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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To report neighbour for this?

105 replies

Skittles12345 · 19/07/2021 21:54

AIBU to report my neighbour for seemingly setting up a taxi firm from their house? Is this even allowed?

OP posts:
pigsDOfly · 20/07/2021 14:09

@Hoppinggreen

I’m sure all the people on here being arseholes to OP would love to have someone running a business like that from the house next door to them! If it’s disturbing you in terms of noise and/or road obstruction then yes you should report. Try The Council first as they may need permission to run a business from home If they aren’t doing anything wrong then they haven’t got anything to worry about have they?
Exactly my thoughts.

I suspect that all the posters calling the OP a 'snitch' or telling her to mind her own business would be singing a different tune if they suddenly had a mini cab business opening 24 hours a day on their doorstep with cars parked on the pavement and all the noise and inconvenience that would cause in a residential area.

Maggiesfarm · 20/07/2021 14:15

People should not berate the op, we are not there and the new taxi firm may be causing her inconvenience.

On the other hand it may not if it is just one person driving a cab from there and maybe contacting other drivers by radio.

Things have been difficult in the pandemic and a lot of people have lost jobs. One industry that has survived throughout is taxi firms, they have worked throughout. You can't blame people for trying to earn money.

If the cab firm is successful, when we are back to 'normal', the 'office' may move to somewhere else - or he may give up taxi-ing and get another job.

Only the op and other neighbours can tell if it is a real nuisance right now.

HarebrightCedarmoon · 20/07/2021 14:23

I don't understand some of the posts here. Businesses like this should not be on residential streets: loads of extra vehicles, bad parking, restricted access for other residents. This is why you need planning permission, to make sure it will not cause a nuisance for neighbours.

iwilldoitsoon · 20/07/2021 14:23

@HarebrightCedarmoon

I don't understand some of the posts here. Businesses like this should not be on residential streets: loads of extra vehicles, bad parking, restricted access for other residents. This is why you need planning permission, to make sure it will not cause a nuisance for neighbours.

There are a lot of details not making sense though, so if OP could clarify then it would be easier to advise.

PhilCornwall1 · 20/07/2021 14:35

To see inside the neighbours house?

Clever things these doorbells.

Blinky21 · 20/07/2021 14:37

Needs to be declared to run a business from home, the rules are there for a reason after all. Ignore PPs who are being bitchy, it's not them living with it after all

HarebrightCedarmoon · 20/07/2021 14:51

To see inside the neighbours house?

Clever things these doorbells

Also, windows.

iwilldoitsoon · 20/07/2021 14:52

@HarebrightCedarmoon

To see inside the neighbours house?

Clever things these doorbells

Also, windows.

Windows and doorbells are not enabling OP to know what is going on when people are inside the house. You may see people but it's not conclusive if operating a call and dispatch system.
OhNoNoNoNoNo · 20/07/2021 15:13

I’d report it. I wouldn’t buy a house next to another which was operating as a taxi business. I bet a lot of people would think the same.

Snitching is much frowned upon on Mumsnet. I don’t know why as some posters that complain about ‘snitchers’ seem to be such angry, pompous busy bodies themselves. 🙃

Takingabreakagain · 20/07/2021 15:32

OP you need to contact the council's planning enforcement officer. There will usually be an email address or contact form on the website.
From what you've said it sounds like there has been a material change of use of the property. As pp have said the running of the firm e.g. phone calls etc would likely be accepted as it doesn't affect the neighbours amenity. But cars parked up, vehicle movements all day and night would/does affect you. They need planning permission for this aspect. If the owners wanted to my enforcement team would allow them to submit a restrospective application to be assessed but it's unlikely to be approved. They should be operating from an appropriate place like an industrial unit where there is plenty of parking.

SalsaLove · 20/07/2021 15:44

Let the man earn a living ffs!

JanetPondersley · 20/07/2021 15:48

A friend lived 4 doors away from where someone set up a mini cab business. cars parked outside with engines running while waiting for their next fare. and not just one car, but 5 or 6 coming and going constantly. parking in the designated resident parking, talking loudly early hours of the morning.

