Campervan parking at home

[Nanniemate]

40 years ago a relative bought a new build in Telford. Coventry sain no front walls or fences

As soon as the builders were gone one neighbour built a brick wall on asking how he managed to match the bricks perfectly he took the dog for a walk 2/3 times a day whilst the houses were still being built. He had very big pockets

 

[Guffy60]

Good evening. I wonder if anyone on hear has an informed view on the following.
We've bought a brand new house on a development on the Midlands. We have a small car and an AS Kingham.
Looking through the development documents regarding parking in the driveway of my house they state ' No caravan, or house on wheels, or boat, or yacht trailer shall be parked or permitted to stand on the property.'
I am hoping that as the paragraph doesn't not specifically refer to "motorhome' or "campervan" that l will be allowed to park accordingly. I have never in my 10 years of campervan heard them referred to as "House on Wheels" so l am hopeful that title would not include motorhome or campervan and is aimed at something else ie Sheppard's hut or even any such vehicle without independent power?
I want to test the water through MHF before checking with the developers first.
Any thoughts?

When we were due to by a Barrat’s house we had a caravan we wanted to store in the back garden, The T&Cs said no caravans. As we asked, they agree to confirm as part of legal documents we had permission and also to at our cost put in side entrance, dropped kerb and runway.

so worth asking and seeing if they will give you a waiver.

 

[Southend]

Good advice , it’s a covenant different ‘ restrictions ‘ ? I have heard of crazy things like geese ! not allowed

Doesn't help the OP at all, but we are forbidden to dig for brick clay in the back garden or to keep coal in the bath!

 

[Nanniemate]

When we were due to by a Barrat’s house we had a caravan we wanted to store in the back garden, The T&Cs said no caravans. As we asked, they agree to confirm as part of legal documents we had permission and also to at our cost put in side entrance, dropped kerb and runway.

so worth asking and seeing if they will give you a waiver.

That must have been some time ago you'd be lucky to get a garden big enough now

 

[Orion]

Doesn't help the OP at all, but we are forbidden to dig for brick clay in the back garden or to keep coal in the bath!

In a similar (un)helpful vein we are obliged to maintain the lane leading past our houses ‘to such a width as to allow the passage of two sedan chairs side by side’!

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[Bramidan]

We can’t keep pigs!
Never the less we raised 3 sons!

 

[The Coops]

My parents house in Saddleworth was adjacent to an old pack horse trail and the deeds stated no travellers, pedlars or drunkards to reside in the cellars and no horses to be kept other than in the stable!

 

[hja]

Our last house built in the 1960s we weren't allowed to dig for clay or make bricks.

 

[Orion]

We also have one that ensures the free passage of persons and stock across the part of the lane on our property for the purpose of drawing water from the Town Leat, which passes through our neighbour’s garden. When we first moved here over 30 years ago, one of our elderly residents would give notice every year of her intention to exercise her right to do so!

 

[Ianb]

Good evening. I wonder if anyone on hear has an informed view on the following.
We've bought a brand new house on a development on the Midlands. We have a small car and an AS Kingham.
Looking through the development documents regarding parking in the driveway of my house they state ' No caravan, or house on wheels, or boat, or yacht trailer shall be parked or permitted to stand on the property.'
I am hoping that as the paragraph doesn't not specifically refer to "motorhome' or "campervan" that l will be allowed to park accordingly. I have never in my 10 years of campervan heard them referred to as "House on Wheels" so l am hopeful that title would not include motorhome or campervan and is aimed at something else ie Sheppard's hut or even any such vehicle without independent power?
I want to test the water through MHF before checking with the developers first.
Any thoughts?

You could always take the wheels off.

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[Nanniemate]

My parents house in Saddleworth was adjacent to an old pack horse trail and the deeds stated no travellers, pedlars or drunkards to reside in the cellars and no horses to be kept other than in the stable!

You didn't visit often then

We also have one that ensures the free passage of persons and stock across the part of the lane on our property for the purpose of drawing water from the Town Leat, which passes through our neighbour’s garden. When we first moved here over 30 years ago, one of our elderly residents would give notice every year of her intention to exercise her right to do so!

