Neighbours' motorhome

[BlueFinch2]

Our neighbours intend to permanently park a large motorhome on their driveway. The 20 or so homes in our cul-de-sac are all subject to the same restrictive covenants, one of which prohibits parking ‘boats, caravans or similar’ vehicles in front of the properties. We’ve already raised our concerns with them, highlighting both the covenants and the potential impact on our property value.

The motorhome would be parked in a highly visible part of the estate, detracting from the overall appearance of the area. Additionally, their driveway isn’t large enough to fully accommodate a vehicle of that size, meaning it would significantly overhang the pavement.

We now face a few options: accept the situation, attempt to persuade them to reconsider, or seek legal advice. Advice from others that have been in a similar situation would be particularly helpful.

Our neighbours used the area around their house as a lorry depot - often three large lorries. They were parked in the road next to our house overhanging the parking bay. It made it really dangerous coming out of our drive as our view was completely blocked. I rang the council with photos etc and they had no interest at all. Very frustrating.

That's true actually. People are put off properties when they see them parked up.

So it seems! This thread has been an education! I still wouldn't mind if a neighbour parked on their own drive but appreciate some people would.

The problem isn't necessarily the one neighbour, but other neighbours following suit as "it's allowed" and end up with a street full of them.

We once went for a viewing where there were 6 in the same road. We didn't put an offer in.
Onealways attracts more in my experience.

This thread is quite funny. ‘One always attracts more’ they’re motorhomes not squirrels 😅 as for lowering the tone, they tend to cost tens of thousands of pounds. You’re neighbours with someone who can afford a £50k ornament on the drive. Not sure what’s lowering the tone in that.

Blocking light and view is obnoxious.

They do look junky and lower the tone. Cost is irrelevant.

We have the same situation: an elderly neighbour (across the road three doors up from us), is housebound and the twat next door to us parks his huge work vehicle outside her house and his and his missus' car outside their house: OK during the week, but it's there from Friday night to Monday morning without moving. I told my husband he should borrow an 18-tonne wagon from work and park it outside the twats' house all weekend to make a point.

Re the motorhome - if it overhangs the pavement it becomes a problem. I liked the idea of anonymously advertising it for sale...... They should pay to keep it in proper storage.

So glad you’re not my neighbour! Junky and lower the tone? How snobbish

You are a funny one. I’m imagining Hyacinth Bucket curtain twitching at the monstrosity on someone else’s driveway 😅

🤣🤣🤣

I doubt if they knew about covenants when they bought their Motorhome..unlikely to have
seen the deeds of the house where covenants are listed.
but if you can’t keep a caravan there …. A Motorhome is likely to be a breach.

enforcing it Is not like to be cheap.. can you ask the neighbours what their feelings are?

I know of two people having the exact same issue with neighbours and motorhomes very recently.

You're not in Gloucester or Worcester are you OP?

Hi. We're in Warwickshire. Thanks for your replies. It is clearly a polarising issue, but I'm reassured that the majority think we're being reasonable. Any form of legal action would be the nuclear option but I doubt it will get that far. Hopefully they will take heed of our concerns and store it somewhere.

Restrictive covenants should always form part of the legal report provided by the conveyancer. If people don’t read them that’s their look out. But they will be summarised.

I would probably just anonymously contact the council and get them to come round every time the motorhome is overhanging the pavement. That way the neighbour won't know who it is

I used to keep a vw campervan on my drive. About 6ft from my neighbour's front room window. Where do we stand on camper vans? Is it just motor homes we're objecting to? Thankfully they didn't seem bothered!

You're allowed to park on the pavement outside London I believe unless in a street which specifically says not to. Not sure the council will be bothered about overhanging a pavement, maybe?

On the basis of it overhanging the pavement and blocking your safe exit from your home, I would absolutely pursue this.

No way would I tolerate it.

They absolutely are an eyesore, even though I believe are great fun.

I didn't buy a house, even though it was lovely and within budget, because the view out the front had three caravans on neighbours' drives. I couldn't stand the idea of looking at them every day. I wouldn't be happy with a motorhome, either, especially if it was blocking light!

If it overhangs the pavement then your council is the best bet, along with putting pressure on the owners from you and your other neighbours. Good luck!

I bet they were bothered!

@BlueFinch2 i think a lot of people bought motorhomes etc during Covid thinking “ooo cheap flexible holidays” without thinking through the additional costs eg storage.

We made sure that ours would fit on the drive. Storage costs wouldn't even enter our minds. Or when we had our VW camper. Dp used that as his daily vehicle

Op. Remember this would count as a neighbour dispute and must be disclosed if you ever plan on selling.
Far more likely to hurt your property values than a motor home I would have thought.

It would definitely be a neighbour dispute that you would have to disclose. The main problem is , who is the beneficiary of the covenant? It is almost certainly not you and therefore you can't enforce it. It was probably the developer, are they still around?

It absolutely affects the blind and disabled- its a hazard.
What you meant was- it doesn't affect me so I'm not arsed.

I'm in Scotland so not allowed to park on the pavement here. Neighbour parked their car with 2 wheels on the kerb recently and got a ticket! This is very suburban small commuter village with no parking restrictions anywhere, so I assume somebody must have reported them as wardens never just wander by around here