Caveat on house deeds

Jeepers_Creepers

charlies_mum said:

When we were originally told to move the caravan, I pointed out that there were other caravans on the estate but they weren’t interested and only made us move ours.

out of the other caravans, ours is probably the least intrusive, other houses are in a row with the caravan on the drive blocking their neighbours views along the road.    

If we can’t park our van on the drive that’s fine, but surely the rule should apply to everyone.  

That's just weird. It's a shame you don't know/recall why it was only you - is it 'cuz you iz white?

If there isn't an obvious reason, I suspect it was just a glitch - one of your neighbs phoned the council to complain, and some over-eager employee acted without fully understanding what they were doing.

I also suspect it'll be extremely unlikely to happen again, but - if it does - make sure you insist on a full explanation, one that makes sense. Also point out that if they try to enforce this on you but no-one else, you will take legal action against them for discrimination against 33-year-old white females with offspring called Charlie. They will baulk at the thought of this, because one thing they seriously try and avoid is costly litigation - unless they are 100% certain of winning and getting costs. LA's are cash-strapped, and won't risk silly stuff.

Do you have LegProt on your house insurance? Cool, it'll likely be for £50 or 100k. If they do send a letter, tell them you have this amount of cover, and will be counter-suing.

But, it won't happen. Almost certainly not.

Jeepers_Creepers

(Cue S62...)

charlies_mum

The problem is that it was probably 15+ years since we were told to move the caravan.     I don’t have the correspondence so no idea what the reasons were or if they still apply.  

Jeepers_Creepers

In which case, go ahead.

As pointed out by someone else, they cannot discriminate between you and other caravan-parkers.

And, almost certainly, this has nothing to do with the council in any case. There is nothing 'different' between the location of your house and the others? Yours isn't on a 'different' road?

user1977

Jeepers_Creepers said:

As pointed out by someone else, they cannot discriminate between you and other caravan-parkers.

Think you've misread the previous advice - they can discriminate, just not on the basis of any protected characteristics.

charlies_mum

45 minutes wait to speak to our local planning department and I finally have an answer.    Our council is no longer interested in covenants and it would be up to a neighbour to take us to court.    Interestingly enough, most of the neighbours have also broken different covenants so not a leg to stand on.     We have spoken to the ones most affected, and they are happy for our caravan to be on the drive.  

Thanks for all the help and advice

Section62

charlies_mum said:

45 minutes wait to speak to our local planning department and I finally have an answer.    Our council is no longer interested in covenants and it would be up to a neighbour to take us to court.

A planning department will almost never be interested in covenants.  They do deal with conditions.

Did the person you speak to know your address and give you advice specific to your property, or was it just 'generic' advice*?

Either way, make a note of the name of the person you spoke to, the date and time of the call, and write a short summary of what was said. Then make sure you keep the note safely.


(*by saying it would be up to a neighbour to take you to court they must have either seen the covenants, or else be making generic comments which aren't necessarily correct)

charlies_mum

The lady took my address then spoke with a Planning Officer.   

user1977

Covenants are a property interest, not planning - it's more likely to be the estates department who would be responsible for them.

Jeepers_Creepers

Section62 said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Is that the case here? No, I didn't think so.

(Jeepers...)

I could be wrong, but I don't remember the OP saying that.

You also won't remember the OP not saying that.

(I know what I mean)