Hi I have a query ..I need to bring my caravan bk for a short while for maintenance. .my deeds say I cannot have a caravan on my drive ..but I phoned local council today for advice and they said as far as they aware the deed means its likely to be while the estate was being developed ..bearing in mind the house was built in 1998 ..also council says I have to contact my developers ive found out the developers have since changed there name 3 times to new developers..so im thinking can I bring the caravan bk for a couple of weeks or long term ..thanks
Trish
Hi vangal ...yeah im going to bring it bk ..as I carnt get permission of developers as they not trading ..and council said all I need is permission of them ...so I dont no who can inforce me to move it ..any idea who anyone ..
This type of Covenant is put there purely to protect the developer while he still has interest in the site, obviously now finished with as far as he is concerned.
However it does still exist so a neighbour could invoke it. To whom though?, the council don't seem bothered, so it's not as though a lightning bolt from above will give his objection instant results!
I wouldn't hesitate, after all if the do-dar does hit the fan! it will be fixed and long gone before anything can be done about it.
However if you think about storing it on your drive permanently, then consider carefully it's impact on neighbours line of sight and whether to them it will be a 'blot on their landscape'?!
I'd bring it home. My daughter had this same problem and was told the same by the council. She got in touch with the builders and was told the covenant was only valid while they built the estate. She also looked around the estate to see if anyone else had caravans and there where plenty so they had there caravan at home. She's sold it now but had it there for 3 years and no one every complained.
Depending on how well you get on with your neighbours it might be a courtesy just to mention it to them and the reason. I am sure they would be fine with it if they are aware its only going to be temporary.
Hi - I'm a local councillor - it won't be up to the council to enforce the covenant, they have no powers over the matter. If someone objects to you doing it they would have to go to a solicitor and ultimately a civil action in court - this would obviously be costly to them and I would suggest very unlikely. I certainly would bring mine back if it was for a short while.
I had a similar scenario, as also have a covenant in my deed. It also covers sheds on the back garden. From a previous sale of the house, there is some paperwork where a solicitor has done some investigation and the firm went bust, so he advised that there is nobody to enforce the covenant. We spoke to both neighbours and they had both previously had caravans and were fine with us storing it on the drive, where it is now.
If you are worried, send a letter to their last known address, keeping a copy, informing of your intentions,advising that if you don't here back from them within so many days, you are assuming consent. In the meantime, speak to your neighbours and just bring it back.
Most deeds have that covenant in them. My house was built in the mid-60s and I have no idea whether the builders still exist. At various times I have had a caravan, a caravan and motorhome and currently two motorhomes on my drive.
Modern deeds also have covenants concerning satellite dishes, particularly on the fronts of houses, so draw your own conclusions.
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Topic: deeds and parking on drive
