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

[cantdothisnow1]

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?

One of my neighbours opposite us has got their caravan out of storage and put it on their drive. I’m slightly jealous as I’d like an extra “break out” room. I did have about 30 minutes of annoyance that it was an eyesore, then I got a grip and realised that it didn’t really have any impact on me.
I think you should go for it.

@MrsSpenserGregson

I'm struggling to understand how it could possibly block the light into the house of the neighbours who live opposite you. Surely your house is taller than the motorhome, and therefore any light-blocking will already be done by your house?! The neighbours are across the street presumably?

Do it OP, by all means pop a note through their door first, and if you do, I'd blame it on the lockdown - e.g. say that the storage provider has gone out of business or something (yes, lie!) and that the motorhome will be gone as soon as lockdown is lifted and you can make non-essential journeys again to find a new storage unit.

Congrats on your parking thread!

no it doesn't block light but is an eyesore.

I can't lie as there is a couple up the street who use the same storage facility for their caravan!

I actually don't see how a motorhome parked on someone else's drive is more of an 'eyesore' than looking at a drive and a front door.

Fair enough if your neighbours had a breathtaking view of the Wye Valley and you parked your motorhome right in front of their window. But this is an estate-?

If they're twats they'll maybe complain. I'd go ahead, and if they do, reply in writing saying you plan to park the motorhome on the drive for lockdown to help your dc during this time, after this the motorhome will be moved. Ask them politely to let you know if they plan to take it further and attempt to get the covenant enforced despite the presumed cost to themselves, in which case you can get on with providing evidence from your social worker and GP that it is necessary.

Bet they won't take it further.

Just do it. Explain to the difficult neighbour that it's a short term measure during lockdown and you'll move it back in December. Don't enter into a discussion. Sounds like a great option to help make the most of you living space.

Our neighbours have a caravan parked on their drive contrary to a covenant and I'm sure there's very little I can actually do about it.

Realistically how often would you use it if it was parked on your drive. I don’t know what the weather is like where you are but where I am is getting cold and it hasn’t stopped raining in a week. So is anyone really going to want to sit in a cold box on your drive?
And for the few times you might use it is it worth the hassle of having neighbors complain.

@Proudboomer

Realistically how often would you use it if it was parked on your drive. I don’t know what the weather is like where you are but where I am is getting cold and it hasn’t stopped raining in a week. So is anyone really going to want to sit in a cold box on your drive? And for the few times you might use it is it worth the hassle of having neighbors complain.

It's got heating!

Ah well, eyesore is in the eye of the beholder isn't it?!

I don't imagine that enforcing a restrictive covenant during the pandemic would be classed as "essential work" so I still think you'd get away with it.

If your neighbours are aware of your situation they'd be pricks to object especially for this short period of time.

It won't block light of neighbour opposite but it will be an eyesore if they open curtains and large motor home directly opposite to them. I would not want to face opening curtains and see that every morning. Plus why would you trust the word of person it was for 1 month only when they knowingly.breal covenants. What if lockdown goes on longer than until December 2nd. I think poster needs to ask neighbour opposite of they would mind it parked there. If they do mind she should not do it but neighbour opposite might not mind but if put there without prior discussion she could be seriously pissed off.

I’d do it. You know your family & children and the extra space would be crucial in giving people space at times of stress and poor mental health. You could use it a ‘treat’ for your children. Have a tea party in there, play board games etc. Use it positively. Even twatty neighbours surely couldn’t complain under such unprecedented circumstances!

Sounds like a great idea, do it. But yes, do out a note through the door of the whiny neighbours to preempt any moaning.

I really can't see why anyone would object to anyone's caravan or motorhome being on their drive if it wasn't affecting them in any way other than they think it lowers the tone in a hyacinth bucket sort of way.

It would be polite and neighbourly to drop a note in saying the motor home would be there only temporarily.

Walking round here there are some monstrous motor homes on people’s drives, one or two of the American RV variety (where do they drive them in the UK?!). The biggest ones do have an impact on others’ properties. I was shuddering at one which was parked so as to completely block the neighbour’s window in a corner house. I bet they were appearing on My Nightmare Neighbour!

I doubt that it would be enforced if it's just for a month but do ensure it doesn't reduce vision for anyone turning off their drives - we had a neighbour with a van which meant I had to pull out blind onto the road which isn't safe. Interesting what others are saying about covenants- our new house forbids work vehicles, caravans and also running businesses from your home, I'm planning to start my own business and wondered if they could enforce these days with so many working from home.

I doubt that it would be enforced if it's just for a month but do ensure it doesn't reduce vision for anyone turning off their drives - we had a neighbour with a van which meant I had to pull out blind onto the road which isn't safe. Interesting what others are saying about covenants- our new house forbids work vehicles, caravans and also running businesses from your home, I'm planning to start my own business and wondered if they could enforce these days with so many working from home.

classicmotorhomeowner.com/can-i-keep-my-motorhome-on-my-drive/

[quote ProfessorSlocombe]classicmotorhomeowner.com/can-i-keep-my-motorhome-on-my-drive/[/quote]
That's good advice and the reason I opted for storage.

I'm talking about exceptional circumstances and a (relatively) short period of time here.

Don't put a note through - this is an occasion where its better to ask forgiveness than permission. Just do it.

@movingonup20

I doubt that it would be enforced if it's just for a month but do ensure it doesn't reduce vision for anyone turning off their drives - we had a neighbour with a van which meant I had to pull out blind onto the road which isn't safe. Interesting what others are saying about covenants- our new house forbids work vehicles, caravans and also running businesses from your home, I'm planning to start my own business and wondered if they could enforce these days with so many working from home.

They can't enforce the working from home at the moment due to the stay at home request.

Run it by your immediate neighbours first, then do it. If you get them onboard, there will be less of a risk of it being reported. I can guarantee if they aren’t happy they will likely report it. Whilst in lockdown, there will be many curtain twitchers who might make your rule breaking a project to keep them occupied over the next few weeks.

Only the company that owns the restrictive covenant can enforce it, not neighbours. And they'd have to be able to show they had suffered a financial loss: e.g. couldn't sell another of the properties on your development because the motorhome makes it look ugly. It's to protect developers when they part of a development and want to keep it looking nice while they sell the rest.

Don't ask them in a note, tell them. Mention your two autistic children.

Last lockdown I drove for exercise as my autistic child gets very anxious around other people. So we drove to remote spots for our state sanctioned exercise and I shall do the same this time.

Reasonable adjustments.

If it has heating and up you will use it then why not talk to your neighbors.
Tell them it is only for the lockdown and not going to be a permanent feature. Don’t let it block anyone’s light or block vision for anyone else entering or leaving their own drives and doesn’t over hang your drive in any way. Then maybe after lockdown is over send a Thankyou note with a box of chocolates to let them know you appreciate it.

I think by working from home they mean a business with clients coming and going, or a business such as car dealing or something noisy. Sitting in the spare bedroom at the computer is not a problem!

Even with the covenants you are allowed to keep your own vehicle on the drive way while you are undertaking repairs. You just aren't allowed to Keep other vehicles in the drive way for repairs. I reckon you need to do some interior maintenance work ready for over wintering your vehicle. And it's going to take 4-6 weeks and then the motor gone will be removed back into storage.

Simple.

@Wnikat
(And others).
No.
That's not how covenants work.

@cantdothisnow1
I would let neighbors know ahead of time with a note, and then do it.
And ignore posters who haven't read your title document and don't work on this area if the law.