She was keeping the right of way valid

 

[Minxy]

In a similar (un)helpful vein we are obliged to maintain the lane leading past our houses ‘to such a width as to allow the passage of two sedan chairs side by side’!

in modern terminology it'd be altered to 'two mobility scooters'!

 

[jdk62]

As it a PVC, It’s not a house on wheels… it’s your daily run around- no different from your neighbours cars or VW T5’s…

 

[colyboy]

Hi we had the situation a few years ago with a friend who was having the same problem. Several years ago it was featured in the MMM.

it was much the same situation. To cut a very long story short is she could not park her van due a covenant. But in end she said as the van was taxed and insured she could legally park it on road out side her house. After this the people who were objecting with drew their objections.

 

[gus-lopez]

But it also bans aerials and satellite dishes,

Think you will find all developments do on the front wall.This is why they install the aeriald base in the side wall & have the aerial poking around the front.That makes it legally allowable.

or VW T5’s…

which are covered by the no vans or commercial vehicles. just because it is plg doesn't make it not commercial

The first house we bought in a devon cul-de-sac had the no chickens ,geese, or washing in front of the house or building line.No fences ,walls or gates all open plan.

Additionally all the houses , of which there were only 23 & of 4 different types, all had covenants against any changing of external doors & all windows. The windows in my chalet bungalow were critall & even in '84 in winter you'd get ice on them.
When I wanted to change them & extend to make a double garage I looked in to it all .Fortunately the builder had retired but theoretically he could still enforce them ,so I was told.

On checking,he had died but wife was still alive .I managed to get her to confirm that she had no objections but even then before I did anything I checked all the other 22 houses to see what covenants they had all broken so that if anyone complained I had a list of what they had broken.

Oh & sheds ,that was another no,no.greenhouse was ok but no sheds allowed.

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[Silver-Fox]

Generally if the developer has totally finished a site they arnt overly bothered about covenants.

The developer or neighbours can start proceedings against you.
But my guess is it’s unlikely to happen.

 

[Sharkfighter]

A caravan is designed to be towed, motor caravan is designed to be driven under its own power. A motor caravan only has one similarity with a caravan and that is you can sleep in it. As has been pointed out a motor caravan is a motor vehicle, that is by law required to be taxed, tested and insured. I’ve got the restriction on my house that says no caravans, I haven’t got a caravan, I’ve got a motor vehicle. This is an argument that could go on for ages, it would be up to a court to decide what is classed as a caravan.

 

[Molly A]

My mother in law and husband had a similar covenant on their home .The estate was built 30 years before they bought a small motorhome, which they parked on their very large drive. Within a week they had a letter from a solicitor, acting on behalf of a neighbour, complaining that they were in breach of their covenant.They also had canvassed 30 people on the estate to whip them up into righteous fervour. Long story short, my FIL ,who loved a battle, fought it hard by going down the ' a motor home isn't a caravan' route ,but after they received an anonymous letter threatening to poison their dog, they sold the coach built moho and bought a smaller Van based vehicle which they could get in their very large garage. The police were informed but said that there was nothing to be done.
However, revenge is dish best eaten cold. When the ringleader illegally enclosed some open space adjacent to their front garden and spent a fortune landscaping it , creating a huge rock garden, FIL struck, and the council made them tear it down and restore it to lawn . The moral is, never assume that it will be ok once the builder has finished. People can be nasty, officious and make one's life hell, so be careful.

 

[Tony the Manc']

Good evening. I wonder if anyone on hear has an informed view on the following.
We've bought a brand new house on a development on the Midlands. We have a small car and an AS Kingham.
Looking through the development documents regarding parking in the driveway of my house they state ' No caravan, or house on wheels, or boat, or yacht trailer shall be parked or permitted to stand on the property.'
I am hoping that as the paragraph doesn't not specifically refer to "motorhome' or "campervan" that l will be allowed to park accordingly. I have never in my 10 years of campervan heard them referred to as "House on Wheels" so l am hopeful that title would not include motorhome or campervan and is aimed at something else ie Sheppard's hut or even any such vehicle without independent power?
I want to test the water through MHF before checking with the developers first.
Any thoughts?