I can't believe people are all up in arms about someone using a pressure washer, but don't think someone using setting up a mini cab firm next door would be a problem. So very very mumsnet

Thesecondcummings · 20/07/2021 15:58

I bet who don't see a problem with it wouldn't like it next door to them.

Cheeserton · 20/07/2021 16:01

OP clearly got stick for failing to explain anything properly at first, merely asking if they should report a neighbour for running a taxi business. No explanation of the real concerns which had to be teased out over pages of posts. Don't be too amazed if you ask a question like that.

iwilldoitsoon · 20/07/2021 16:07

@JanetPondersley

A friend lived 4 doors away from where someone set up a mini cab business. cars parked outside with engines running while waiting for their next fare. and not just one car, but 5 or 6 coming and going constantly. parking in the designated resident parking, talking loudly early hours of the morning.

I can't believe people are all up in arms about someone using a pressure washer, but don't think someone using setting up a mini cab firm next door would be a problem. So very very mumsnet

I would find it a real problem and I would be doing something about it. I have been trying to get OP to clarify exactly what is going on because there are many things that don't make sense. I know the taxi licensing laws inside out but can't help someone who is not helping themselves.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 20/07/2021 16:08

This is probably one of the few times that 'Let his tyres down' would have an affect! Grin

GintyMcGinty · 20/07/2021 16:09

How is this any different to the millions of others working from home?

gogohm · 20/07/2021 16:14

You need an operators licence to run a private hire firm, it's issued by your local council. Whether you can run from a house depends on bylaws and covenants - we are forbidden from running businesses, technically working from home even but they turn a blind eye if it doesn't affect others.

Whether it's reasonable is down to whether it prevents the quiet enjoyment of your premises

DadJoke · 20/07/2021 16:32

Unlicensed taxis are a danger, particularly to women on their own. They often don't pay proper wages or taxes for their workers. If you think they are running an unlicensed taxi firm, call the council. If it's licensed - no harm done.

TurquoiseDragon · 20/07/2021 16:40

@GintyMcGinty

How is this any different to the millions of others working from home?
Well, I work from home, but unlike OP's situation, I'm not parking over the pavement with cars coming and going. The licensing is a separate issue.
FartAndMoan · 20/07/2021 16:45

My neighbour runs a taxi company from his home, he's a mostly nice man but a bit sort of cheeky because instead of parking his nine taxis on his own street, or having the drivers take them home, he parks them up outside my yard as his garage opens onto our street. He also now uses all the private off road (apart from mine) parking spots that come with the properties on the street I live on.

Over the last 15 years as people have moved out he's nabbed the off road parking spots for his taxis and hoped the people who rent or buy will be too nice to ask him to stop. I've heard him saying that and I've heard him complaining about visitors on a street he doesn't live on making it hard for his taxis to be there. He asked us not to use ours and we tried for a while because I wanted to be kind but when our car was getting damaged we went back to using our off road. One of the last neighbours who used their spot died last year and within an hour of his car being gone a taxi was pulled on it.

And the clatter at 4am of his garage door when he puts the mini busses in the garage on a weekend and sets all the dogs off barking can be annoying too. I'm not looking forward to that again but he's making a living and he probably would move to give the residents their off road parking back if they asked.

My in-laws used to run a taxi company from home and it might have changed now but they had to inform the council as it was a council house and there was something in the tenancy about using the building as a business but this was 25 years ago now so it's probably changed a lot.

MaMelon · 20/07/2021 16:48

FartAndMoan Shock That's CFery of the highest order. Has no-one reported him?!

Maggiesfarm · 20/07/2021 16:51

A registered company address is different to business premises.

Hoppinggreen · 20/07/2021 16:51

@PhilCornwall1

To see inside the neighbours house?

Clever things these doorbells.

Think mine is faulty then, I can only see outside my house
DancesWithTortoises · 20/07/2021 16:53

Of course you should report. This sounds very dodgy.

Ignore the children calling you a snitch or a grasser. Kids are off school.