Neighbours sleeping on our driveway

[Missedvocation]

We have new neighbours in the house next door (shared driveway) they are only there for 6-9 months as they are emigrating (just waiting for visas etc). They have a house full of stuff like normal, but don’t own a bed. They claim they can’t be bothered to get a bed, so are sleeping each night in their camper van on the driveway.

Now, I think this is fine obviously for a few weeks while they wait for furniture or as they approach the end and are selling their stuff - but nearly a year living on the driveway- weird! (Especially given that it’s also OUR driveway, and so they are sleeping really close to our front door).

It’s not like it affects us, we just find it weird! We’d never say anything and what people do in their house is their business. Especially in the morning when putting the children in the car at 0715 for the school run - we find ourselves telling the children not to talk as we don’t want to wake people up etc.

So, what do people think - AIBU, or do you also think this is mega weird???

Op you clearly need to do a driveway diagram! Otherwise no it's not weird, camper vans are quite warm as it's a small space to heat.

Are they avoiding council tax or something? previously travellers so not used to a house? Someone not having to pay tax on the house because it’s not being rented? To get round not being allowed to rent out a house to a relative on a buy to let mortgage?

There must be a reason. It doesn’t make sense else.

Shared driveways aren’t split down the middle so you own one side and your neighbour owns the other. They are completely shared.

so they’re parked in the shared driveway

Suggest they put the mattress from the campervan onto the floor of a bedroom and use it there.

Could they be using the house to grow cannabis? It might be too hot to sleep in

If they're parking on your side of the drive I'd be having words.

A lot of local authorities will have strict regulations on such behaviour. Introduced over time as you would be amazed at how many landlords would use that as a "house" if they could.

That's before any covenants or restrictions on use in deeds are contemplated.

Is is actually them sleeping in there and not other friends/relatives?
Maybe the whole house has been turned into a cannabis farm, hence no space for a bed?
When are they going on the run moving abroad?
You could always ring your council to check its legal to be living in a van all the time.

We renovated and lived in a small, static van at the front of our garden. Ours is a large, detached area and not a shared driveway. We did get 1yrs grace from paying council tax, because the house was uninhabitable whilst being renovated. We checked with the council that we could live in the van. Even when we still had no heating, water, windows in the house, we had to start paying council tax the next year though

I think this is a good idea. Also makes more sense of them fleeing the country in 9 months

It's weird. I see no reason to keep the kids from talking when getting into the car. Clearly nobody in the neighbourhood wants to hear kids screeching at 0715 but there's nothing wrong with normal talking. I see no reason to extend them any courtesy beyond what you would extend to people sleeping inside a house.

We've been sleeping in a campervan for the last 2 weeks and some nights it's been pretty cold, so I'd be surprised if they stick it out through the winter.
I wouldn't be telling my children to be quiet at that time of the morning though. If the neighbours don't like the noise, they can always sleep in a house made of bricks/stone!

I'd be thinking grow house or meth lab.

YABU without a diagram

Very odd and inconsiderate.

Very odd.
I wouldn't be keeping quiet.
I may consider a security light.

Fucking weirdos

I suspect the answer is drugs or head injury, possibly both, the latter as the result of the former

"Hi neighbour, have you seen heard DH's new Subaru Impreza???"

but if they are parked on your side of the shared drive, rather than in just close proximity to your front door... that's a whole other issue from their weirdness

Cannabis farm. Had one next door; small terraced house.

It is odd. We spent a good two weeks on an air bed when we moved into our first flat but we has literally no furniture at that point. I would much rather sleep inside even if in a sleeping bag on the floor or sofa.

I think as it doesn’t bother you, YABU.

But I’d be carrying on with my life as normal, it’s not your children’s problem that they want to sleep there.

If the camper vsn has electric hook up plugged into the house or diesel powered heating it needn't be cold in winter. We go away in ours at New Year and it's really cosy.

It's definitely weird. I wouldn't make any special effort to be quiet. Live as you normally would, make as much noise as would be appropriate for the time of day and location, and if it bothers them, they can make the necessary changes.

😆 which town is this where a lot of people have the arrangement where parents are sleeping in campervans because the houses are too small?

I wouldn't keep quiet in the mornings because of them. I'd talk in my normal morning voice, which is quiet anyway because I'm considerate, but I certainly wouldn't start whispering and telling the kids not to speak. That's madness.

Don't tell me they can't afford a blow up bed.

Also doesn't it get in the way of you arriving and leaving in your car?

That could definitely attract local authority interest.

But they do have a bed. It's in a camper van. Why would they buy another thing a they will need to get rid of? Just one more job and expense.

Vans have heating they won't be cold. also you don't need to be quieter than normal just go about your day as usual. They are just sleeping there instead of in the house. Really no big deal