Invasion Of Privacy

[aptrefor]

My neighbour has a motor home parked in his drive which he lets as a B&B. It overlooks our patio and has a direct view into our conservatory. I intend to try to sort it out amicably with him, but if that cannot be done, what recourse do I have?

[trt]

Do you mean that people actually pay to sleep in the motor home on their drive?
If so, I would check with your Council, dosent seem right to me.

[EDDIE51]

No recourse at all, he can park his vehicle on his own drive as long as he wants and in any position he wants, overlooking your conservatory or not!
Letting it as a B&B may be against council regulations but I doubt it as it is not being used as a permanent residence.
In short you have to 'Put Up or Shut Up' , sorry but that's the way it is!

[aptrefor]

Yes! They even advertise it!

[gingejbee]

so, they're running a business....council and HMRC would be interested.

[EDDIE51]

^ Just to add several people near me have a caravan or mobile home parked permanently on their drive or in the garden and members of the family live in it as the house is too small for all of them. They have permission from the council as most of them have been there for many years.

[EDDIE51]

As long as they are registered as a B&B there is nothing to say the room can not be a 'mobile' one.
As it is advertised I assume the council will be well aware of the situation.

[hc4361]

Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, s.1(1)

Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act, no occupier of land shall after the commencement of this Act cause or permit any part of the land to be used as a caravan site unless he is the holder of a site licence (that is to say, a licence under this Part of this Act authorising the use of land as a caravan site) for the time being in force as respects the land so used.

[hc4361]

.... if for example a caravan is sited in a garden and used as business premises, separately rented or used as a primary independent dwelling, with no relation to the main house, the local planning Authority could decide that an unauthorized ‘material change of use’ has occurred, for which planning permission will be required.

http://www.minihomes.co.uk/planning-for-mobile-homes-in-gardens/

[Zacs-Master]

That's for caravans hc, not motor homes. The act also says:
4)In this Part of this Act the expression “caravan site” means land on which a caravan is stationed for the purposes of human habitation and land which is used in conjunction with land on which a caravan is so stationed.

[hc4361]

This family couldn't use a caravan as an extension

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2341057/Neighbours-fury-family-attach-26ft-mobile-caravan-home-cheap-extension.html

[aptrefor]

Thanks hc4361. That IS useful.

[hc4361]

But 'caravan' has a large definition

[EDDIE51]

^ A single van on private land does not constitute a 'caravan site'
As long as the van is not occupied permanently by the same person/ people it is not classed as a residence so no planning permission is needed.

[hc4361]

Eddie, it is not as simple as that. There is no requirement for a set number of caravans to determine a caravan park

[New Judge]

Ring up your local authority and ask them (a) whether permission is needed to undertake this activity and if so (b) whether your neighbour has such permission.

It is likely that if the motorhome is being rented out regularly in the manner you describe they will need to have certain safety checks on (say) gas and electricity installations. I doubt the legislation is clear cut as it's an odd situation.