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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be bothered by a caravan outside my house

29 replies

Ofpalestsilver · 06/08/2019 14:26

I live on a residential street in a city. The house next to me has been doing renovations / extensions. They've had a caravan parked in their driveway for a month or so. That's fine. It's their driveway. But a new caravan turned up a couple of weeks ago. It has literally parked right in front of my house.

The workers seem to be living in this tiny sh*t bucket of a caravan. The men stand there staring at me in the morning. I don't like going past them! I did start off by saying hello but they don't respond (partly because English is their second language I think so maybe they don't want to start a conversation because they'd have to reply in another language and they think that might be more awkward for me - but I'd like it if they said hello, how's it going in their language because the staring is really off putting!)

They talk a bit at night with the caravan door open and I can hear them but that's not a huge problem cos I can sleep through chatter. It's just... I HATE THAT BLOODY CARAVAN! I hate looking at it every day. I hate feeling awkward going up my path or walking past it. I also hate that they threw their rubbish into my recycle bin - aargh! Ok, I don't hate any of this, I just dislike it slightly!

I have no idea how long it's going to be that they'll be there. They haven't started the second extension so it could be months! And I don't know who owns the house next door. I think it's a property management company.

But AIBU to be bothered by this?!

OP posts:

BeanBag7 · 06/08/2019 14:27

Find out who owns the house and contact then about it. Is the house on your land, their land or public road?

refusetobeasheep · 06/08/2019 14:27

YANBU this would drive me crazy. Where do they go to the loo?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 06/08/2019 14:29

I'd hate it but if its a public road not much you can do I would think

BradTomby · 06/08/2019 14:30

YANBU

Ring your local council. Mine would have them moved on as they do not allow people to live in caravans on residential roads.

Frenchfancy · 06/08/2019 14:30

Is the caravan on a public road? If so contact the council. I don't think you are allowed to sleep in a caravan on a public road.

FadedRed · 06/08/2019 14:32

I would try the local council, there might be a byelaw about camping on the public highway. We have a campervan, but wouldn’t dream of just ‘living’ on a public road.

Nottobesoldseparately · 06/08/2019 14:34

There are rules and covenants about where caravans can be parked and if you can stay in them. E.g., our house is ex council and it's not allowed (amongst other things).

Also,if the house is not theirs, I don't think they are allowed to sleep in it. And if it is their house, they need a permit.

You won't be the only one it's pissing off so report it.

bodgeitandscarper · 06/08/2019 14:36

I don't think you can park a caravan on a public road. If it's on their driveway they can park there, but I don't think they can live in it. The council will know all the regs though, so give them a call.

MyOtherProfile · 06/08/2019 14:36

Call the cou cil and just enquire what the rules are about people living in caravans on a public road.

FadedRed · 06/08/2019 14:37

I have a relative who runs a campsite, they often have workmen living in caravans on their campsite while they are working locally. Sounds like the builders are trying to cut costs by using the road instead of paying for accommodation for their workers. YANBU to call the council/traffic police.

thekaratekid · 06/08/2019 14:43

Is the new caravan actually parked on a public road? If they are living in it full time (sleeping etc), surely it can't be legal? You can't set up home and live on a public highway, I would get in contact with the council planning department. I imagine they will either inform the police or issue a planning enforcement notice.

You need a permit to keep a skip on the road, so I imagine an inhabited caravan would be a big no no.

lmusic87 · 06/08/2019 14:47

Ring the council, outrageous!

Original poster

Ofpalestsilver · 06/08/2019 14:53

Ok, I'm glad to see these responses. It's kind like there's a house outside my gate!

OP posts:

summersherewishiwasnt · 06/08/2019 14:57

Quick search reveals this...
The caravan MUST be lit at night if it is parked on a road and comply with the other normal parking rules (the nearside must face the pavement so the rear lights are at the rear for approaching traffic). ... There are sites where you can park caravans off the road, if you cannot park it on your premises.
www.sussex.police.uk › advice

MollyButton · 06/08/2019 15:00

Is it on the public road? If so I would definitely be talking to the local council.

cantfindname · 06/08/2019 15:10

My neighbour parked a caravan on the road and was made to move it very quickly. Ring your local council.

PooWillyBumBum · 06/08/2019 15:11

I'd also be concerned about modern day slavery if they're living in a cramped caravan (presumably without running water if on a road?) whilst working on a job. I would call the council and ask for advice.

RosaWaiting · 06/08/2019 15:14

With the staring thing, it’s very intimidating

I used to live next door to some guys who just sat on the doorstep staring at everyone. I think they do it on purpose. Men living in my block of flats were unnerved as well.

Don’t try to say hello. Report if there’s any legal query in the caravan.

IwantedtobeEmmaPeel · 06/08/2019 15:20

I think it is illegal to live in a caravan or any other vehicle that is parked on the public highway. You should contact your local council as I am sure they would have byelaws covering this. You can also mention them using your bins for their rubbish - councils are pretty hot on people using the local amenities without paying council tax. You could also contact your local police station to ask them to check the legality of the situation.

HotChocWithCream · 06/08/2019 15:22

I contacted the council about a caravan parked in communal car park. Unfortunately because it was parked on private land they couldn’t shift it.

However, when I rang them back a few days later to share my disgust at the resident urinating against the caravan door the environmental health cane out swiftly and pasted notices all over it advising they had 47 hours to shift it or they would. The resident didn’t move it so 48 hours later the environmental health got it towed away.

HotChocWithCream · 06/08/2019 15:25

Just realise my post is not clear.....there was a bloke living in the caravan who was mates with one of my neighbours.

Ponoka7 · 06/08/2019 15:33

I'd try to find out how long it's going to be there before going down the reporting route.

LEELULUMPKIN · 06/08/2019 15:34

Modern Day Slavery was the v.first thing that came to my mind too. Contact the police on the non emergency no and speak to them.

glitterbiscuits · 06/08/2019 15:46

I'd hate it too.
Sounds like you have been pretty tolerant.
If your neighbour had knocked on your door and said the builders will be in it for 3 weeks, here is some wine, sorry etc at least you'd know there was an end in sight.

Sushi123 · 06/08/2019 15:51

Yanbu, you have actually been very patient

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