caravan in driveway

[Vic_5039745]

I have just been through the whole rigmarole literally in the last month, of checking out what's what regarding keeping your caravan on your drive and here's how it is in North Hertfordshire.

Firstly I went to the council to check if there were any bye-laws preventing me from doing so and they advised me that there weren't providing the caravan was only going to be stored there. If I was going to use it for residential purposes, then planning permission would be required. They did say however that I should check my deeds to see if there were any covenants in place. My solicitor advised me that there were no covenants. However they also stated that I should be mindful of not causing a nuisance by my action. By this they meant blocking natural light from my neighbours on either side or reducing access facilities ie if my drive is a shared drive. Finally they suggested that it may be politic just to discuss my plans with my neighbours in an informal way so as to avoid any problems at a later date. I had already done this prior to contacting the council and they weren't in the least bothered about it. For this service I had to pay

 

[smiley]

Just saw your post. We live on an opan plan. In fact if we had to move again it is what I look for having done it now for the last 20 years.

I always check the deeds, although no work vans, etc etc and no repairing vehicles for business is allowed. You are allowed to bring your van and place it on your porperty for loading and unloading. On our last deeds it stipulated how long and we had up to one weeks either side, but not allowed to store permantly.

This house where we are had a large side entrance so we can if we wish store our van in the back garden but who wants that.

I'm about to check our deeds again, as some has moved into the house on the corner and parks their works transit on the drive, I've no problem with that but you can't see to get out of our close. Plus I bought where I am so I didn't have to look these things (bringing down the tone so to speak)especially the price we paid to live somewhere nice.

 

[Thorpedo]

A previous post suggests discussing storage of a caravan with neighbours prior to bringing it home.

This would be a grown up rational approach but suspect that neighbours you are able to discuss with are those who would not object or who would not want to upset you.

The people who object are those you probably don't get on with so asking them would have no benefit.

Smiley's note brought to mind my experience. I live in what I thought would be a pleasant residential area, when I brought a caravan home to keep on half of my drive for a few weeks, a neighbour, not next door or opposite, called across the rd within 5 minutes asking rudely 'how long I intended to keep that thing in the drive'. This was the very person who kept a long wheel base Iveco (huge white van) in front of my house or in his drive for 4 years, and also owned 5 cars.

Another neighbour opposite stopped speaking to me on each short occasion I brought the caravan home. This is a guy who parks a bright yellow industrial van outside and on occasions brings home his full sized articulated lorry cab.

I'm not convinced attempting reasonable grown up debate with these people would have any benefit.

In a short 100m stretch of quiet narrow residential rd we often have 3 builders transit vans, the yellow peril across the rd, a BT van and 2 small builders car sized vans, but no caravans, the area resembles a tatty industrial car park.

I believe the ever increasing keeping of industrial vehicles has far greater detrimental effect on a residential areas than the storage of a caravan on the drive. I only wish building covenants and local authority rules took interest in this problem rather than the odd caravans on a drive.

 

[S-MaxJon]

We store our caravan on our drive which is behind the building line.Living in a cul de sac it is away from public view etc and no one has ever complained.Prior to buying the van I consulted my neighbour as his drive runs parallel and adjoining to mine.

On another note - when I bought my first house in Birmingham,which was a victorian terrace,my deeds said that I wasn't able to brew illicit contraband but could run a house of disripute !!!

 

[Vic_5039745]

A previous post suggests discussing storage of a caravan with neighbours prior to bringing it home.

This would be a grown up rational approach but suspect that neighbours you are able to discuss with are those who would not object or who would not want to upset you.

The people who object are those you probably don't get on with so asking them would have no benefit.

Smiley's note brought to mind my experience. I live in what I thought would be a pleasant residential area, when I brought a caravan home to keep on half of my drive for a few weeks, a neighbour, not next door or opposite, called across the rd within 5 minutes asking rudely 'how long I intended to keep that thing in the drive'. This was the very person who kept a long wheel base Iveco (huge white van) in front of my house or in his drive for 4 years, and also owned 5 cars.

Another neighbour opposite stopped speaking to me on each short occasion I brought the caravan home. This is a guy who parks a bright yellow industrial van outside and on occasions brings home his full sized articulated lorry cab.

I'm not convinced attempting reasonable grown up debate with these people would have any benefit.

In a short 100m stretch of quiet narrow residential rd we often have 3 builders transit vans, the yellow peril across the rd, a BT van and 2 small builders car sized vans, but no caravans, the area resembles a tatty industrial car park.

I believe the ever increasing keeping of industrial vehicles has far greater detrimental effect on a residential areas than the storage of a caravan on the drive. I only wish building covenants and local authority rules took interest in this problem rather than the odd caravans on a drive.

The business of parking commercial vehicles in residential streets seems to be an ever growing, nationwide problem. Invariably these vehicles are tatty old wrecks and are an eyesore spoiling the look of what is probably otherwise a quite neat and tidy street.

It might be interesting to know what the inland Revenue's position is with regard to these drivers using their vehicles to commute to and from their place of work.

