Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To park my motorhome on my drive for the duration of lockdown?

233 replies

cantdothisnow1 · 02/11/2020 09:56

I have a motorhome that is kept in storage in normal times.

I have 2 autistic kids who can't go to school, we normally get out and about as much as possible for sanity but obviously from Thursday movements are restricted.

WIBU to park my motorhome on the drive for lockdown to give us more space? This would technically be in breach of restrictive covenants on our property.

Logic behind it being that the kids would have a breakout room if needed. We had some major mental health problems in the first lockdown.

WWYD?

OP posts:
CupOfTeaAlonePlease · 02/11/2020 09:57

Do it.

TurquoiseDragon · 02/11/2020 09:58

I'd do it.

contrmary · 02/11/2020 09:59

Yes YABU if it breaks the rules on your property. You'd probably get away with it, but that doesn't make it justified I'm afraid.

mummymeister · 02/11/2020 10:00

who put the restrictive covenants in place? can you speak to your neighbours either side/nearby and explain to them that yes you know this isnt allowable but it will only be for the duration of the lockdown to support you and your family. I cannot imagine anyone being so mean as to object to this. extraordinary times mean ordinary rules shouldnt really apply imo.

yelyah22 · 02/11/2020 10:01

Do it. Nobody enforces that kind of covenant, generally (unless you've got really twatty neighbours!) and a lot of the time, the company who now controls the covenant couldn't care less :)

zaffa · 02/11/2020 10:01

How old are your covenants? We have similar ones about park I wheeled homes or something but they are almost a 100 years old and I can't even see who would object (our neighbours can't even see our drive!)

Original poster
cantdothisnow1 · 02/11/2020 10:02

Unfortunately i do have fairly twatty neighbours directly opposite.

I might put a note through, I'm not sure that the covenants would be enforceable but out of politeness I've kept it in storage so far.

OP posts:
wink1970 · 02/11/2020 10:05

Apart from the covenant, would it block the neighbours' light or access? If it would then I say no. If not then do it, but not longer term as people who routinely ignore covenants are usually the twatty neighbours nobody wants to live next door to.

CodenameVillanelle · 02/11/2020 10:05

@contrmary

Yes YABU if it breaks the rules on your property. You'd probably get away with it, but that doesn't make it justified I'm afraid.
Why is it not justified? These aren't usual times. Apart from the 'rules' why would it not be justified?
Original poster
cantdothisnow1 · 02/11/2020 10:06

@wink1970

Apart from the covenant, would it block the neighbours' light or access? If it would then I say no. If not then do it, but not longer term as people who routinely ignore covenants are usually the twatty neighbours nobody wants to live next door to.
No it doesn't block light or access, it is probably a bit of an eyesore as it is big enough to take up my entire drive.
OP posts:
Original poster
cantdothisnow1 · 02/11/2020 10:07

And no I have no intention of keeping it here long term. I prefer to use storage because I'm not a twat.

OP posts:
MaskingForIt · 02/11/2020 10:10

Covenants aren’t usually legally enforceable. You could say that you’ve brought it home for some cleaning/repairs and are now stuck with it due to lockdown.

Just be aware that if the neighbours then decide to break covenants themselves, you’ll have no moral high ground.

pralineandketchup · 02/11/2020 10:14

Yabu. Our neighbours parks theirs so close to the edge of our drive that passengers can't get in and out of our car. I've now put a fence up to stop them.

TheSockMonster · 02/11/2020 10:15

I would do it, and I’m the sort of person who hates to break rules!

I would pop a note through all your neighbour’s doors briefly outlining what you are doing and letting them know that it’s only for the duration of lockdown, so they won’t have the worry that it’s there to stay.

fabulousathome · 02/11/2020 10:15

I'd go for it and tell the neighbours that it's definitely a temporary situation.

Pop a very polite note through their doors once it's on your drive.

