Parking on private drive

Boris7

Boris7

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Having recent bought a MH we’ve been keeping it on the mother in laws drive while alterations are underway at our house.
Its kept on the drive completely off the road and doesn’t cause any other parking issues as the drive is big enough to accommodate 4 cars plus the MH.

Today while parking back on the drive the neighbour approached my wife and asked if parking there was a permanent arrangement, seems he doesn’t approve, even though it has no impact on him or his view.

My reaction is simply to say, it’s none of your business so sling your hook, but before knocking on his door and saying so, while pointing out the Mum in law is 88 and he shouldn’t bother her, is there anything I need to be aware of?
 
I would just advise the situation as it is, a temporary one, but point out that you are quite entitled to park it on the drive, or in fact on the road.
It is your mum's drive and her neighbour. Appreciate it grates but you don't live there. Oh and I would ask, by the way, why are you asking? (y)
 
Jimbohorlicks said:
I would just advise the situation as it is, a temporary one, but point out that you are quite entitled to park it on the drive, or in fact on the road.
It is your mum's drive and her neighbour. Appreciate it grates but you don't live there. Oh and I would ak, by the way why are you asking?
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Some properties (usually on estates) may be subject to a covenant that prohibits parking of caravans/motorhomes/vans on them. You would need to check the title deeds. Then again it’s a whole different debate as to whether such a covenant would be (or could be) enforced.
 
Some properties have covenants on them that prohibit vans or caravans being parked on the drive. This is to preserve the area's 'looks', especially when the development is going on and properties are being sold. These covenants last though for years if not forever. Your neighbour may have a valid objection.
There was another thread about this a couple of weeks back.


Oops...beaten to it. Must type faster
 
We nearly bought a house but when we saw the deeds, we backed off. A clause stated' no parking of boats on trailers, caravans or any other similar vehicles on wheels'. Solicitor said its almost unenforceable but we didn't want the possible agro.

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Providing there are no valid restrictive covenants on your MIL`s property deeds. then it is indeed none of his business.

I would try the gentle approach first, just point out that whilst you have your MIL`s permission, no it is not intended to be permanent.

Falling out with neighbours is to be avoided except as last resort. ANY dispute has to be included in the search when a property changes hands now a days. and can impact any future sale.

I`ve been there, But the guy was a complete Arsehole anyway and his kids complete morons. To my good fortune he snuffed it about 6 months before we sold!. I was sorry (honest):giggle:, his widow sold, and took her brood to live near her mother.
 
I fully understand the OPs predicament but for some people the sight of a motorhome or pully caravan on the driveway in a built up area is unsightly and upsets them - it does me and I'm a motorhome fantastic.

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There was a covenant on our house which was built in 1924, we were advised that it would be near impossible to enforce it and as said above would need to come from the original developer or subsequent receiver of the covenant , especially as the house was completed before a change in law regarding covenants a couple of years later.
We did however take out a permanent indemnity against any costs as a result of any action against us .
 
Rob Turner said:
The covenants normally sit with the developer and they’re long gone after the last house on the development is sold.
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There are restrictive covenants which give any one with an interest in the development the right to enforce any covenants, at any time. If the development has such a covenant you really don't want to provoke any householder into taking such action against your relative. A simple explanation that it is temporary would be more neighbour friendly.
 
Rob Turner said:
I couldn’t possibly write down what I’d tell him but I’m sure you get the gist.

None of his business and if he gets funny about it then I suppose you could leave it there a bit longer.
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Thats exact my intention, it’s hardly an estate, there’s nothing smaller than a 5 bed detached in the street, the house was built in the 30’s and there are several MH’s, caravans and boats outside houses. The village is very up market and its not as if it’s an old transit conversion (not that that matters in my opinion) but we don’t want him hassling an 88 year old when I’m not there, mostly because an 88 year old lady doesn’t have a control valve ?
 
Normally most covenants regarding parking things like motorhomes and caravans don't allow them to be parked up in front of the building line so if the drive runs back behind the building line like to a garage you are normally ok but as said earlier covenants are near impossible to implement once the builder has moved off site.
 
It appears that the original question from the neighbour was ‘ is this a permanent arrangement ‘

Answer is “no”

( IMO should not have taken 15 posts to get there ?

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Maybe, just maybe, He wants to let You park on His Driveway instead ?
 
