The 38-year-old finds himself trapped inside his Mini Cooper when in the garage at his Sandyford home because he cannot open the doors wide enough to be able to get out.
Mr Mannion, who is a claims handler for an insurance company, reserved the Bloor Homes property in Essington Way, Brindley Village, before it was built in May last year.
Before moving in last November, he only saw the plans and initial building work, but assumed the garage would be big enough for his car as it was advertised as a "family home".
He then discovered his Renault Mégane would not fit inside the garage of the Bromley-style home and although his Mini Cooper will, he cannot open the doors fully to get out.
He said: "Bloor Homes built our garage at 2.3 metres (7.5ft) wide, which is inadequate even for a vehicle as small as a Mini. The standard outside parking space has a width of 2.4 metres (7ft 8ins).
"We weren't able to see the garage properly before we bought the property as it was still being built. But we were led to believe that we were purchasing a property with a garage and a parking space.
"You expect a garage, if it is advertised as a garage, to be able to fit a car in. It is not something you think of measuring."
Mr Mannion has since contacted trading standards and a solicitor who have said there is no law to govern the entrance or size of the garage.
He added: "We want to warn other people. Construction firms seem to be taking advantage of a loophole in the law."
Mr Mannion's neighbour, Adam Hodgkinson, has also complained about the size of his garage. The 26-year-old, who works as a consultant for a bank, has lived at Brindley Village with his partner Julie Garside for 10 months.
He owns an Audi A3 and an MG ZR and neither fit in his garage.
He said: "We bought this house on the understanding we had two parking spaces, but absolutely no car could fit in the garage.
"You just assume a garage will be big enough to fit a car in, it's ridiculous.
"I'm really happy with the house and don't want to move. I just want a garage I can get my car into, I don't think that's asking a great deal."
A spokesman for Bloor Homes said: "As a developer we have been constructing Bromley house types nationally with the same garage dimensions in excess of 15 years and to our knowledge, we have never received any notifications from our purchasers who have bought this house type complaining about the size of the integral garage.
"On October 17, 2009, with the garage having already being built, Mr Mannion confirmed by signature that he had been physically shown the property by a member of our sales team.
"Mr Mannion further confirmed by signature that he was shown a copy of the Bromley house type working drawings which illustrates the dimensions of the integral garage.
"Before moving in, Mr Mannion had every opportunity to inspect the garage.
"Should he have raised any queries he would have been able to try out his vehicles in the garage prior to exchanging contracts and completing the purchase of the property."
Source:- http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/garage-just-Mini/story-12531245-detail/story.html
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