LonelyFromCorona · 02/11/2020 10:16

My understanding is the covenants like this are put in there for when a housing development is still under construction. Basically the builder doesn't want people making the rest of the estate look shite whilst they are trying to flog off the new units they are still building at the back. So they will come and wave paper in your face and threaten to sue etc if you were to break them in this time.

I've not heard of them being enforced when an estate is completed. My estates covenants prohibits large commercial work vans - I'm sure many other estates do - but how many people work as couriers with huge transits, tradesmen, utilities installers, massive DynoRod/Safestyle etc vans. Yet nothing ever seems to happen to them.

Original poster
cantdothisnow1 · 02/11/2020 10:17

@pralineandketchup

Yabu. Our neighbours parks theirs so close to the edge of our drive that passengers can't get in and out of our car. I've now put a fence up to stop them.
If I park on my drive it won't cause anyone else any access issues.

I would be annoyed with your neighbour too.

OP posts:
seayork2020 · 02/11/2020 10:17

If it breaks rules than no I would not

Ihaveyourback · 02/11/2020 10:18

I don't think it is fair to your neighbours, it will block light and given we are all stuck inside could really end up causing a problem.
I would check with your neighbours in either side first, and then decide.

My mother had this with a neighbour's caravan, and he parked it so close to her bedroom window it was in permanent darkness and really affected her MH. She was shielding at the time and it was the final straw.

She wrote to him in the end, and he very kindly moved it.

I would really consider the impact, people's feelings are running high at the moment, and your dc are likely to get bored with it pretty quickly is my guess, esp if there is no wifi!!!!!!! Grin

Fedup21 · 02/11/2020 10:18

If I had twatty neighbours, I probably wouldn’t

Purplecatshopaholic · 02/11/2020 10:20

In the current circs, I would do this. It’s not long term and it will be beneficial to your family without causing issues to others.

Ihaveyourback · 02/11/2020 10:20

I would mention to your neighbours that the dc are autistic and it would really help - by all means tell them exactly why it is needed, but I would look to get their agreement in advance.

Original poster
cantdothisnow1 · 02/11/2020 10:20

@LonelyFromCorona

My understanding is the covenants like this are put in there for when a housing development is still under construction. Basically the builder doesn't want people making the rest of the estate look shite whilst they are trying to flog off the new units they are still building at the back. So they will come and wave paper in your face and threaten to sue etc if you were to break them in this time.

I've not heard of them being enforced when an estate is completed. My estates covenants prohibits large commercial work vans - I'm sure many other estates do - but how many people work as couriers with huge transits, tradesmen, utilities installers, massive DynoRod/Safestyle etc vans. Yet nothing ever seems to happen to them.

Yes I'm sure this is right however my neighbour (not the twatty one) had a caravan on her drive a couple of years ago and was sent a letter, purportedly from the entire street, telling her she was breaking the law and that the street would take legal action. She then moved it to storage because she was worried about it.

The houses are approx 40 year old and the builder no longer exists so I don't think the covenants are enforceable at all.

So I know me parking might ruffle a few feathers.

OP posts:
Original poster
cantdothisnow1 · 02/11/2020 10:22

@Ihaveyourback

I don't think it is fair to your neighbours, it will block light and given we are all stuck inside could really end up causing a problem. I would check with your neighbours in either side first, and then decide.

My mother had this with a neighbour's caravan, and he parked it so close to her bedroom window it was in permanent darkness and really affected her MH. She was shielding at the time and it was the final straw.

She wrote to him in the end, and he very kindly moved it.

I would really consider the impact, people's feelings are running high at the moment, and your dc are likely to get bored with it pretty quickly is my guess, esp if there is no wifi!!!!!!! Grin

There is wifi,

my neighbour on the side (only one) couldn't care less. it's the one opposite who would be the problem.

OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 02/11/2020 10:23

You would need to do it and get it in place before Thursday.

After that I don't think you would be able to move in any case (covenant or not) as it would hardly be classed as an essential journey.