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AIBU?

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Original poster

Neighbours enormous caravan parked on the road (not drive) for months

145 replies

AchillesLastStand · 16/08/2024 11:28

My neighbours have an enormous caravan that has been parked outside their house on the road for over three months or longer that they have up for sale. It’s directly opposite my house and impacts DH’s ability to reverse out of our drive. He has to reverse out at angle going across our front garden rather than straight. Also no one can park outside our house. Tradesmen have had to park up the road and carry heavy equipment with them.

One of our neighbours is having building work done and we had a cement lorry reversing down the road yesterday past the caravan and now I’ve noticed a small bump on the side of the caravan. I know our neighbours are going to try and pin it on us even though they have no proof and the caravan shouldn’t be parked there that long in the first place obstructing traffic. They have a drive which they’re using for vehicles but I wouldn’t mind if the caravan was parked there for that amount of time. Surely then don’t own the road outside their house and it shouldn’t be there. AIBU,

OP posts:
JohnofWessex · 16/08/2024 15:28

I would suggest hit it with everything, Police & Council. Also your local Councillor & MP

I have seen action taken against two caravans recently so it can be done

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 16/08/2024 15:27

JabbaTheBeachHut · 16/08/2024 11:36

Oh actually I've just checked, and you can park a touring caravan in the street, as long as it's not parked dangerously.

I believe you can, provided it is attached to a taxed and mot'd vehicle, but not by itself.

LilacCatt · 16/08/2024 15:15

OP I totally sympathise with you
Not sure if they've done anything technically 'wrong' but yeah.. I hate stuff like this.
I feel like I need to buy a rural cottage down a long empty country lane because people and their huge ugly vans etc just annoy me. Don't get me started on the 100% paved grey, grey, grey gardens, grey everything.

unlikelychump · 16/08/2024 14:47

Yes your DH needs to move his vehicle for your mum. Regardless of the caravan.
I'm somewhat shocked he doesn't.

I always thought the caravan had to hitched on a road for the running lights at night.

Original poster
AchillesLastStand · 16/08/2024 14:35

DandyClocks · 16/08/2024 14:32

Not true! Many councils enact their own bylaws to ensure the town looks clean and tidy and stops it looking rough and rundown.

Also a caravan isn’t classed as a vehicle in law as it isn’t a mechanically propelled vehicle.

Depending where the OP lives, there may well be a useful bylaw she can refer to.

Show quote history

Yes, caravans aren’t technically a vehicle, according to laws in this country. I’m also gong to get out the covenants for our house as I don’t think it’s permitted.

OP posts:
Original poster
AchillesLastStand · 16/08/2024 14:33

Ariela · 16/08/2024 14:28

Your DH should technically be reversing into your drive and driving out - both of which will be easier for him. (See Highway Code).

I’ll tell him this but I imagine reversing in will be as difficult with the caravan parked there as it extends the full length of our drive and beyond. But as I said above, I don’t drive so don’t about these things.

OP posts:
DandyClocks · 16/08/2024 14:32

MikeRafone · 16/08/2024 11:45

For those saying the caravan can't be on the road - why do you think it can't be on the road?

There isn't any law stating a vehicle can't be parked on the road and a caravan counts as a vehicle the same as a bicycle or milk float

Not true! Many councils enact their own bylaws to ensure the town looks clean and tidy and stops it looking rough and rundown.

Also a caravan isn’t classed as a vehicle in law as it isn’t a mechanically propelled vehicle.

Depending where the OP lives, there may well be a useful bylaw she can refer to.

Ariela · 16/08/2024 14:28

Your DH should technically be reversing into your drive and driving out - both of which will be easier for him. (See Highway Code).

GinForBreakfast · 16/08/2024 14:20

I doubt you can get them on an advertising technicality. Just report it as a nuisance.

They may not be breaking the law but it's very un-neighbourly. All my caravan-ing owning friends pay for storage.

FigTreeInEurope · 16/08/2024 14:03

Could you and DH get some bongos, and a camp fire, and belt out "cum-by-ya mi Lord" at 2am from the middle of the street?

Original poster
AchillesLastStand · 16/08/2024 14:02

Does anyone know anything about council regulations on unauthorised advertising? My council has this listed as one the things not permitted without approval. The advert they have in the caravan may come under this, I don’t know.

OP posts:
Original poster
AchillesLastStand · 16/08/2024 13:53

Flossyts · 16/08/2024 13:48

Here’s a plan….,
Get a friend to pretend to be a buyer, say they want a test drive/tow….. then steal the spot!

That is a very good plan!

OP posts:
Original poster
AchillesLastStand · 16/08/2024 13:52

Silvers11 · 16/08/2024 13:45

I believe that does not include the roads - i.e. parking on the road is not included. However as others have said, if it is causing an obstruction etc the council/police may be able to do something. Can a fire engine or an Ambulance get past the caravan if they needed to? If No - definitely complain about it for that specific reason. It's a safety issue

Show quote history

Then recycling/bin lorry can just about get past so that would be a yes. It’s not so much the width as the length. It’s as wide as their detached house and drive. It’s like having a bus permanently parked on the street.

