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.

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I don't understand the comments regarding a van being parked on a drive, where else do you expect people to park their work vehicles.

It's as if people think someone who needs a van for manual labour is below someone who works in an office.

Total snobbery if you ask me

Saying you wouldn't want a van on your street is peak Mumsnet. How dare the tradesmen move to my niace area?

Yes how dare the very people who build, fit your electrics and water, plaster your walls, paint or wall paper them, fit your windows and doors.

How very dare earn enough to buy a house and park their own vehicle on their own drive. Tut tut.

If there are restrictive covenants then I'd guess there is a managing agent there. It is down to them to take action not other residents.

Jealousy manifests itself in different ways. It's not bothering anyone who is normal

Sorry, I've not read the 200 odd replies.

I thought a covenant could only be enforced by whoever is party to it - ie the developer who sold the land? Not a neighbour. Definitely not the Council.

Developers put these covenants on so you don't lower the tone while they are actively selling plots/houses. Once they've finished on site, they have no interest in enforcing.

If it over hangs the pavement, take photos and send to the council, they will deal with it.

I don’t think having a van in itself is a problem as long as you park it courteously. This means outside your own house or at end of the road e.g. There’s a guy around here who deliberately parks his van outside an old lady’s house so he doesn’t have to have the view of it himself. She asked him not to and he told her to fuck off.

We have a neighbour who parks theirs in the turning bay! It blocks part of the road as it's so big. A few have complained and council came to check, said no signs about no parking and it's only a few feet longer than a van so nothing they can do.

Meanwhile it's a struggle for some to get out of drives, you have to drive around it to go down the road so can't see any oncoming traffic.

Very unfair and annoying as most of us pay to keep them at a site. Arrogant and uncooperative, the kind of people you can't reason with, think they own the road etc.

We have a motor home and I’d hate to have it on my driveway. We pay for a secured parking in the field which your stingy neighbour isn’t obviously prepared to do.
saying that we park it on our road for couple of days before we head off in it and a neighbour (whose view isn’t obstructed in any way) already commented what an eyesore it is 🙄 I guess there’s always someone who’s going to complain.

Similar here with removal vans. Honestly if they were the sort of person who cared you wouldnt be in this situation now. They won’t change and if you go to the council they will only make your life difficult. Nice, considerate people are a thing of the past x

The council will deal with this for you. Just tell them

Wow, some of the comments on here! This isn’t just the OP having a problem with something they don’t like - there is a legal covenant in place so agreeing to it must have been a condition when purchasing the house. You can’t just move into a house, aware of the legalities involved, and then just choose to ignore the agreement you have signed. It sounds like you have pointed out to them that they will be in breach of the terms they agreed. What was their response? In any case, it sounds like hopefully they won’t have a leg to stand on if all the neighbours who object get together and make a complaint, or take it to court if you have to. Good luck x

PS please keep us updated - this could be the next “Barbara and the allotment”
thread! Not to make light of your situation, but it seemed like the OP on that thread got a lot of relief out of sharing it and having a laugh about how awful her neighbour was! I do find humour and like-minded people can help in these frustrating situations.

Is this your biggest problem in life? Let them enjoy their motorhome. Live is for living

Restrictive covenants are imposed by the company that owns the land and builds houses on it they are planning to sell. The RC is enforced by them only until all units are sold to avoid having to lower the sale price if prospective buyers don't want vans, motorhomes and even hedges or trees being present. When all the units are sold the builder moves on and rarely gets involved as they don't want the hassle. We have RC's on our estate but also caravans, mh's, hedges, boats, he'll sometimes a tractor overnights when local farmer visits his gf. Mo need to die on this hill OP...

Where my Daughter lives Vans are not allowed…

Covenants are there for a reason. Usually to protect everyone from selfish neighbours. They are difficult to enforce that is why people usually rely on others’ goodwill but if a covenant is broken it is possible to legally challenge the breach. Whether or not you think the matter is serious enough to fall out with your neighbours about is of course another matter.

I would fight it. I hate eyesores.

We have a no motor home or caravan rule here, it's due to limited parking. If you can fit in a standard space then ok but our residential car park is generally full to start with so someone taking two spaces is unfair plus we only have one space each.

No need for such rudeness.

My advice is think carefully about how the saleability of your property would be affected by a declarable dispute involving all neighbours. Who would want to move to a street like that?

It’s their property. Why on earth do you think yours would be affected? I live a on very expensive estate and the neighbours have a nice luxury motor home on their drive plus 2 cars. I couldn’t care less! Sounds like snobbery to me.

Neighbours like you that are judgy will affect the property. Glad I don’t live near you . I’d rather have nice happy neighbours that ones that are stuck up their own a*

BoldAmberDuck

Why be rude? Are you quackers?