No parking of commercial vehicle - TP1

skm1981

On the TP1 for the house we are buying, it says "... nor shall any caravan, boat, commercial vehicle or trailer be parked between any dwellinghouse on the property and any road or path to which has frontage or return flank frontage".  What exactly does frontage and return flank frontage mean?  If say my husband was to work for a company and have a company van, would this mean we can't park it outside the house?  Would we be able to park it on the drive?  The house is detached.

frogglet

We bought a house 30 years ago which the builder had put in the covenents something similar. There were lots of vans parked on drives and on the road outside. Non of the residents were bothered. The only thing people didn't park were caravans as the are very intrusive visually.

AdrianC

Frontage is the front of the plot, along the road.
Return flank frontage is the frontage along the side of the plot, if you're on a side plot...

And, yes, it does mean that he can't park a van there (signwritten or not), including the drive. If you aren't willing to accept that restriction, don't buy that house.

Of course, if you do buy it, and then go on to park a van there, the question is who will stop him. The developers of the plot are almost certainly the beneficiaries of the covenant, so have the power to stop him. But will they bother? If this is a newbuild, and they're still building and selling, then they may well try. Once they've left site, they probably won't care. But they may transfer it to the management company for the development, and they may well try.

But, ultimately, if you think this is going to be a problem, buy a different house that does not have this restriction. It will be simpler for everybody.

davidmcn

If it's an established development, have a wander around and you'll get an idea of how much attention anybody pays to this or other covenants. At least you have the option of parking it up the side or round the back, which sometimes isn't on offer. 

skm1981

The house was built 15 years ago and the development looks complete, as in there's no space left for any more houses, but then I was wondering, not that we'd do this anyway, but what's to stop someone else from a couple of streets away parking their van outside your house? 

Rodders53

Nothing in the Covenant, as quoted, to stop parking such vehicles on the highways themselves.  Or - heaven forbid - inside the garage (assuming there is one).  Other things may prevent such parking of course.

But if you can't agree to the Covenant, don't buy the property.   Simples.

Is this a new build house?   Negotiate for removal of that Covenant via your Solicitor if it's essential to you?  

greatcrested

skm1981 said:

The house was built 15 years ago and the development looks complete, as in there's no space left for any more houses, but then I was wondering, not that we'd do this anyway, but what's to stop someone else from a couple of streets away parking their van outside your house? 

Or do you mean what's to stop your husband parking a couple of streets away outside someone else's house.......??!

Clearly if it is public highway, with no yellow lines etc, no problem. The covenant relates to parking ON your property (ie your drive), not the public highway.

knightstyle

Our estate was built 2005-6 and we have similar covenants but they are now ignored, several vans, a boat and a caravan can be seen all the time and no action is taken about ti.

skm1981

It's fine for now.  It's just thinking ahead to the future.  Because we're relocating, my husband is having to give up his job, which involves driving a commercial vehicle.  We can easily manage on just my salary and my husband is looking forward to being a layabout/house husband, although I know him, I give it a few months when I run out of chores for him to do (and I've driven him crazy), he'll be dying to get back to work.  So it's just thinking if he wanted to do a similar job where we're moving to, what the situation would be.  

And no, not a new build.  House is 15 years old.

Soot2006

We had this, forbidding any vehicle that one could sleep in. Parked horsebox with bed (under 3.5t) on drive and a neighbour complained. So I legally parked it outside their house on the public road instead.  Funnily, it's now on the drive without further problem1

frogglet

I would agree have a drive round and see whats parked on peoples drives.
 I know on our estate some people had a front and side drive, so put gates across the drive by the front building line  then parked behind the gates. 
I think the only time people got cross was if they had to look out their window and that was their view. It just depended on how the different plots were situated.  
People have those gigantic flat back car which are equally as obtrusive but can park them on the drive. 
Also we had covenents regarding the colours of the garage  doors which were totally ignored .