OP posts:
Original poster
AchillesLastStand · 16/08/2024 13:50

The issue with my mum parking is that she is very disabled. If she can park outside she can manage to the house with her walking frame. As it is, she has to park much further down the road that requires me to help her assemble her mobility scooter in her boot so you can get into my house, it’s time consuming and a massive pain in the arse when it’s poring down with rain.

The family with the caravan has a large number of vehicles including a minibus which takes up all of their drive and an SUV parked outside further down the road outside someone’s house and another smaller vehicle parked also on the street.

My DH could move his car but he walks to work most days during the summer leaving the car on the drive. I can’t drive at all so can’t move it off our drive myself. He could move it before he goes in if he knows when she might be coming but he wouldn’t want our car to be parked outside someone else’s house all day.

OP posts:
Flossyts · 16/08/2024 13:48

Here’s a plan….,
Get a friend to pretend to be a buyer, say they want a test drive/tow….. then steal the spot!

Silvers11 · 16/08/2024 13:45

AchillesLastStand · 16/08/2024 11:44

My local council says, what we can’t act on:

  • parking of caravans on residential driveways or within the curtilage of a dwelling, where it does not form a separate dwelling

Does that include the road as well?

Edited

I believe that does not include the roads - i.e. parking on the road is not included. However as others have said, if it is causing an obstruction etc the council/police may be able to do something. Can a fire engine or an Ambulance get past the caravan if they needed to? If No - definitely complain about it for that specific reason. It's a safety issue

RichieRich64 · 16/08/2024 13:41

AchillesLastStand · 16/08/2024 11:37

No I don’t own the road outside my home but when my disabled DM visits I would like her to be able to park outside my house. No one has been able to park for months now. The caravan is massively overpriced and won’t be selling this side of Christmas.

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Like to, and, have to, are radically different beasts. You could always try asking nicely if they'd move it around the road a bit to share the pain, and politely explain your thinking. They might not, but you'd lose nothing by asking. And they would at least realise there's an issue.

Coconutter24 · 16/08/2024 13:36

AchillesLastStand · 16/08/2024 11:37

No I don’t own the road outside my home but when my disabled DM visits I would like her to be able to park outside my house. No one has been able to park for months now. The caravan is massively overpriced and won’t be selling this side of Christmas.

Show quote history

You wanting your DM to park outside your house unfortunately doesn’t mean they have to move. They have as much right to be there as anyone else.
Have you suggested to your DH reversing the car on the drive?

TheHangingGardensOfBasildon · 16/08/2024 13:31

Toastcrumbsinsofa · 16/08/2024 13:06

Would an emergency vehicle be able to get past it?

If anybody had a fire, a fire engine would be able to force its way past it - although there might not be much left of the caravan afterwards. Caravans are designed to be as lightweight and structurally minimal as possible; fire engines are extremely heavy battering rams on wheels.

Obviously I would never wish a fire on anybody in the road, but it would certainly solve the problem once and for all...

LaerealSilverhand · 16/08/2024 13:31

https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/parking-at-night.html

is worth a read. I live on a 40mph unlit road and people leave unlit cars facing the wrong way on the road at night because they can't be arsed - wish the police would issue a few fines...

LaerealSilverhand · 16/08/2024 13:28

Unless there is a local bylaw preventing it, then it's legal. However, it is a trailer and therefore MUST be lit at night, even on a 30mph lit road. It's a police matter if they do not have parking lights at night.

TheHangingGardensOfBasildon · 16/08/2024 13:27

MeowCatPleaseMeowBack · 16/08/2024 12:50

At least they're desirable to someone, I suppose.

OP it was your husband who dinged the caravan, wasn't it?

Show quote history

Yes, there are possibly as many people who love them as hate them - especially if they can try to get them for a bargain price from people who may not realise their true value!

I love caravans - we have one - but they belong on a drive or in storage when not in use; the public road is no place for them to stay parked.

susiedaisy1912 · 16/08/2024 13:23

They just do do t want to pay for storage for the caravan so they inconvenience everyone else

TiredCatLady · 16/08/2024 13:17

@ClaudiaWankleman hence why I say they apparently went on holiday. More likely they were bone idle and didn’t take a second glance at the thing for months on end or had parked it several streets away from their actual home (also not uncommon there). Abandoned caravans were a problem in the area and were being torched - no license plate so no way of knowing which if any house they belong to. The council was pretty proactive. The area also gets very regular visits from the dvla due to an excessive number of untaxed vehicles.

Insidelaurashead · 16/08/2024 13:13

OP if they try to blame you for damage to the caravan, you say it wasnt you. They will have to claim through their caravan insurance, who can, if they like, contact your insurance. Your insurance will then inspect your vehicle and confirm there's no damage on it consistent with you hitting the caravan, and decline any liability.

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