Can you legally park a boat outside your house??

wellygogs

I hope I've posted this in the right place!

My sister's neighbour has parked their fishing boat, which is around 15 ft long and 5 ft wide, outside their house, on the road. I think he's doing the thing up, painting it, sawing, sanding etc. He did the same about 6 months ago and it was outside the house for months, then he must have taken it to the harbour.

It's driving my sister and her family mad because the neighbours have a lot of visitors who, because of the boat being parked outside their house, then park in front of my sister's drive, making it really awkward for anyone trying to get in and out of their drive. They're not the easiest of neighbours to get along with so my sister is trying to find out if there is a bylaw she can refer to, to see if this is legal?

The neighbours' house is on the corner of a very busy road and I would have thought that at the very least the boat should have lights on it at night??

Any help would be great!

Thanks :-)

mikey72

It's not legal, unless it's coupled to a towcar.

Gloomendoom

You are not supposed to park an unhitched trailer on a public road...

When you park up, you must not leave a detached trailer on a public road. If it is hitched up it must always be parked with lights on at night on any public road.

highways.gov.uk

wellygogs

Wow - that was quick Gloomendoom and mikey72! Thank you both very much!

Bob_the_Saver

wellygogs wrote: »

I hope I've posted this in the right place!

My sister's neighbour has parked their fishing boat, which is around 15 ft long and 5 ft wide, outside their house, on the road. I think he's doing the thing up, painting it, sawing, sanding etc. He did the same about 6 months ago and it was outside the house for months, then he must have taken it to the harbour.

It's driving my sister and her family mad because the neighbours have a lot of visitors who, because of the boat being parked outside their house, then park in front of my sister's drive, making it really awkward for anyone trying to get in and out of their drive. They're not the easiest of neighbours to get along with so my sister is trying to find out if there is a bylaw she can refer to, to see if this is legal?

The neighbours' house is on the corner of a very busy road and I would have thought that at the very least the boat should have lights on it at night??

Any help would be great!

Thanks :-)

Blocking the drive is something you CAN complain about as is parking too close to a junction (see highway code). Parking a legal vehicle outside your house and NOT blocking the driveway is legal as it's just part of the Queen's highway, a home-owner (normally) has no rights over the road in front of their house, it's just tough.

rev_henry

Furthermore it should be insured if its on the road, which I don't imagine it will be if its unhitched.

BillTrac

Course it's legal

regards

Noah

mikey72

No it's not legal. It's not a vehicle in it's own right.
Same as a caravan, or trailer.
Should be stored off road, or left on a tow vechicle.

raskazz

rev_henry wrote: »

Furthermore it should be insured if its on the road, which I don't imagine it will be if its unhitched.

Why would a boat on a trailer require insurance as per the Road Traffic Act?

Bob_the_Saver

If he starts loading animals in Two by Two , that's the time to worry! cos summers on it's way.

wellygogs

Oooerr! They do have 2 dogs!!

Thanks to everyone for your replies