Noisy Business Run From Residential Property

somethingidontno

Hi
Our neighbour runs a business from home which entails the public and their dogs walking up and down thier drive (which runs parallel to ours) many times a day, 6 days a week. Although they have never had permission to run this business, because it has been going for over 10 yrs they can remain - their previous neighbour (before us) was elderly and deaf so they had never had any complaints. We have had nearly 2 yrs of it and are now more than ready to move, so the house is on the market. Their business did not show up in property searches when we bought the house because they had not declared it!
The trouble is, they have also now erected quite a large sign advertising the business on the front of their property. We have seen cars slow down and drive by, possibly looking at our property, then drive on once they spot the sign. If anyone does show any interest in our house (providing they view at a rare 'quiet' time!) the business will now come up on any searches undertaken.
Does anyone know a) whether home businesses need planning permission for signage, and b) whether there is anythng we can do given that we bought the house with a 'hidden' but established home business?

Notmyrealname

So they're a dog groomer? I doubt they'd have more than half a dozen dogs a day, 10 at the most.

If they can prove they've been there doing it 4 years or more, they'd automatically get retrospective planning especially with the current govt removing a lot of planning regs and relaxing others.

DVardysShadow

somethingidontno wrote: »

The trouble is, they have also now erected quite a large sign advertising the business on the front of their property. We have seen cars slow down and drive by, possibly looking at our property, then drive on once they spot the sign.

The sign may require planning permission

somethingidontno

Notmyrealname wrote: »

So they're a dog groomer? I doubt they'd have more than half a dozen dogs a day, 10 at the most.

If they can prove they've been there doing it 4 years or more, they'd automatically get retrospective planning especially with the current govt removing a lot of planning regs and relaxing others.

They might be a dog groomer, I agree that they have between 6 and 8 dogs (and owners) a day, but that actually equates to 16 visits per day, which in turn sets off the owners' three dogs, coupled with the screeches of customers gushing about "how gorgeous their baby looks". And then there's the parking in our street, specifically outside or near our house - and don't even get me started on the dogs without leads which run all over our garden...

We moved here, to a 'quiet, residential/retirement cul-de-sac' - with a Band D council tax, btw - as we are both disabled (and under 50, so still want some quality of life!), and being subjected to this persistent cacophony is actually making our health worse.

If it is stopping our house from being sold, then there is no escape.

Ivana_Tinkle

Is it just the sign that you think is putting people off? If so, what's your relationship with these neighbours like - could you talk to them about it? (You could start off friendly but make sure to drop in a mention of how it probably needs planning permission...)

But I'm really not sure how off-putting it would be anyway. I'm very intolerant of noise and, although the "gorgeous baby" comments would set my teeth on edge, I really don't think it would bother me so much that I'd discount your house. Presumably the disruption is only during office hours, more or less?

You always get loads of people walking/driving past slowly to have a good gawp when your house is on the market - it doesn't necessarily mean any of them are actually going to book a viewing, so I wouldn't worry too much that they've been put off.

Thrugelmir

somethingidontno wrote: »

They might be a dog groomer, I agree that they have between 6 and 8 dogs (and owners) a day, but that actually equates to 16 visits per day, which in turn sets off the owners' three dogs, coupled with the screeches of customers gushing about "how gorgeous their baby looks". And then there's the parking in our street, specifically outside or near our house - and don't even get me started on the dogs without leads which run all over our garden...

Have you spoken to your local Council?

Notmyrealname

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Have you spoken to your local Council?

For the parking? There is no legal right to be able to park outside your own house.

Thrugelmir

Notmyrealname wrote: »

For the parking? There is no legal right to be able to park outside your own house.

If parking is affected by someone running a business then it will be of interest to the Council. As will noise etc.

art_for_arts_sake

Even a restrictive covenant, if there is one, on running a business from home in your street will be difficult, if not downright expensive to enforce. There may be a case to answer, but be warned, it won't be easy, and you'll have to declare any problems with your neighbours if you sell. The local council may be unaware of the business, and an application for change of use would have been required at the time the business started, also they may be required to pay business rates too. My M+FiL live in an area with a restrictive covenant on running a business from home, although other neighbours were successful in getting a business to move away into proper premises they have personally never challenged a hairdresser working next door to them, with many of the problems you describe, including inconsiderate parking, smells, and loud noise late at night from partying.

Ivana_Tinkle

The issue with parking would have been a reason to object to the planning application if they'd made one 10 years ago when they started up, but if they've been running the business with no complaints for 10 years then I don't think you've got any chance of getting them to close down, and you'd just be creating a dispute that you'd have to reveal in selling the house. (And also possibly making your last few months in the house very unpleasant.)

TrickyDicky101

Would these neighbours even need planning permission? It isn't clear any area of their property is used exclusively for the business. Genuine interest question - my wife bakes cakes from home to sell and we never sought planning consent.