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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not want my neighbour to run a valeting business from home?

44 replies

blueiris71 · 07/07/2019 19:59

Several times at the weekend and on week- nights our next door neighbour has people turning up to have their cars washed/valeted. His driveway is directly next to ours. The water from the pressure hose gets on our side and on our garage. The car vac often starts at half 9 on Sundays when we're trying to have a bit longer in bed. He's obviously running a business from home. Am I being unreasonable to be pissed off at the noise?

OP posts:
GrabbyGertie · 07/07/2019 20:02

I would be pissed off by that too. So YANBU.

I’d report them.

Summertimeatthebeach · 07/07/2019 20:06

Report to the local council. He needs a licence.

Summertimeatthebeach · 07/07/2019 20:06

And hmrc!!

Rosemary46 · 07/07/2019 20:07

Aren’t there rules about disposing of the waste water from commercial car washes ? I don’t think you are allowed to just run it down the street into the drain.

And do they have planning permission for the change of use of their house ?

Sparklesocks · 07/07/2019 20:08

He most likely needs a license/permit to run a business like that from a residential premises...

Takingabreakagain · 07/07/2019 20:09

I agree with pp - Report him to the planning enforcement officer and the environmental health officer at your local council.

RebootYourEngine · 07/07/2019 20:11

Agree with everyone. Report him. There are rules about having a business in a residential street.

PawsForPizza · 07/07/2019 20:12

summer were we reading the same post? Where the fuck have you got the idea that they aren’t declaring their income?

Biancadelrioisback · 07/07/2019 20:16

Whether he had a licence or not is irrelevant. If he has got one, the problem doesn't go away.
But I couldn't be annoyed about water splashing on the outside of my garage or on my drive way...it's water and soap, not acid.
Have you tried asked him if he would mind holding off on the noise until, say 10?

Original poster
blueiris71 · 07/07/2019 20:29

I think the issue is that it's dirty water not just water.

OP posts:
Original poster
blueiris71 · 07/07/2019 20:30

and yes, I doubt that tax is being paid as they've spoken about money issues which is why they're doing this from home...

OP posts:
Manclife1 · 07/07/2019 20:30

Sounds like your saying a bit of your house gets wet and they make normal noise at a reasonable hour. Unless there’s anything else you are BU.

Original poster
blueiris71 · 07/07/2019 20:32

they're cleaning about 10 cars a week though, I could cope if it was their car once or twice a week!

OP posts:
CarolDanvers · 07/07/2019 20:34

Yes god forbid someone should try and make a living. Report that fucker to anyone that will listen, maybe you'll even get him a criminal conviction at the very least you'll cause him no end of stress while he deals with all the officialdom. What a pity it's Sunday and you can't get on that right this minute. Never mind only about 12 hours to go. Set your alarm so your calling at 9 am on the dot!!!

Doyoumind · 07/07/2019 20:34

He's running an unlicensed business. There are implications and requirements for running that kind of business. Report him. Job done.

LadyFlumpalot · 07/07/2019 20:35

How are all of you getting the idea that his business is unlicensed and illegal? Is there a large part of the OP that just I can't see or something?

Original poster
blueiris71 · 07/07/2019 20:36

@CarolDanvers, I also work from home, but my insurance would be invalid if I didn't declare it. Is it fine for anyone to set up unlicensed businesses from home and to hell with the consequences? (or mess and noise)

OP posts:
TheQueef · 07/07/2019 20:36

Fucks sake Hmm
Don't report him, be a reasonable person and let him work in exchange for free valets and garage wash a few times a year.

CarolDanvers · 07/07/2019 20:37

No it just sounds like a grubbily manual and not particularly pleasant kind of work so obviously it must be illegal and dodgy.

CarolDanvers · 07/07/2019 20:38

No it's not fine but the very least you could do is talk to him first before bringing a rain of legal and official stuff down on his head. You don't even know it's it's illegal do you?

Original poster
blueiris71 · 07/07/2019 20:39

I'm not going to report. (although I don't think it would be morally wrong to, I'm abiding by rules, why is he exempt?) I was just trying to figure out if I was being unreasonable at the noise of a very loud car vac and karcher jet spray over 10 times a week when I'm here most of the time?

OP posts:
AuntieMaggie · 07/07/2019 20:40

Aren’t there rules about disposing of the waste water from commercial car washes ? Yes there are - shouldn't be going into domestic drains

CarolDanvers · 07/07/2019 20:40

He's not exempt but you don't know that. You've just assumed it. Why?

Original poster
blueiris71 · 07/07/2019 20:41

@CarolDanvers because I know him. It's a strong suspicion based on previous form. (and I'm not going to report him)

OP posts:
CarolDanvers · 07/07/2019 20:45

To be honest OP I wasn't really addressing you, rather the gleeful "HRMC!!" from a pp and the wholesale assumption that he's some ne'er do well when he's clearly just trying to work. Could be he wants to see how it goes to see if it's worth going legit. Many small businesses do. If it's not working for you then you need to tell him so he can factor that in.

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