Cheshirecat57 said:
It appears that the original question from the neighbour was ‘ is this a permanent arrangement ‘

Answer is “no”

( IMO should not have taken 15 posts to get there ?
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Basically your right, and indeed this is the reply my wife gave, but a stroppy bloke shouting at her in doors gets my back up and since her Mums 88 I worry what comes next, I only caught him in my near side mirror as he strode across his lawn in the rain and when I got out he was gone.

A few years ago after he moved in, he banged on her door and said he didn’t like the fence, wanted to change it and demanded she paid, but it’s his fence.

obviously there’s going to be more friction, don’t want it personally but as Mum in laws 88 it’s going to come down to me.
 
Say. No Then be nice and ask why are you asking? With a smile

Don’t go into one, as that will have him looking at the deeds then you may have problem as was earlier discussed.

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Perhaps he is asking so he can let his mates know when to steal it.
 
We purchased a new property just before last xmas and got the covenant amended before moving in, to giving consent to our motorhome being placed on a specific site at the side of the house.

Pete
 
Having gone through a whole load of crap with one of our neighbours I would tell them.

"Its is only going to be there until we get a bigger one".

We share a drive with 3 other properties. Our MH sits in the corner and causes no issues with light or blight. The only one of the three neighbours we have an issue with. Does not use the drive (has own independent private access). An Ex motorhorhomer and caravanner. Is basically the Green Eyed Monster, they will not win. Pre motorhome days, they were quite territorial and disliked. But I tried to get along with them and treated them very well (first big mistake). As soon as our motorhome arrived, all went down hill.

We have deeds with covenants on them. Only put in place by the developer to protect future sales on the estate. As soon as they are all sold, everyone on ours, the aforementioned Big Green Eyed monster was first to flout the regulations, in a big way. Many followed suit.

Just let them get all wound up about it. I would guess by the time they have got their nickers in a twist, tried to get people on side. You will have moved it and they will be the ones peeed off.

DO NOT bow down to them or offer any excuses, apologies or tell them it will be getting moved.

If you want any further advise, please email me. I have had 25 years of dealing with this issue. Including educating Green Eyed monsters Solicitors.
 
You should put it in storage, motor homes, caravans, builders vans and wagons are all ugly eyesores blighting estates and rural properties, they ate ugly additions to our environment, I won't even keep our van at the house and we are fortunate enough not to be seen from the road nor any neighbours. Ugly pure and simple, your neighbours right to ask.
 
Quite the opposite recently, a passing neighbour said to us" I wish it was parked on our drive" .When we changed our outfit from a caravan to our 1st M/H (aPVC) the neighbours were great, quite a few were keen to look inside it and were amazed at the layout and storage solutions. That never happenened in all the years we had caravans even though one or two were bought new. So I guess we are lucky to have great neighbours. Though to be honest it spends more time out and about than on our drive. The present situation may determine otherwise however.

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Local councils often have rules about keeping caravans on driveways. Mainly intended to stop people living in them on the drive and for use against travellers. Only the most officious councils will even bother to waste their scarce resources trying to enforce it on a private driveway if it isn't causing major offence. I was also told by a council official that as motorhomes are taxed road vehicles the "Caravan rule" doesn't apply as you could say you use it to go shopping etc!!
Most covernents are so badly worded that any half decent lawyer could drive a bus through it.
 
Lada said:
You should put it in storage, motor homes, caravans, builders vans and wagons are all ugly eyesores blighting estates and rural properties, they ate ugly additions to our environment, I won't even keep our van at the house and we are fortunate enough not to be seen from the road nor any neighbours. Ugly pure and simple, your neighbours right to ask.
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looks like the OP’s neighbour is a funster :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:
 
Ask him if he wants you to park it on the road in front of his window instead . ::bigsmile: One of my neighbours (not immediate) isn't happy with our vans being on driveway but thats just tough.
 
MyrtleGuru said:
Some properties (usually on estates) may be subject to a covenant that prohibits parking of caravans/motorhomes/vans on them. You would need to check the title deeds. Then again it’s a whole different debate as to whether such a covenant would be (or could be) enforced.
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I've got a clause in the deed for our house which is leasehold and on a small development of ~10 houses.

The clause in the deed mentions a maximum weight in CWT which we are over... A couple of the neighbours run businesses and therefore have vans so we have just parked and kept quiet... The MH is in one of our two dedicated parking slots and although it is a little long for the bay the neighbours can all access their own slots without issue.

All good so far

I think the trick is being civil about it...
 

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