To think you can't live out of a motorhome on a public road?

[hippidyhiphip]

I've googled this, but it's not clear cut.
Friend lives on a main-ish road. Mix of houses, schools, shops etc.
Her neighbour has had family living on the road outside their house for the past 6 months.
They are parked up on the road in their motorhome with an electric hook up cable trailing across the pavement and through friends neighbours letterbox.
This wouldn't be so bad, but they are now taking over the pavement. Along with the trailing cable they have put a large door mat on the pavement, a set of steps and some days have a clothes airer out there right in the middle of the pavement.
They also have odds and ends that they leave by the front door, some days a washing basket, sometimes a few pots and pans.
They empty their toilet waste and dirty water tank in friends neighbours house.
Friends neighbour said that family sold their house and now live full time in their motorhome.
Is this legal? And who does she need to speak to if not?

Poor things.

They're not allowed to do it, no.

It just goes to show the poverty in society now.

I don't know what the answer is though.

I don't think they're in poverty. They sold a 4 bed house to spend their retirement travelling the world in a motorhome.
But instead of travelling the world they've been sat outside friends house for 6 months!

There are usually local bylaws about no overnight camping.

Of course they can't, Perhaps if they were actually in the garden on your neighbours property it would be ok but not on a public road. They could cause an accident and they are littering by leaving their stuff around.

Trip over the cable then sue them 🤣

How bizarre. As for the poverty, yes, that does occur but usually when this happens, the people try to hide that they're living on the road, not flaunt it with cables and door mats and airers. That must look shit. I'd report it to the council.

This confuses me too.
Friends neighbours have a double drive with their 2 cars on.
Motorhomes not moved from the spot on the road for 6 months.
I know a few of the neighbours are getting annoyed. I think I would get pissed off too if it was outside my house!

I wouldn't like the clothes fairer etc but other than that I wouldn't give a monkeys.

Airer ffs

Report it to the council. The electric cable is dangerous.

Maybe even the neighbour who's family it is is getting annoyed but can't say anything and a few neighbours complaining to the council will do everyone a favour

@hippidyhiphip

I don't think they're in poverty. They sold a 4 bed house to spend their retirement travelling the world in a motorhome. But instead of travelling the world they've been sat outside friends house for 6 months!

Oh! I had imagined it was repossessed by the bank or something! 🤦🏻‍♀️

No, they can't.

I suspect they're stuck due to COVID, but they need to pay and stay on a private campsite.

It's a real problem in Bristol. There's parts of Durdham Downs (public open space in the middle of the city) and just off M32 where there's streets of them. In a city where many rents are over £1000 per month its a necessity not a choice.

Has anyone done a DVLA check to see if it's taxed MOT'd and insured?

I’d call the council and ask for advice.

I wouldn’t necessarily mind someone living out of their van as long as they cleared up after themselves; but the trailing cable/airer stuff is taking the absolute piss.

Can't think of a reason why their plans to travel the world might have been put on hold

It's temporary isn;t it until we can go to Europe - I'd let them be.

I don't think they're in poverty. They sold a 4 bed house to spend their retirement travelling the world in a motorhome.
But instead of travelling the world they've been sat outside friends house for 6 months!

If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.

They probably had to sell the house because of debt. The rest is a cover story.

You definitely can't block the pavement like that

If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.

It sounds completely plausible to me. I've been following sailing youtube channels for the last year, and there are lots of people living on 40-55 foot sailboats who've been trapped in various places by Covid. In related technology videos I've realised they have a lot in common with people who travel around continents in motor homes. The latter is the land equivalent of the sailing lifestyle. Although on youtube the continent is usually North America rather than Europe.

In fact one of the most well-known youtube channels, "Gone with the Wynns" features a couple who started out traveling around in a motor-home and later transitioned to a boat.

To put this in context, on a US finance web-site recently, someone was posting about a 200,000 USD dollar van they were buying, to live in. Note, not motor-home, a van the same size as the average plumbers white van, but fitted out to live in. A mobile lifestyle isn't necessarily for the poor.

I dream of selling up and travelling the world in a van. I'd just want a car with the back seats taken out and a mattress in the back.
Sorry, no helpful!

Link to site selling the 200K van. (To be fair, it does look like it has off-road capability, which I guess makes it better than the average van. Though most of the price is the cost of fitting for accomodation.)

www.storytelleroverland.com/beast-mode-4x4/

Just drove past it actually! It's a 2019 plate motorhome. Looks pretty snazzy. But regardless, they're blocking half the pavement with their paraphernalia!