Car repairs on public highway

[Enforcer]

Is there any legislation about fixing/repairing cars (as a business) on a normal urban residential road (London)? We've a local who is running a car repair service and sometimes has up to six cars parked in the road waiting repair.

[noxlumos]

Xrayspecs I started out selling and repairing vehicles on my driveway yeah, and I really don't mind who knows it, but I soon bought premises and now have 2 main dealerships and one less upmarket used car lot as well as a breakers yard and a property developement Co amongst other things, none of which would have been possible had I not started out trading from home,because prior to that I was skint.My other option would have been signing on the dole and giving my kids that lovely example to learn from.

If you care to go the the Tradex Motor Trader's Insurance site ( or any other Trader's site) you might notice that they advertise cover for people selling and repairing vehicles from their homes, something which I don't think any insurance company would do if it was illegal do you?

[noxlumos]

Sorry forgot to include a link to Tradex's site detailing their cover for Trader's at home.

http://www.tradexinsurance.co.uk/products/default.asp?ca tegory=1&product=22

[stanleyman]

Many people start businesses from home, nothing wrong in that I've done it myself but the question was is there any legislation about it? The answer is no, yes and yes, for cars you need planning permission, if you get it then no problem, if not, it is still not illegal but you can have enforcement action taken against you unless you move on, then it is illegal if you ignore it.

If it's a problem he needs to know it's time to move to proper premises especially if using the road. There is no right to use the highway for any purpose other than as a right of way to go from A to B and anything incidental to that use.

[wallis1007]

Blimey, this got a good response. I have been known to fix a few cars on the road outside my house. I have never had a problem with the neighbours, but maybe that's because I respect them and if any of them have a problem with their cars they usually ask me to help (swings and roundabouts).If he is causing you a problem then have a polite word with him and I suspect you shall get a result. Of course if he is taking the **** then report him to the authorities.

[tigga]

I have always repaired cars in the street, even for policemen (i lived opposite the copshop) and many of the neighbours, i guess thats due to what has already been mentioned as not being a nuisance. There are plenty of places to dispose of any kind of waste, the tip has specific places for oil, batteries, metal etc etc.

It does all boil down to having a friendly chat with the guy though first, rather than doing your level best do destroy his livelyhood, he may have a family to support and anything is better than having more people on the dole.

[Toureman]

A.S.B.O. him!

It only takes a few of the people in your street to complain and ask the police to serve him with an Anti Social Behaviour Order. ASBOs can be used on anyone not just yobs!

[Fat Boy]

I'm guessing the people who advocate live & let live have never lived & let live next door to someone running a noisy, dirty car repair business.

To the people advocating a nice little chat with this bloke: I'm curious about one thing - exactly what do you think having a word will actually achieve? If he has somewhere else to work on / store the cars, he would already be doing that.

Noxlumos, glad you made your business legit in the end. I take it you have since compensated your neighbours for the inconvenience you caused them while you made yourself a profit..?

[green_giant]

yes.

[noxlumos]

Well Fatboy, You're assuming a lot. As a matter of fact I didn't inconvenience my neighbours that I am aware of, in fact I always did my best to help them when they broke down, lent them cars when they were without and sold them good cars quite cheaply, so no-one in my neck of the woods at that time had a problem. I'm frankly amazed at the total lack of common sense displyed by the "hang him he's running a business brigade". If the man is just startring out he may not yet have the money for premises and will doubtless do his best not to be a nuisance if you speak politely to him. If you go in guns blazing I can think of 101 ways in which he could make your lives a misery quite legally and probably will, so it'll serve you right when he does for being so spiteful and petty but please carry on, it's no skin of my nose if he then decides to buy an armoured car to restore on his drive or a stonehenge bus for his own private amusement, or maybe he'll go the house decorating way like the guy with the shark sticking out of his roof.

http://www.headington.org.uk/history/misc/shark.htm

I'm a reasonable man if spoken to politely and would never intentionally cause my neighbours distress but if someone tries to purposefully undermine my business without first having the common decency to speak to me face to face I'd personally come up with something that would make the shark look like a garden gnome, so isn't it a good job Fatboy that we're not neightbours eh?

[Enforcer]

Many thanks for your (many!) responses. Just to give a bit more background (and I think I know what route we'll take next)...

He used to have a garage - got closed down after the Police raided it for dodgy cars and TAX discs! Although in fairness not his fault. He used to park the cars in a local supermarket car park - until they got fed up with losing 15/20 spaces..!

Local residents have had a quiet word with him, as have I, but he's not unduly concerned. No one wants to deprive someone of a livelihood but this is taking the P*** a bit. Also, as was pointed out to him, sticking "For Sale" notices in a car, parked on the highway is apparently an offence. Local Police seems to have higher priorities currently, and the local Council is about as efficient as a square wheel. In fairness to him, he doesn't leave a mess etc but the road is so tight for space that it is really very difficult. I notice now that a group of Easter Europeans have set up a similar operation up the road so this makes the whole thing more interesting.

Anyway, I was interested to see what the legal position might be and I think we concerned residents will try a different tack and see if we can get a mutually acceptable solution.

Again, many thanks for your responses.

[ayrforce1]

Of all the home trader businesses car repair must be one of the most dangerous. Recently a street in our town was closed and residents evacuated for 24 hours due to a fire in the wooden garage of a home mechanic. This garage housed gas bottles which he used for his "business" and there was a serious risk of danger to his neighbours. A race meeting was also abandoned because it came within the evacuation area.

Residents were housed in a hotel and some of the elderly in an old folks home. Add this to the cost of the fire services and the police and the loss of revenue to the racecourse you will end up with a hefty sum.

Many of these home traders are not insured, do not pay the relevant taxes and in some cases are not qualified for the job they do, if they are why don`t they just get a job.