When I had a company vehicle a few years ago now, commuting was not tax deductible and it was a real nuisance having to separate out commuting and private mileage from company mileage when claiming expenses. I wonder how many of these commercial vehicle drivers bother to do this? I bet that if they had to pay for their commuting, they might not be so ready to use the company vehicle.

Vic

 

[Thorpedo]

The business of parking commercial vehicles in residential streets seems to be an ever growing, nationwide problem. Invariably these vehicles are tatty old wrecks and are an eyesore spoiling the look of what is probably otherwise a quite neat and tidy street.

It might be interesting to know what the inland Revenue's position is with regard to these drivers using their vehicles to commute to and from their place of work.

When I had a company vehicle a few years ago now, commuting was not tax deductible and it was a real nuisance having to separate out commuting and private mileage from company mileage when claiming expenses. I wonder how many of these commercial vehicle drivers bother to do this? I bet that if they had to pay for their commuting, they might not be so ready to use the company vehicle.

Vic

Morning Vic

I agree with everything you noted.

We have a situation now where some of us leave our cars in the rd despite having drive space just to ensure we don't get Bob the Builders transit blotting the view. Of course that only exacerbates the parking problem.

Strange, I was half expecting a heap of reply's contradicting my views on commercial vans generating a 'healthy debate', perhaps I'll raise it as a topic of it's own when I'm brave enough.

 

[john_374342267]

Basically, any person can object to the breach of a covenant by taking you to court for it to be enforced. However, all court decisions must take into account Article 8, Human Rights Act, 1998, which enshrines your right to the enjoyment of your possessions (ie. your caravan). This Act has a very powerful impact upon all decisions in public life and can over ride any covenant etc. Where there are competing rights (eg. yours against those of the complainer) the Court must balance your right against the protection of the rights and freedoms of others (ie. the complainer). In the case of a caravan, I doubt that the complainer could provide a sufficient case to justify his position of complaining so as to over ride your right to enjoyment of the caravan unless the presence of the caravan was impeding his life in some substantial manner. If he merely does not like it being on your property I do not think he would have a justifiable case to put before the Court. If he remains adamant, tell him that going to court is always a gamble and if he cannot provide a substantial case that his rights should over ride yours then he will be landed with a large bill for your costs as well as his own. This is the same Act that 'Travellers' have used very successfully against people who thought that they had a good case but lost and had to pay massive costs. So if he feels lucky? or likes a gamble? - highly unlikely. Perhaps Practical Caravan could seek a legal opinion on this issue given that it affects a lot of readers (and no one has raised the impact of the Human Rights Act in the Forum on this matter).

John

 

[LesleyRussell]

Certainly not planning permission! Where do they get their ideas.

 

[craigmurray]

just a quick question to all people that have facility to store vans at home, isnt yr caravan insurance more expensive than leaving it in a storage yard? and also does it not worry you that any undesirables will know u not there when van is away?

craig

 

[Royston]

Hi Craig, in answer to your question regarding insurance cover,

I have always parked my van along side my drive.

So i cannot say if my Caravan insurance would be cheaper, but based upon what my daughter pays for keeping her van in a storage yard at the moment is

 

[AnnM1]

A local caravan storage site (less than half a mile away) was attacked by arsonist(s) two weeks ago. Seven vans were totally destroyed, having been blown apart when gas cylinders exploded, or totally melted due to heat from the initial van. Seven others were so badly damaged they were written off! An older vehicle and small van was also involved. We actually saw the chaos as we over look the area and I can tell you it was not a pretty sight. Roads in the surrounding area were closed and obviously the emergency services were in attendance. Homes nearby had to be evacuated!

The site owner has still not notified all the members keeping their property on his land. They have, I believe received information by 'word of mouth'. In my book this is completely wrong.

We store our caravan on our driveway and will continue to do so.

Ann

 

[mastermac]

dear all

sorry havn,t responded to all you,re replies but been offline for some considerable time having more trouble with internet provider than my loverly neighbour.

thanks for all you,re thoughts on the problem. all,s quite on that front at the moment. i mean really quite we just don,t speak any more which suites me. with an attitude like his who.d bother p/s my caravan was on my drive when he moved in. 6 years ago.

cheers again

what a good forum

dave

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

dave, check this thread on the same subject while you've been offline ...

http://www.practicalcaravan.com/newforums/fm_messages.asp?FO=5&FM=371407

 

[colin(bridgend)]

We store our caravan on our drive which is behind the building line.Living in a cul de sac it is away from public view etc and no one has ever complained.Prior to buying the van I consulted my neighbour as his drive runs parallel and adjoining to mine.

On another note - when I bought my first house in Birmingham,which was a victorian terrace,my deeds said that I wasn't able to brew illicit contraband but could run a house of disripute !!!

What is the Birmingham address? could be a little money earner on the side. Cannot be taxed as that would be making the trade a legal profession.

 

[mastermac]

thanks for that L/B more interesting reading. begining of all this he runs a building company. i work permanant nights he stores equipment at home i.e scaffolding. he has steel trailer. he loads/offloads i wake up regular. we have words. he complains about caravan all gone quite now. but watch this space