Abandoned van near my house - what can I do?

LandyAndy

DoaM wrote: »

So an untaxed vehicle in a supermarket car park can just stay there and nobody will mind? The council/whoever won't collect and impound it? Really?

And that's ignoring the fact that ALL vehicles need to be taxed or declared SORN, whether they're on public land or not. (Unless they were taken off the road quite some time ago).

How do you know this one isn't?

DoaM

LandyAndy wrote: »

How do you know this one isn't?

It's possible. But going by the OP's description it's highly unlikely.

weejangus

I'd definately try getting in touch with the council. I received a letter from the council for an older car I had parked in a private residents car park (outside my own house so I thought it would be okay). Turns out another resident complained and the council wrote to me and asked me to remove it within 7 days or they would collect it. Car was Sorned, i.e. no tax. Despite it being private residetial parking, they wanted it gone.

SarahQ85

Thanks for replying everyone.

I don't know if the vehicle has been declared SORN. Although the DVLA's vehicle checker site says you can, "Find out if a vehicle has up-to-date vehicle tax or has been declared SORN (off the road)", when I put in the van's details it just said, "Untaxed. Tax due: (date) No MOT. Expired: (date)", on a shouty-red background - no mention of SORN. When I put my own details in it came up with a calm-pale-blue everything-is-ok message. Would a SORN declaration come up with a different message - say caution-yellow?

Does a SORN vehicle have to be kept on the owner's own property?

DoaM wrote: »

And that's ignoring the fact that ALL vehicles need to be taxed or declared SORN, whether they're on public land or not. (Unless they were taken off the road quite some time ago).

So, if a vehicle is neither taxed nor declared SORN but is located somewhere other than a public road, what offence is being committed, who enforces it, and how?

SarahQ85

weejangus wrote: »

I'd definately try getting in touch with the council. I received a letter from the council for an older car I had parked in a private residents car park (outside my own house so I thought it would be okay). Turns out another resident complained and the council wrote to me and asked me to remove it within 7 days or they would collect it. Car was Sorned, i.e. no tax. Despite it being private residetial parking, they wanted it gone.

That sounds like a similar situation, though maybe your neighbour was being a bit petty - unless your "older" car was a real wreck! Thanks for replying

DoaM

SarahQ85 wrote: »

Does a SORN vehicle have to be kept on the owner's own property?

It just needs to be kept off the public highway, and I think that includes private areas with usual access to the public (like car parks).

SarahQ85 wrote: »

So, if a vehicle is neither taxed nor declared SORN but is located somewhere other than a public road, what offence is being committed, who enforces it, and how?

No idea - best to ask the council or local police station.

fivetide

weejangus wrote: »

I'd definately try getting in touch with the council. I received a letter from the council for an older car I had parked in a private residents car park (outside my own house so I thought it would be okay). Turns out another resident complained and the council wrote to me and asked me to remove it within 7 days or they would collect it. Car was Sorned, i.e. no tax. Despite it being private residetial parking, they wanted it gone.

I've done the same. I SORN is only in force if you have the landowners permission to store the car so in your own driveway, ok but in land that has access to the public/shared it doesn't count and can be towed.


Typical council here. Several other come up with the same thing:


"A SORN only allows for the vehicle to be parked on private property that you own or where you have the landowner's permission."


http://www.broadland.gov.uk/transport_and_streets/1772.asp


So report it. You could also report it as a hazard. If the thing is falling to bits and lets say "attracting crime" then it can be lifted as such by the council.

Rover_Driver

fivetide wrote: »

I've done the same. I SORN is only in force if you have the landowners permission to store the car so in your own driveway, ok but in land that has access to the public/shared it doesn't count and can be towed.


Typical council here. Several other come up with the same thing:


"A SORN only allows for the vehicle to be parked on private property that you own or where you have the landowner's permission."


http://www.broadland.gov.uk/transport_and_streets/1772.asp


So report it. You could also report it as a hazard. If the thing is falling to bits and lets say "attracting crime" then it can be lifted as such by the council.

The criteria for declaring a SORN is that the vehicle is not used or kept on a public road - a road maintainable at public expense.
The landowner is irrelevant, all that matters is, if it is a public road or not.

fivetide

Rover_Driver wrote: »

The criteria for declaring a SORN is that the vehicle is not used or kept on a public road - a road maintainable at public expense.
The landowner is irrelevant, all that matters is, if it is a public road or not.

Clearly I have quoted and provided a link to back up what I said. Sorry you are wrong.


We (you and I) have had this debate before. I successfully had a vehicle removed from a private car park that wasn't even council adopted. They wrote to all the residents first, then lifted it for the reasons already explained.


Once again, I am talking from a point of experience so I know you are wrong.

SarahQ85

Thanks fivetide.

The Broadland District Council site you linked to gives a very helpful explanation of the process that council follows and the timescale involved, including a policy for abandoned vehicles on private land. My own council's website is less specific, but I imagine they must do something similar.

I'm not sure if it is "attracting crime", but it is certainly making me cross!

Rover Driver, I suspect this vehicle isn't declared SORN and it certainly isn't being used, I'm just hoping it falls within the council's remit to do something about it - and fivetide's link seems to show it does.