We have stored our 2 Berth Swift (6.21m long o/a) on our drive which is sandwiched between our and our neighbors house for a number of years. Our neighbors gas & electric utility boxes open up on our drive and we have always pulled our van far enough up the drive so they could still be opened. However we are looking to replace our van with one that is slightly longer. This means that it will be parked in front and tight along their wall and utility boxes. We don't have a problem moving the van in order for them or the gas / electric company to read the meters but what if any right do they have to get access across our drive i.e. if for any reason they need to shut their supplies off?
We can't park our van close to our wall due to the shape of the building and as we normally park the van hitch first for security would not be able to open the door. Likewise we can't pull the van further up the drive permanently as this would stop us accessing our garage. Any comments appreciated.
Tricky one as you shouldn’t be blocking access to their meter cupboards at all. The householder and emergency services need immediate access to both in case of emergency.
Then you could argue their meter cupboards shouldn’t open onto your drive either. Is there anything in your deeds which allows rights of access?
There was a case like this reported in the paper late last year, it made the papers because of the costs involved in the dispute over access rights. The guy who wanted access to his utility meters won the case which makes absolute sense
I think you should have a conversation with your neighbour about the problem ... get their views on it.
Also, as above, check whether you have to leave permanent access for emergency services.
Once those two are done, you should have enough information to make a decision.
I suspect you may have to look for an alternative solution ... eg storage facility.
Can`t see why you should have a requirement to "leave permanent access for emergency services"?
Our meters and gas isolator are in the house under the stairs, as all of the neighbouring properties. The only way anyone is going to get access is by breaking into the house as we are at work all day.
Quote: Originally posted by JuanHuNose on 03/3/2018
Can`t see why you should have a requirement to "leave permanent access for emergency services"?
Our meters and gas isolator are in the house under the stairs, as all of the neighbouring properties. The only way anyone is going to get access is by breaking into the house as we are at work all day.
Rest assured that if it came to a emergency, that is precisely what they would do.
I think there is a requirement for a householder to allow neighbour access to his property to allow neighbour to access his own property for maintenance. Also as pointed out supply isolators are probably in boxes as well so access must be available. It is probably this reason that will prevent you from blocking boxes.
If the boxes can be relocated so your neighbour can access them without going on your property the solution could be to offer to pay full cost of this as it would be cheaper in the long run than having to store your caravan elsewhere.
Check your deeds.
Maintenace to a house over your property should be for maintence of that property.
Reading a gas meter is not maintenance.
They should be placed in a position that can be accessed from there own property without having to acess yours.
Quote: Originally posted by JuanHuNose on 03/3/2018
Can`t see why you should have a requirement to "leave permanent access for emergency services"?
Our meters and gas isolator are in the house under the stairs, as all of the neighbouring properties. The only way anyone is going to get access is by breaking into the house as we are at work all day.
Rest assured that if it came to a emergency, that is precisely what they would do.
Yes, but since when has reading a meter (which is what the OP is asking about) been an emergency?
Cant understand why you havent spoken to your neighbour about it. Have they already complained about your current van? May be there wont be a problem as you appear to already had an arrangement with them.
If you are prepared to grant them access with your permission then there should be no problem.
In the case mentioned above the houseowner refused to allow their neighbour access and deliberatly blocked access with a locked gate.
They lost the case but they are appealing the decision.
There is no requirement to allow the Utility companies unfettered access to you property, they would need a warrant unless it is an emergency.
In the aforementioned case the utility companies offered to resite the meters free of charge.
saxo1
Why not simply store the van the other way round? If you are worried about security, install a removable type hitch post, that allows the van to be locked on to it. That way you can still access your van and no clearance problems for your neighbour.
More sociable though to keep the van in storage methinks.
Quote: Originally posted by JuanHuNose on 03/3/2018
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 03/3/2018
Quote: Originally posted by JuanHuNose on 03/3/2018
Can`t see why you should have a requirement to "leave permanent access for emergency services"?
Our meters and gas isolator are in the house under the stairs, as all of the neighbouring properties. The only way anyone is going to get access is by breaking into the house as we are at work all day.
Rest assured that if it came to a emergency, that is precisely what they would do.
Yes, but since when has reading a meter (which is what the OP is asking about) been an emergency?
Of course, reading a meter isn't an emergency, but my comment was in response to your saying "Can`t see why you should have a requirement to leave permanent access for emergency services"? Emergency services will do whatever they have to do, which includes breaking into a property if they have to. Which is why it is better if possible to have any shut-off valves outside, and that is where they often are these days, along with the meters. If blocking access to the meters means blocking access to the shut-off valves, then it isn't a good idea, whoever's property they are on.
Coming back to the original post, I would think that the first response by checkley1973 has it right, "you shouldn’t be blocking access to their meter cupboards at all". If their meter cupboard opens onto your property I would think that they have right of access, especially if the shut-off valves are in there.
Quote: Originally posted by Ray Clayton on 03/3/2018
Check your deeds.
Maintenace to a house over your property should be for maintence of that property.
Reading a gas meter is not maintenance.
They should be placed in a position that can be accessed from there own property without having to acess yours.
Is it your land all the way to the side of there house, where these meters are.
I just do not think a builder would put them in a place, that needs access by another property to get to them.
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Topic: Private Drive Storage
