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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Living in Van on Driveway

91 replies

AbbaG12 · 20/09/2019 16:49

AIBU?

I'm not sure how long this has been going on for as I didn't really take notice at first....but, about a month ago I started to take notice of a van that kept visiting our close and stopping on a driveway. I thought at first it was just the neighbours work vehicle but I then realise it was actually a converted van. I then noticed that people were actually living in the van.

The last few weeks it's been there pretty permanently (at least from what I can see when i'm home from work or off work).

The issue is it looks directly into our kitchen/dinner area where we spend a lot of our time and you buy a house knowing which rooms people overlook you.

AIBU to not want them to live on the driveway and also, what do I do about this? Is it legal and what can I do about it? I don't want to annoy the neighbours but I want our privacy.

OP posts:
CaptainButtock · 20/09/2019 17:13

Why would they want to look into your kitchen diner? Confused

I think we need a diagram!

Treaclebee · 20/09/2019 17:13

A lot of people live in vans because they can't afford anything else. I used to be one of them.
Personally I wouldn't stay in one place more than a couple of nights because I didn't want to annoy anyone.
I would have a friendly chat with the neighbour and maybe let them know your feeling a bit over looked. Could be lots of reasons they're there and if they're not noisy or making a mess is it really so bad?
And /or just put up some blinds/voiles and ignore it.
Ultimately be glad it's not you living in a van.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 20/09/2019 17:13

They might be homeless and have nowhere else to go. I wouldn't care personally.

Original poster
AbbaG12 · 20/09/2019 17:14

@hazell42 actually, if you read the memoirs of the lady in the van, he wasn't at first. Maybe I could write my own version one day.

OP posts:
TheMustressMhor · 20/09/2019 17:14

Does it matter to you if they live there forever?

Do they cause a noise nuisance, for example?

zafferana · 20/09/2019 17:14

The OP has been pretty bloody accommodating if its been going on since midsummer. If someone parked a caravan outside the windows to my house and started living in it I'd have reported them weeks ago!

zafferana · 20/09/2019 17:15

And no, in the film of 'The Lady in the Van' Alan Bennett was most definitely not accommodating either - he was utterly frustrated and annoyed for much of it.

ariamontgomery · 20/09/2019 17:16

Oh for goodness sake. Why on earth would they be interested in what you’re doing? Just because they could potentially see in your window doesn’t mean they’re actually looking Hmm close the blinds and leave them alone.

FattyPeddledFuriously999 · 20/09/2019 17:17

Clearly not Alan Bennett
He was a lot more accommodating
^ha ha

'Is the van over looking my kitchen window going to be there much longer do you think'? Can you ask neighbour nicely to begin with perhaps?

CaptainButtock · 20/09/2019 17:21

A lot of people live in vans because they can't afford anything else. I used to be one of them

Me too Treaclebee. And I was much more concerned about where my next meal was coming from rather than looking in someone’s kitchen diner.
But then I parked in the middle of nowhere.
They must be in/using the house surely? Otherwise why would they be there?

bert3400 · 20/09/2019 17:22

They might be really down on their luck, made homeless and this is thier only hope apart from sleeping on the streets. Try and see it from another perspective. Would you rather they slept under a bridge somewhere , especially with the winter coming soon .Flowers

timshelthechoice · 20/09/2019 17:24

Gawd, yes, YABU.

ny20005 · 20/09/2019 17:25

Speak to your neighbours then

SchadenfreudePersonified · 20/09/2019 17:25

Alan Bennett, is that you?

Damn!

You beat me to it!

Grin
Original poster
AbbaG12 · 20/09/2019 17:25

@ariamontgomery I've actually looked out the window and caught the gentlemans eye a couple of times recently. I didn't mean to, i use to often look out the kitchen window. But now they're staying there constantly i feel i'm intruding on them looking in at the same time they're looking in at me.

I don't understand why i have to change my house?

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 20/09/2019 17:27

Op just get on with your life , you are being petty and ridiculous.

Original poster
AbbaG12 · 20/09/2019 17:29

I think this is a lifestyle choice. Not homeless people. I'd happily help people if they're hopeless and need help getting back on their feet. I've kind of left it 6 weeks but not sure how long is a reasonable time?

OP posts:
WhenOneDoorClosesAnotherOpens · 20/09/2019 17:29

My friend had this. She lives in one of the new development estates. One day a large van appeared on the road a few houses down from hers. Everyone noticed, but ignored it for the first few days thinking it was someone else's visitor. Eventually they realised there was at least 2 people living in the van full time. The residents phoned the council who I think phoned the police to move the van along. Not sure where the people went. They were not connected with anyone in the neighbourhood, so I'm not sure why they picked that spot to live.

OP unless I missed it, you haven't said if you're on speaking terms with your neighbour. Can you not just ask them what's going on? If not and you're really bothered by the situation I would phone the council for advice.

SunburstsOrMarbleHalls · 20/09/2019 17:30

I can understand not wanting to be overlooked but as they have been there over 6 weeks have you actually seen the person directly peering into your kitchen window?

Unless they are causing a nuisance with noise, rubbish etc I would probably try to find out more about the situation before reporting to the council. It could be a few different scenarios, person visiting a relative for an extended period/desperate financial situation trying to avoid homelessness/CF relative or friend of neighbour taking advantage etc.

The person must have permission of the owner of the driveway so perhaps you could pop over and speak to them.

MrJellyBean · 20/09/2019 17:31

I'm not sure on the legal standpoint however my insurance company provided a caravan for me after our house was damaged by flooding as were several other affected families. Ours was in our back garden, others were on drives. We ended up in ours for nearly 2 years! I can't see it being 'illegal' 🤔 from my experience otherwise I reckon we'd have been carted off!

isadoradancing123 · 20/09/2019 17:32

Are they linked up to electricity from the house if so thats illegal, also water, toilet, erc

colourbynumbers · 20/09/2019 17:34

I think you should mind your own business.

They are definitely not spying on you.

Stop being such a busy body!

Yabbers · 20/09/2019 17:35

Not illegal as such, but against bylaws.

By laws vary from place to place

Residential properties are registered and their bounderies etc all set out.

There is absolutely no law says you can’t live in a tent in your back garden if you like.

Villageidiots · 20/09/2019 17:37

You sound very nosey. Maybe take up a hobby?

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 20/09/2019 17:38

I have noticed a few van dwellers near me who tend to switch up where they park. It annoys me but I can't really explain why.