Neighbours enormous caravan parked on the road (not drive) for months

[AchillesLastStand]

My neighbours have an enormous caravan that has been parked outside their house on the road for over three months or longer that they have up for sale. It’s directly opposite my house and impacts DH’s ability to reverse out of our drive. He has to reverse out at angle going across our front garden rather than straight. Also no one can park outside our house. Tradesmen have had to park up the road and carry heavy equipment with them.

One of our neighbours is having building work done and we had a cement lorry reversing down the road yesterday past the caravan and now I’ve noticed a small bump on the side of the caravan. I know our neighbours are going to try and pin it on us even though they have no proof and the caravan shouldn’t be parked there that long in the first place obstructing traffic. They have a drive which they’re using for vehicles but I wouldn’t mind if the caravan was parked there for that amount of time. Surely then don’t own the road outside their house and it shouldn’t be there. AIBU,

https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/parking-at-night.html

is worth a read. I live on a 40mph unlit road and people leave unlit cars facing the wrong way on the road at night because they can't be arsed - wish the police would issue a few fines...

If anybody had a fire, a fire engine would be able to force its way past it - although there might not be much left of the caravan afterwards. Caravans are designed to be as lightweight and structurally minimal as possible; fire engines are extremely heavy battering rams on wheels.

Obviously I would never wish a fire on anybody in the road, but it would certainly solve the problem once and for all...

You wanting your DM to park outside your house unfortunately doesn’t mean they have to move. They have as much right to be there as anyone else.
Have you suggested to your DH reversing the car on the drive?

Like to, and, have to, are radically different beasts. You could always try asking nicely if they'd move it around the road a bit to share the pain, and politely explain your thinking. They might not, but you'd lose nothing by asking. And they would at least realise there's an issue.

I believe that does not include the roads - i.e. parking on the road is not included. However as others have said, if it is causing an obstruction etc the council/police may be able to do something. Can a fire engine or an Ambulance get past the caravan if they needed to? If No - definitely complain about it for that specific reason. It's a safety issue

Here’s a plan….,
Get a friend to pretend to be a buyer, say they want a test drive/tow….. then steal the spot!

The issue with my mum parking is that she is very disabled. If she can park outside she can manage to the house with her walking frame. As it is, she has to park much further down the road that requires me to help her assemble her mobility scooter in her boot so you can get into my house, it’s time consuming and a massive pain in the arse when it’s poring down with rain.

The family with the caravan has a large number of vehicles including a minibus which takes up all of their drive and an SUV parked outside further down the road outside someone’s house and another smaller vehicle parked also on the street.

My DH could move his car but he walks to work most days during the summer leaving the car on the drive. I can’t drive at all so can’t move it off our drive myself. He could move it before he goes in if he knows when she might be coming but he wouldn’t want our car to be parked outside someone else’s house all day.

Then recycling/bin lorry can just about get past so that would be a yes. It’s not so much the width as the length. It’s as wide as their detached house and drive. It’s like having a bus permanently parked on the street.

That is a very good plan!

Does anyone know anything about council regulations on unauthorised advertising? My council has this listed as one the things not permitted without approval. The advert they have in the caravan may come under this, I don’t know.

Could you and DH get some bongos, and a camp fire, and belt out "cum-by-ya mi Lord" at 2am from the middle of the street?

I doubt you can get them on an advertising technicality. Just report it as a nuisance.

They may not be breaking the law but it's very un-neighbourly. All my caravan-ing owning friends pay for storage.

Your DH should technically be reversing into your drive and driving out - both of which will be easier for him. (See Highway Code).

Not true! Many councils enact their own bylaws to ensure the town looks clean and tidy and stops it looking rough and rundown.

Also a caravan isn’t classed as a vehicle in law as it isn’t a mechanically propelled vehicle.

Depending where the OP lives, there may well be a useful bylaw she can refer to.

I’ll tell him this but I imagine reversing in will be as difficult with the caravan parked there as it extends the full length of our drive and beyond. But as I said above, I don’t drive so don’t about these things.

Yes, caravans aren’t technically a vehicle, according to laws in this country. I’m also gong to get out the covenants for our house as I don’t think it’s permitted.

Yes your DH needs to move his vehicle for your mum. Regardless of the caravan.
I'm somewhat shocked he doesn't.

I always thought the caravan had to hitched on a road for the running lights at night.

OP I totally sympathise with you
Not sure if they've done anything technically 'wrong' but yeah.. I hate stuff like this.
I feel like I need to buy a rural cottage down a long empty country lane because people and their huge ugly vans etc just annoy me. Don't get me started on the 100% paved grey, grey, grey gardens, grey everything.

I believe you can, provided it is attached to a taxed and mot'd vehicle, but not by itself.

I would suggest hit it with everything, Police & Council. Also your local Councillor & MP

I have seen action taken against two caravans recently so it can be done

He could move it before he goes in if he knows when she might be coming but he wouldn’t want our car to be parked outside someone else’s house all day.

What's more important to him?

A neighbour being annoyed that he's perfectly legally parked, or your disabled mum having to use her mobility scooter to get to your house from her car?

My mum doesn’t have to get her mobility scooter out of the car because of my DH’s car, she has to get it out because the caravan is so enormous she can no longer park outside our house. Before the caravan arrived she could always park, even if another vehicle was parked opposite, they’d still be room.

Also I don’t want to have to prearrange every visit my mum makes each week days before. If she wants to pop round for a coffee on a whim when DH is at work and our car is still on the drive she should be able to. That caravan has been there far too long.

Ok, so you've taken a photo and sent an email to the council?

Hopefully you'll get clarification in a few days, about whether it's allowed to be parked there or not.

If it is, all I can suggest is that your mum gets a fold-up wheelchair, to make it easier for you to get her from her car to your house.

Can you update the thread when they reply? It'd be interesting to know the conclusion.

Your disabled DM is irrelevant to this, YOU DON'T OWN THE ROAD.

And neither does my neighbour with the caravan.