional charges or take legal action in the county court. Find out more on our non-payment of garage rental page.
You will need to return your garage keys and any gate keys by the end of the two-week period to the address below:
Garages
Homeownership services
PO Box 76378
London
SE1P 6HY
Keys must be labelled with your garage account number and reference number starting with HF.
You will still be liable for rent if we do not receive the keys.
We will change the locks if we do not receive the keys before the two-week period ends. This may lead to additional charges being applied.
Request parking outside a garage (Aylesbury Estate only)
If your garage is on the Aylesbury Estate you can apply for parking outside your designated garage using the form below.
Apply for parking outside your garage (Aylesbury Estate only)
Bike lockers
There are two types of lockable bike storage available through us:
- bike lockers are tall rectangular storage units
- cycle hangars are curved storage units
We're in the process of carrying out a full review and audit of the bike lockers, which we aim to complete by September 2024. The waiting list is closed and should reopen in line with the outcome. If you'd like to rent a cycle hanger, visit the Cyclehoop website for more information.
Contact us about bike lockers using the form below.
Ask a question about your bike locker
You can find out more about cycle hangars on the cycle parking and security page.