Hi,
We have / had the same issue at our house. Built in 1974 and on the deeds, there is a covenant that states, no caravan, motorised caravan (take it that is a moho) or vehicle with sign writing is / are permitted on driveways of houses. Another covenant on it states that no brick built extension is permitted. When planning on moving a few years ago, our conveyancing solicitor brought these covenants to our attention. However....there is always and however............for £150.00 he could "sort out" the covenants as in essence, the builder had passed away and therefore the covenants were no longer in place.
So when you "test the water" check your deeds. You may also find that there are others on your estate with similar issues. Good luck.

 

[Bramidan]

As always much depends on the wording in the covenant. If it is indeed in favour of only the original builder then in certain circumstances ie death of the builder, in effect nobody to gain favour from it or enforce it then you are unlikely to have a problem.
If however it is to ” successors in title” then that will include the neighbours.
By the way a covenant has nothing to do with planning, that is entirely separate.
The law on covenants was updated in the Law of Property Act 1925 for all I know ( long retired and was a property professional, not legally qualified) it might have been updated in a later act.

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[Just us on Tour]

We bought our house new in 1977, there is a similar codicil in the missive pertaining to the house. We've had either a caravan or motorhome parked on the drive for the last 35 years and not one neighbour has done anything about it. Others have had caravans as well. I suggest it's unlikely to be acted on.

I tend to agree with WillH. Developers put these things in to try to attract sales . Once a development has finished , does anyone really care? . Unless someone was to park a real eyesore that Obstructed someone’s view or light I doubt anyone would ever take action to enforce it . Legally I think the wording will sadly include your campervan.But unless someone complains , let sleeping dogs lie

 

[Sharkfighter]

As far as I’m aware, did a bit of research into it, only the builders can take any action against breach of a covenant, the council can’t do it .

 

[Bramidan]

It’s the person who the covenant is in favour of, which will be in the wording of the covenant.
Unlikely to be the LA.

 

[SpeedyDux]

My mother in law and husband had a similar covenant on their home .The estate was built 30 years before they bought a small motorhome, which they parked on their very large drive. Within a week they had a letter from a solicitor, acting on behalf of a neighbour, complaining that they were in breach of their covenant.They also had canvassed 30 people on the estate to whip them up into righteous fervour. Long story short, my FIL ,who loved a battle, fought it hard by going down the ' a motor home isn't a caravan' route ,but after they received an anonymous letter threatening to poison their dog, they sold the coach built moho and bought a smaller Van based vehicle which they could get in their very large garage. The police were informed but said that there was nothing to be done.
However, revenge is dish best eaten cold. When the ringleader illegally enclosed some open space adjacent to their front garden and spent a fortune landscaping it , creating a huge rock garden, FIL struck, and the council made them tear it down and restore it to lawn . The moral is, never assume that it will be ok once the builder has finished. People can be nasty, officious and make one's life hell, so be careful.

On the estate where I bought a newbuild house in 2000, the restrictive covenants were very wide and comprehensive. Even included parking on any of the estate roads. I did keep a VW camper round the back of my house. One day as I drove past her Range Rover in my camper, I got angry looks and fist waving from a notorious woman resident, who along with her self-styled "Lord" husband regarded themselves as superior to us oiks.

For a while, I thought that I might get a solicitor's letter, demanding that I remove the campervan from that estate. It never came.

