Van lowers the tone of the area

[travellinghopefully12]

I live in a lovely complex of flats with my DP and his best friend. We rent.

DP has just bought his own place for very little money in a less well off area of town. It's a gorgeous flat but in no way livable in. We are doing it up, and eventually DP and I will move in, while our friend goes travelling.

Anyway - last week a friend asked DP if he would look after her piano in his new flat until she has her own place. I was delighted as I play, and haven't had a piano since I was a teenager.

We were stumped as to how to transport it though, as we don't own a van. A friend of a friend volunteered, and on Friday we had an adventure carrying a piano up four flights of winding stone stairs. The new neighbours came out to help, and we lovely. (It badly needs tuning now)

Afterwards we went to the pub and friend of friend mentioned she has nowhere to park her van, and moves it about places every night and often pays for parking.

We have a parking space which no one uses in the flat we rent in the 'nice' area, and DP said she can use it. She was really grateful, but she'd just driven a piano across town and lugged it up four flights of stairs, refusing to take money - all we were able to buy her was a pint of coke.

She came on Sunday and parked the Van. It's a big blue beaten-up thing, she's driven it through europe and stuff and she's a bit of a cool hippy chick, and the van has that vibe.about it

Anyway, we got an anonymous note from a neighbour last night saying 'Sorry but no commercial vehicles allowed in parking bays as they lower the tone of the area, per title deeds.'

It's not a commercial vehicle, in that she doesn't use it commercially, but DP looked up commercial vehicles, and apparently the size of it might make it legally a commercial vehicle. There is a vodafone van, a black cab and a few other 'commercial vehicles' in the area, but they are not beat=up, as it were.

The van fits perfectly into the parking space and is in no one's way.

DP was swearing about how fucking petty it is, but thinks we have to ask her to move it as the neighbour's will report us to letting agents. (We have already been reported once for 'Heavy Walking and Toilet Flushing at Night' - Yes, really.)

So - what the hell do we do?

[travellinghopefully12]

Oh, and our flatmate friend says we should just ignore it, but I think that's a dreadful idea.

Another neighbour on our floor who is our age got reported for leaving their storage heaters in the hall for two nights while the had work done on their flat. It was outside our flat and their flat, but no one else's. They - like us - are young-ish and a lot of the neighbours are older.

[ohidoliketobe]

Have you checked the title deeds?

[travellinghopefully12]

ohidoliketobe how do we access them? I thought only owners could see them legally as they have personal information.

The letting agency seem really weary of the whole thing, and very anything-for-a-quiet-life.

[NeckguardUnbespoke]

Restrictive covenants can only be enforced by the land owner or the previous land owner. If you are up for a row, ignore it until you get an actual threat of legal action from someone in a position to bring it. That does not usually include leaseholders.

[travellinghopefully12]

neckguard thank you, is that the same in Scottish Law?

[user1467101855]

If its not covered in your lease, its not your problem.

[travellinghopefully12]

I know it's maybe not relevant, but I was shocked by the contrast in neighbours here and in DPs new place. If we tried to move a piano upstairs here they would complain, when we did it on Friday evening at ps new place three people came out to help, then came to the pub with us so DP could buy them pints.

[branofthemist]

We own our own home but on a leash hold estate. The management company are shit hot when it comes to commercial vehicles parked on here as it states that you can't park them here.

They came to see us to tell us we had to move our van. Except isn't wasn't our van. Just parked near our house. It was owned by someone in the flats.

[travellinghopefully12]

user1467101855 it's not, but I doubt the letting agents will stick up for us if we are reported to them.

When we moved in we were told there had been lots of complaints about the previous tenants, and we thought they must have been awful, but now I think maybe they were normal? Or maybe just a bit louder than us.

Downstairs have also complained about the radio in the afternoon.

[travellinghopefully12]

branofthemist Do you know if a big van that is not used commercially, but is used to drive through Europe, counts as a commercial vehicle?

[user1467101855]

But if you are reported to the letting agents, you just tell them that they can't sanction you for doing something they never told you was not allowed. ]

And since you own your own property now and will be moving there, what does it matter what they letting agent thinks of you? They can't evict you or anything over this, all they can do is tell you to move the van.

[EssentialHummus]

As PP said, check the title deeds. They may even define "commercial vehicle" for you. I can't imagine living somewhere where neighbours get this het up about these things. "Lowering the tone"? I doubt that's in the title deeds.

[travellinghopefully12]

essential hummus I know right? I'm so upset. Also, I wasn't much help moving the piano as my wrists don't work as they should and it was for me, so I kind of feel we owe her one.

[branofthemist]

Sorry on our lease it states 'commercial sized vehicles'

[t4gnut]

Personally I'd start with 'oh do fuck off and get a life' but then I'm always up for a bit of a barney.

[travellinghopefully12]

branofthemist damnit.

So I guess she has to move it? I just can't get over how it's no skin off anyone's nose to have it there, but it's such a big deal to her. I am quite sad and angry, even if neighbour is legally right.

[travellinghopefully12]

t4gut we have to live here until February though, and the letting agents are so careful of the neighbours here.

[KERALA1]

I know it's unreasonable but I think they have a point

[branofthemist]

So I guess she has to move it?

The sensible thing would be to move it. But inform always do the sensible thing tbh. I would enjoy it pissing the neighbours off, since they seem so shitty.

[user1467101855]

She doesn't have to move it until you proper notice in writing from your letting agent.
And you have a proper lease until feb? There is nothing they can do about that, re the van.

[EssentialHummus]

I'm a contentious type luckily I'm a lawyer so I'd have her move the van to block in as many of these twunts' cars as possible, and then claim that the van's owner had taken her keys and fucked off to find herself in remote Tibet.

That may just be me, though.

[DeathStare]

I'd put a note through all your neighbours letter boxes saying thank you to whoever left the anonymous note and if they would like to make themselves known to you, you will be happy to discuss the issue with them and that perhaps this discussion should also be opened to include the owners of all commercial vehicles (list them) as obviously if yours has to go then so will the others

[ohidoliketobe]

The letting agent should have flown down any restrictions such as this which appear on the title deeds. Do you have a copy of your agreement with them to check through? Obviously you don't want to be upsetting neighbours or your agents, but how can you abide by rules you haven't been told about.
Now, there might be something in there about parking spaces to be used only by resident's vehicles or short stay visitors - my BIL complex has that in his title deeds, (he owns, but again, if was renting it out that should be reflected in the letting agreement) so you'd obviously in this situation you'd be breeching that rule.

[travellinghopefully12]

hummus I love you! Flatmate just saw your reply - he's following this thread and wrote ahahahahaha

Deathstare Maybe? That could actually work. I don't want it to backfrie so the blackcab and vodafone van are made to move away too though??

[Xenophile]

Can you get a proper cover for it? Then it won't lower the tone because it will be covered, unlike the other commercial vehicles in the area...