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.

Can you explain what the problem is? I spend next to zero time looking at my neighbours’ driveways.

I think we need a diagram!

If they go ahead, simply keep advertising it for sale using a fake Facebook profile and it will soon attract a particular set of people who will nick it.

They are an eyesore.

You can only do something about it if the covenant is enforceable and action can be brought by the person/ organisation/ management company that instated the covenant in the first place.

Indeed. Haven't you read the property board - it's such a common question " should I buy it- there's a motorhome next door" or "how much discount should I expect for the motorhome next door " - every other post is asking that very question

( said with a sarcastic tone )

I am imagining. It is grand.

I get it, nobody wants a large vehicle parked up very close to their home. But do you know just how big it's going to be? You're probably imagining a Cousin Eddie winnebago type thing, when it's more likely to be not much bigger than a transit if it's for two people.

How did it come up in conversation? Were they sort of warning you and said it was going to be massive?

i suppose you can complain and take legal action if you want. Obviously nothing to stop
them parking on the road right outside your house. Perfectly legal.

I don’t think you should worry too much about it affecting the value of your property. If you’re not moving, why would this be of concern?

I am not a mh owner. I would like to
borrow one though. If only one of my neighbours had one parked on their driveway, I could ask for a go!

Need a diagram - you say no parking in front of home but does that mean on street or driveway.

How do you know how big it will be? How do you know it will overhang the pavement?

It would definitely bother me if my neighbour had a massive motorhome on their drive.
Start with your local council, if the motorhome overhangs the pavement

Absolutely awful things, they are an eyesore, so much bigger than a normal works van, there was one a few streets away from me I felt sorry for the neighbours as all they could see from their living room window was the huge monstrosity, I can see why it would affect the saleability of neighbouring properties I wouldn’t buy a house next door or opposite with one on the driveway.

Yes.
How ridiculous.
What's happened to the British Live and let live?
😂

I wonder if this is the one mentioned on Morning Live today, same scenario - the expert said this was illegal.

I think you're getting a hard time here OP considering the majority have voted YANBU!
I agree that in a cul de sac it could devalue the surrounding properties. Unless you are lucky enough to live in a detached property with a long drive it will impact your close neighbours to park a massive campervan outside your house.

It would certainly make neighbouring properties harder to sell if it was an eyesore and looked dominating, scruffy, or far too big for the space. Which ultimately have a negative effect on property prices, yes.

It wouldn't bother me but overhanging the pavement is illegal, so if they do buy the van, the council will take action anyway, which can be sped up by talking to your local councillor.

Civil action for this kind of thing is going to be an expensive and stressful waste of your time with no guarantee of an outcome you like. Much better if you can get the support of some other neighbours and collectively ask your neighbours to find somewhere else to park it. But check if your building insurance includes legal expenses, that might be a way to get some legal advice by only paying the excess.

Or as a PP suggested, ring the council parking dept if it is a hazard.

Old covenants are rarely enforceable, I very much doubt you could enforce it even with considerable legal expenses.

Why do you think there are covenants against them, then?

I'm not permitted one, either; however, our conveyancing solicitor said covenants were rarely enforced once all the houses on the estate were sold.

I have seen one or two on our estate, but they've all been on properties where they didn't visually impact on the neighbours.

But surely normally you would see their cars instead? I don't have a particularly scenic street so maybe this is why the idea doesn't bother me. In fact, we used to have someone in the street with one in their drive and I would just have a serious case of motorhome envy whenever I saw it! Genuinely no worse than a big works van.
OP, you will get used to it, try not to worry. They might even let you borrow it!

The "neighbour dispute" could have far more impact on property prices

OP, if your household insurance policy includes legal expenses, then it might cover the cost of legal advice on this

I believe that property disputes have to be declared if you sell your house

My advice would be to wait and see.

You fundamentally don’t like the idea. They will sense that if you approach now. You’ve listed light and driveway view but you haven’t seen it yet- those objections won’t have any credence.

It might not be that bad, if it is it sounds like there are legal pathways. If you wanted full control of what you see from your front window though, you need more land. There are plenty of other things they could do not to your taste that would be perfectly within ‘the rules’, I’m sure they’d still be irritating!

You and your neighbours will have a good claim as those who benefit from the covenant so you can indeed issue a claim against the neighbour who is in breach. The more of you the better (to enforce the claim and deal with costs in the first instance as it is an expensive business).

This is my area - you should go to a litigator and ask them to write a letter to the homeowners who are in breach explaining the situation to them. They could be liable for costs if it reached court and they will be expensive costs, trust me!

‘Could be’. Until that’s determined OP would be bearing the costs, I assume?