They upset everyone they came into contact with. They tried to fence off a communal garden and claim it as their "private" property. That bid failed but caused a lot of aggro with other residents. There was an episode when the "Lord" took offence and went berserk because a visitor decided to land a private helicopter on some open ground not far from the "Lord" and his Lady's apartment. He attacked the helicopter, grabbed its landing skid as the worried pilot tried to take off again, almost causing the aircraft to tip on its side. There nearly was a real air accident. Anyway, to cut a long story short this snooty idiot was arrested, and successfully prosecuted for endangering an aircraft. During the trial he kept insisting that he should be addressed in Court as "your Lordship" despite the fact he wasn't a peer at all. He had merely bought one of those manorial titles. He got sent to jail, rightly so. The last I heard is that his various dodgy property development schemes lost money and he went bankrupt. Karma works.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

When I built the 3 new 5 bed houses in part of my garden I had a covenant that no commercial vehicles, satellite dishes, livestock or fences to the front gardens.
Have now sold them after renting for a few years and shut down the company I used to build them so don’t know how any covenants can be enforced now

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[Ianb]

I’d be careful about what you ask. Let sleeping (houses)

Good evening. I wonder if anyone on hear has an informed view on the following.
We've bought a brand new house on a development on the Midlands. We have a small car and an AS Kingham.
Looking through the development documents regarding parking in the driveway of my house they state ' No caravan, or house on wheels, or boat, or yacht trailer shall be parked or permitted to stand on the property.'
I am hoping that as the paragraph doesn't not specifically refer to "motorhome' or "campervan" that l will be allowed to park accordingly. I have never in my 10 years of campervan heard them referred to as "House on Wheels" so l am hopeful that title would not include motorhome or campervan and is aimed at something else ie Sheppard's hut or even any such vehicle without independent power?
I want to test the water through MHF before checking with the developers first.
Any thoughts?

Good evening. I wonder if anyone on hear has an informed view on the following.
We've bought a brand new house on a development on the Midlands. We have a small car and an AS Kingham.
Looking through the development documents regarding parking in the driveway of my house they state ' No caravan, or house on wheels, or boat, or yacht trailer shall be parked or permitted to stand on the property.'
I am hoping that as the paragraph doesn't not specifically refer to "motorhome' or "campervan" that l will be allowed to park accordingly. I have never in my 10 years of campervan heard them referred to as "House on Wheels" so l am hopeful that title would not include motorhome or campervan and is aimed at something else ie Sheppard's hut or even any such vehicle without independent power?
I want to test the water through MHF before checking with the developers first.
Any thoughts?

Park it on the drive and see what happens

 

[Blofeld]

The developer is expressing a clear intent that caravans, shepherds huts, mobile homes, boats and campers of any sort are not allowed to sit anywhere on your property including drive, garden etc.

Cars, vans, trucks and aircraft aren’t mentioned so are permitted.

By signing the purchase deed you are agreeing to the restriction. It doesn’t have to be sensible or reasonable or enforced.

So the question is really about enforcement of the covenant. If there’s an estate manager mowing the grass etc, or a residents committee or a managing agent then you’re potentially in trouble and it will be a judge who decides what will happen.

 

[97243]

Covenants are legally enforceable - trust me! My father got the covenant enforced on his neighbour who thought my parents would sit and take having their caravan blotting out their view and light from their new house!

On developments known as "building schemes", the right to enforce covenants passes to the individual owners on completion of the development.

 

[Silver-Fox]

Normally the covenant covers your drive, not the roads especially if they have been adopted.

 

[Gina M]

My mother in law and husband had a similar covenant on their home .The estate was built 30 years before they bought a small motorhome, which they parked on their very large drive. Within a week they had a letter from a solicitor, acting on behalf of a neighbour, complaining that they were in breach of their covenant.They also had canvassed 30 people on the estate to whip them up into righteous fervour. Long story short, my FIL ,who loved a battle, fought it hard by going down the ' a motor home isn't a caravan' route ,but after they received an anonymous letter threatening to poison their dog, they sold the coach built moho and bought a smaller Van based vehicle which they could get in their very large garage. The police were informed but said that there was nothing to be done.
However, revenge is dish best eaten cold. When the ringleader illegally enclosed some open space adjacent to their front garden and spent a fortune landscaping it , creating a huge rock garden, FIL struck, and the council made them tear it down and restore it to lawn . The moral is, never assume that it will be ok once the builder has finished. People can be nasty, officious and make one's life hell, so be careful.

If someone threatened to poison my dog I would have gone straight away and took him to safety. House sold end of.

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