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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you be ok with someone living in a campervan in your street?

96 replies

writergirl747474 · 05/06/2018 16:07

I live in a fairly quiet street with a few flats, a couple of houses and a sports club. Further up the road is a new housing estate being built on my road/ the next road.

I'm pretty sure that one or two of the workman are living/sleeping in a campervan in the street. The van changes position most nights. You can see there's someone in there - light on or you can see a mobile screen. No idea if there's a toilet in there.

Is living in a campervan in a residential street against the law? It makes me feel slightly uneasy but I don't know why.

It's the third van dweller I've spotted in my road. One was a big RV which eventually just moved on. The other was a white van and I assumed the guy worked at the building site - I saw him brushing his teeth one night.

Am I a snob for not being 100% ok with this?

OP posts:
JellyElli · 05/06/2018 16:33

@SaucyJack but they aren't?

agentdaisy · 05/06/2018 16:35

If they aren't being a nuisance with noise/rubbish and move the van so it's not in one place all the time then I'd leave them to it.

They're probably working hours from home and trying to save a bit of cash. My dh used to work off site like this and got basic accommodation paid but nothing else, I'm talking 3 blokes crammed into one travel lodge room or a bed in a youth hostel dorm not their own double room in a half decent hotel.

It's bloody expensive working away from home and having to eat exclusively in cafés and takeaways because they employer doesn't pay an overnight allowance. Some blokes would sleep in their van and use the digs money for food so they didn't lose half their wage.

JavaJava · 05/06/2018 16:38

@saucyjack

They're workers. They are not going to live there permanently.

happypoobum · 05/06/2018 16:40

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest, other than feeling sorry for them.

You appear to have had a bit of an empathy bypass OP

jeanzbeanz · 05/06/2018 16:40

Snobby or not, I definitely would not be comfortable if someone did this on my street, although if they were on a building site it's a bit different I guess - maybe there for security reasons?

ellaV · 05/06/2018 16:41

Is it the site security?

LakieLady · 05/06/2018 16:42

We sometimes sleep in our motorhome in the street. Blush

If we're going to a party that's too far to get a taxi home, and we both fancy a drink, we take the van and kip in it.

The only time we had a problem was when my SIL was living in a private road and all her neighbours hated them because they'd done huge amounts of building work. We stayed overnight in SIL's drive, and early in the morning her neighbour must have seen me get out of the van and take the dog for a walk.

I'd been back about 10 minutes, the kettle was just coming to the boil, and someone knocked on the door. It was the old bill, coming to check out an alleged invasion of travellers!

As long as they're not making a mess or causing a disturbance, I can't see that it's a problem.

RavenLG · 05/06/2018 16:45

There was a massive RV near my parents that someone was living in for years. There was an electric line ran from the top into the top window of the house it was parked outside of (assume it was a relative living in it). Never a problem except the van was parked right on the corner of the road so it was a PITA getting out the street.

I suppose they're not paying council tax so unsure as to how legal it is. People get up in arms about travellers. I don't think I'd be too pleased but if it was short term, they weren't noisy and didn't litter I don't think I'd notice too much tbh, and in this society needs must.

expatinscotland · 05/06/2018 16:45

It wouldn't bother me as long as they weren't making a mess or being disturbing.

kateandme · 05/06/2018 16:46

I cant believe this is such a problem and people are being ur unkind.they are not making a nuisance of themselves.they are away from home and working hard.and have found a way to live on or near site.whats wrong with that.
many builders have to scout and travel further for work contracts nowadays so renting nearby just idnt possible anymore for each job
there are less company and region based and they go where the work is.so a van or near site accomadation is used more and more.
trust me the builders hate having to do it.but neither rent or the price of a hotel is possible options for them.
as long as they leave when its finished and keep polite standards I don't see a problem.

CremeEggThief · 05/06/2018 16:50

I wouldn't care, unless they were behaving anti-socially.

senioritabonita · 05/06/2018 16:51

It's very common for workmen to do this (and sex workers going 'on tour' (as I found out to my shock chatting to a woman emerging from a cv on my old street one bright morning)). It wouldn't bother me unless they were making a mess/noise.

purplecorkheart · 05/06/2018 16:51

It would not bother me as long as he was not leaving litter, or using the street as a toilet. In fact I would be pleased that there is someone keeping an eye on the site as we had hassle before with anti social behaviour on a building site at night.

StereophonicallyChallenged · 05/06/2018 16:52

I can see one from my front door, and one over my back fence.
Pretty permanent apart from the one out front seems to take weekends away in it in summer. Only thoughts I've had about him is campervan envy Grin The one out back is behind a very transient (right word?) flat; that one moves away occasionally. I assume whenever the occupants are being housed at her majestys pleasure Wink

ForTheLoveOfSleep · 05/06/2018 16:53

Could they be security for the building site?

SilverySurfer · 05/06/2018 16:54

As long as they aren't going to the loo in the street or making a lot of noise I don't see how it impacts on your life at all.

As for whether you are a snob or not, only you know.

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 16:56

No bother. Leave them be

Charolais · 05/06/2018 16:56

Could be night watch men. People steal from construction sites. Leave them alone.

FranticallyPeaceful · 05/06/2018 16:58

I really don’t see how it’s a problem in the slightest Confused

rosesandflowers · 05/06/2018 16:58

I wouldn't care if there was just a guy on my street in a van.

If there was rubbish, noise disturbances or mess I would be.

PickAChew · 05/06/2018 17:00

They'd not get much sleep in our street but we live on a main road!

Ickyockycocky · 05/06/2018 17:01

It’s not illegal, so long as the vehicle has tax, insurance and an MOT if necessary.

AgentProvocateur · 05/06/2018 17:01

I quite often have lorries parked in my street for the driver to sleep in overnight. They’re not doing any harm. Huge overreaction and really petty and unkind to report workers for sleeping in a van.

BewareOfDragons · 05/06/2018 17:03

i'm pretty sure there's a man living in his car in the parking lot at our local superstore. Children have noticed as well.

I imagine it's not a 'first choice'; times must be really tough. Why would we make it even tougher for him by reporting him?

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