Responsibilities of storage provider?

[mike mcglynn]

If your storage site was anything like mine the owner would charge extra for rodents. My solution was to buy an electronic deterrent which was excellent as we had no further troubles ,the battery would last ages, the mice were getting in the van from the engine bay, as I found a lot of chewed foam under the glove box area.

 

[Southdowners]

You can’t expect a rural site to be free of rodents.

You can pretty much eradicate the problem.

I ran a livery yard which was in a rural area. It could have been rodent heaven with feed, warm and dry housing all on offer. There would have been an outcry from my customers if I allowed the place to become infested! There’s no excuse.

 

[Gellyneck]

That’s why you need traps outside the vehicle. Once they’re in the damage is already done.

If the owner is offering storage and taking payment for it I think it should be their responsibility to ensure it is free from rodents.

Really feel for the OP but reckon it would be very difficult for the club to eradicate rodents from the storage area given it's location and other "non-invasive" wildlife in the area. From memory, there are protected species present.

The storage area is outlined in the photo below.

In addition, the Llangollen Canal is off to the right \ bottom of the photo.

When we were on the site late autumn last year the storage area was virtually full. I wonder if the OP is the only owner experiencing issues of this nature and, if not, would a consolidated effort from all impacted owners yield benefit?

 

[SpeedyDux]

I was wondering whether I could ask one of the legal peeps on the forum a question about what are the responsibilities relating to a storage provider ensuring that the grounds are kept clear of rodents to stop infiltration into ones motorhome and now a new car. Also solutions to cover the ruddy big hole under the engine bay.

We store the MH on a CMC storage site in Chirk. Paying over £400+ a year to use too.

We had a while ago, prob 3-4 years, an escapee which caused damage to the inside of the mh, but luckily not to the important electrical cables etc, anyway put it down to experience. Now several years on, we have had rodent damage again, not to the inside but within the engine bay, requiring two breakdown call outs. Christmas and this half term respectively and now our new car. Each time the cause being large rodent damage, either rats or squirrels, don’t know which as they ain’t there when we come to get van, Just leave their calling card of chewed pipes etc, the engine management light comes on, requiring return to base. The great break down guy plays around, tells us it’s animal damage, and gets us going again. When we collect the van we sometimes leave a car in the spot of MH. This half term we left our new Aygo, 68 reg, less than 4 months old. The little blighters have chewed through pipe work between the refill point and petrol tank warranting a bill in excess of £300. I am making an assumption here now, but the little shits are now thinking we’re their des res! Having left smells on the ground to locate their little home from home and whilst away during half term they thought “ooo, this is a bit smaller” but hey ho! in for a penny and all that, “very nice of those lovely peeps to leave us something else warm and dry to rest our weary bones and new bits to chew on!”

I’m livid, so I contact the CMC site to enquire about recent rat man visits and explain what has happened. I’ve asked to be moved away from our pitch but have been to,d there isn’t any room at the moment. They have just has a recent change over from temp staff to the summer teams. Well apparently we are the only ones complaining and that no one else has had issue with visitors. I also asked about putting down traps etc. To be told were not allowed to put down for mice as it’s a rural site. But they can obliterate rats.

There was no aggressive talk on either side but I do feel somewhat “oh never mind dear, what do you expect on a rural site” but wasn’t actually said from the tone from Mr warden. So there’s the bug bear, it is rural, surrounded by trees, Do the CMC have any responsibility for any of the damage incurred, keep the area free of pests? Other than upping sticks and trying to find another storage facility, I don’t know how to stop them using our des res as their des res. Or whether I can hold the site partly, if not fully responsible.

My thoughts on prevention is to get some chicken wire create something that can be suspended under the engine bay, covering the gap at the bottom to block there access route, how feasible do people think this is? I am also concerned that the insurance who provide the break down are going to gte tetchy if this should happen again.

I think this is covered by Condition 13.1 of the C&MC Seasonal Pitch Terms - they seem to apply to storage too.

13 LIABILITY
13.1The Club is not liable for any loss of or damage to an Outfit or the contents of such, nor for any actions resulting in death or injury, other than arising from the Club’s, or any of its employees’ or agents’, negligence or other breach of duty



The question whether the Club is liable for negligence or other breach of duty will be fact-specific. Even if the Club or its staff are aware there is a rodent problem the question would be whether reasonable steps had been taken to prevent or mitigate this problem, and whether the damage was likely to have taken place despite reasonable precautions. There is no absolute duty on the Club to prevent any damage to a Member's stored MH.

e&oe

 

[Gellyneck]

@SpeedyDux
Just for good orders sake!
The T&C's you've attached are for Seasonal pitches which differ from the T&C's for Storage (albeit wording is similar).
I've attached the latter.
Clause 14 (specifically sub-clauses 14.1 and 14.2) is the relevant text.

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[SpeedyDux]

@SpeedyDux
Just for good orders sake!
The T&C's you've attached are for Seasonal pitches which differ from the T&C's for Storage (albeit wording is similar).
I've attached the latter.
Clause 14 (specifically sub-clauses 14.1 and 14.2) is the relevant text.

Thank you for tracking down the T&C's for storage. I could not find them on the C&MC website. There is mention of storage in the Seasonal Pitch T&Cs so I referred to those. As you pointed out the wording of the exclusion clause is similar in both. As is the effect.

For completeness I could have said something about common law and duties of bailees but hey ho it gets a bit dull.