Trailer Tent on drive

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

We live on a newish estate, freehold property but unadopted road so we have a management company for the maintenance etc. There is a covenant forbidding caravans, trailers, boats and white vans on drives.

Anyway, our drive is at 90 degrees to our neighbours opposite (we have no neighbours at either side) and behind the hedge, totally hidden from view, we keep our trailer tent.

Unfortunately we have had run ins with our neighbour regarding our children playing out in the cul de sac (basically he sent the community police to our door who soon realised he was an idiot). He is now a director of the management company in charge of our estate and we are getting letters from them telling us to move our trailer.

Ok. We are breaking the covenant, but it is jobs worth nitpicking to the extreme. We are not inconveniencing anyone or spoiling anyone's outlook.

So basically, what can they do if we ignore the letters. What will happen if we go to court? DH reckons we can take it to the brink of court and then shove the trailer in the garage at the last minute for a couple of weeks until everything dies down, then put it back on the drive again. Yes I know this is a bit evil but frother neighbour has been absolutely vile and abusive to my children. If I can wind him up I will.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Most people on this thread are saying the same as DP; let it go, move on, be the bigger person.

It is quite an eye opener to realise that not everyone holds on to a grudge like me. . I suppose I had better do the right thing.

[daisychicken]

I just wonder if it's worth having a half hour free consultation with a solicitor? If your trailer tent has been hidden behind the hedge for 9 years and you've not been asked once in that time (till now!) to move it whether you possibly can claim the right to carry on - the precedent has been set 9yrs ago - it's not in view of anyone so I can't see that it's really causing a problem! Can you photograph it from all angles to show that it doesn't affect anyone else's view etc?

I'd do what Fidelia suggested as well, I think she's on the right lines and obv has experience of these awkward covenants....

[daisychicken]

What about looking on the garden law forum (google it) and see whats said on there?

[OverAndAbove]

Does it really forbid white vans? And not any other colour? So you could have as many red or black vans as you could squeeze on to your drive? How ridiculous!

But yes, if you signed up to it, you should stick to it. Or you will also be contributing to the slow decline...

[ExitPursuedByABear]

I can bear a grudge. For years.

[Unexpected]

It is quite an eye opener to realise that not everyone holds on to a grudge like me. Really? You honestly need to move on from this, both you and your neighbour are engaged in childish tit-for-tat. As long as you respond to each other, this feud will not only continue but escalate. Apart from which, I wonder what on earth kind of estate you live on? White vans on drives are forbidden???? That's a nice bit of social engineering isn't it? No nasty repair men or delivery drivers there then. How about if the gas repair man who moves in decides to paint his transit van silver?

[BrianTheMole]

I would move it to where he could actually see it. But then again, I am a bit petty like that

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

It forbids commercial vehicles over so no vans of any hue.

Exit this thread had made me realise that the Cold War with horrid neighbour began when we moved in nine years ago. At this rate it will soon be our grandchildren running round his Audi.

[AreYouFeelingLucky]

If it was out of sight, it may well not matter how long it has been there.

Just look at that house built behind haystacks. It didn't matter that it had been there so long - no one could see it to complain, so it didn't count.

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

No white vans on drives? Who drafted the covenant - Hyacinth Bucket? So no tradesperson can ever buy a house on your estate, that's - erm - nice .

Your neighbour sounds like an arse of the highest order but, if you are breaking the covenant, he is still in the right unfortunately.

We used to have a similar neighbour in our last house. He was part of the reason we moved.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Unexpected apparently our estate was meant to be gated originally but the planning consent was blocked at the last minute. Yes they are all big expensive houses (we had a footballer here for a while).

We were just looking for somewhere low maintenance with room to run our business from home and fit in our four kids. Naively we thought that because all the houses are big there would be lots of families like us. Strangely there are many just occupied by couples.

[ColdTeaAgain]

OP I completely understand that you have a grudge against this man because of how he treated your children. And yes, I agree, he sounds like a petty, miserable jobsworth. I would be very tempted to sell the trailer and get a massive caravan and part that on my drive instead...

BUT of course I wouldn't actually do that. When all is said and done, is it really worth wasting time stressing about a twat like him? However petty you try and be to annoy him, he will be twice as bad to you. And since he is director, he has powers that you don't. It's just not worth it.

Put the trailer tent away for an easy life. Let the arsehole think he won. Who cares? He no doubt has a very tiny cock.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Cold you are the voice of wisdom crying in the wilderness. I don't even like the bloody trailer tent. We used it once last year and the kids did nothing but moan that all their mates were in Xante.

But it's a really nice trailer tent if anyone is interested......

[Unexpected]

Sell the blasted thing.

[VodkaJelly]

I wouldnt move it, but then I like a grudge also.

My friends live on an "exclusive" estate like yours, no vans, caravans etc. My friend is a plumber and normally leaves his van at work, he was on a call out and didnt finish till 2am so parked the van on the drive and left again at 8am, so the van was on the drive for 6 hours.

One of his neighbours put a note through the door saying not to park his van there, it lowers the tone and they would end up like the "other" estate. Friend was so annoyed it put the letter on a notice board and hammered it into the front of the lawn with large writing saying something like "Sod off you nosey bastard".

The "other" estate is still a lovely estate, a few years older than the "exclusive" estate so has no restictions. But annoyingly for the "other" estate, everyone who has a van and lives on "exclusive" estate parks on "other" estate and blocks the roads etc.

I would just do what you were planning to do, leave it till the 11th hour then move it into the garage etc. Anybody who swears at my kids is fair game, but then I would have headbutted the fucker.

Your neighbour is a "do as I say, not what I do", it was ok for him to park his van there for 6 months... twat.

[crashbangboom]

I wouldn't move it either! Nine years and now he's taken issue? I'll write to the management company detailing hsrrassment.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

vodka you are just egging me on now. I had just decided to be sensible. I bet you were one of those kids who gathered round every ruck in the playground chanting "Fight, fight, fight".

[VodkaJelly]

Tinky, no I was the one doing the fighting!

[dawntigga]

I use to work for a company that managed management companies on behalf of developments:

1. yes, he can take you to court (the management company can), if they do they are likely to win and you will have to pay costs.
   
2. if you live ANYWHERE that has a management company (I would run a mile and it's the first question I ask estate agents) GET.ON.THE.BOARD.ASAP. The boards positively attract this kind of mentality, the stories I could tell about the letters I had to write!
   
3. move your trailer tent, you won't win
   
   The best way to mess with people like this is to scrupulously obey the rules whilst not obeying the rules iyswim. If it says you can't have a washing line put your washing out on a clothes horse, that kind of thing.
   
   WillNEVERLiveAnywhereThereIsAManagementCompanyTiggaxx

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Right, just hold my coat for me vodka.

[mrsbucketxx]

and to add insult to injury you have to pay a fee to maintain this nut job in his position.

best to put the trailer tent behind the hedge or in your garage, the rules are mental mine are too.

[pictish]

Oh GOD honestly I cannot handle people like this! Fuck off and tend to your own affairs you petty, self important, meddlesome prick! Gaaaah!

[ColdTeaAgain]

Naughty vodka don't encourage her!

I like tigga's idea of finding a way to annoy him without actually breaking any rules....a carefully chosen garden ornament perhaps? Angled so it 'looks' at him....

[VodkaJelly]

Come on Tigga - spill, tell us some of the issues that you had to write letters about!

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Hmmm nice idea cold, I'm thinking maybe a tasteful copy of the Mannakem Pis, angled so it looks at him.