Reported to council having too many vehicles on property!

[STONEY!]

TLDR: reported to council by nosey neighbour, they say I have too many vehicles how many is too many?

Background

I have a fairly large property with a 10+ car size drive, a single garage and a 6x7m workshop also a large garden (same area as driveway roughly) and a big shed. It is owned not rented and there is no mortgage on it.

I currently have 18 bikes, 3 cars and 3 vans parked at the property. Due to the location of the property you can see one vehicle from the road.

My neighbour recently came over shouting and swearing about my van outside his house and that he was sick of me blocking the road, I quietly and calmy explained it was not my van and I do not have any vehicles parked on the road (I genuinely dont) this just infuriated him more and he stormed off.

A week later the council came round and said I have been reported for running an illegal chop shop all day and night revving bikes and cars etc they made a note of my side of the story and seemed fairly happy that it was mostly just down to a confused miserable old git!

I have since had a letter requesting I reduce the amount of vehicles at the property or apply for planning permission which will be denied.

Where do I stand? Is there a legal limit to the amount of my own vehicles I can have on my own property?

Perhaps as the problem is the amount of vehicles on my property I should keep all the cars and vans on the road as they are all taxed moted and insured then as I can't use the drive for storing vehicles I should set up a mini moto race track?

All in all I'm a bit pissed off! The council granted planning for the driveway and workshop and 2 years later say I can't use it!

I could understand if it was the whole neighbourhood but I have been as courteous as possible with the neighbours, helping them with their cars, using my van time and fuel helping them move in, I even repaired my next door neighbours fence and shed after the bad weather! As a whole I would say I get on with everyone well apart from this one miserable old git and his aunt.

[lihp]

Reply asking for details of the legislation that limits the maximum number of private vehicles per household.

[stinkwheel]

I personally would ignore their request. They can request all they want, doesn't mean they get it. Replying merely suggests you are taking them seriously.

If they intend to take enforcement action for something, you'll get plenty of notice.

I would then take legal advice.

As far as I can see, if you aren't causing an actual nuisance, buying and selling or running a business from the premesis, there is little to nothing they can do.

I'd suggest they only wrote the letter so they can tick a box saying they have done something and put the complaint to bed.
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[waffles]

How would planning permission help you to keep a large number of vehicles on your property? They are talking out of their arse and it's none of their business what you use your home for.

File under b for bullshit and move on.
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[TheArchitect]

man you house sounds awesome!
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[lihp]

[GeorgeB.]

Either ignore it or reply with something lulzy. Keep fucking with them until they get bored.
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[Ste]

The planning permission would be for if you were using the property for commercial purposes? As stinkywheels says, just ignoring it sounds like the best option.

Your neighbour complaining to the council about noise from revving vehicles won't go anywhere unless there is substance to their complaint. The council will have asked them to keep a diary of the noise nuisance, the council are looking for it being a regular thing so it sounds like you've got nothing to worry about.

If they come around shouting and swearing again then you can always report them to the police if you want to. The public order act covers threatening behaviour, swearing and being abusive and behaviour that is harassment. If they want to report you for things that are perfectly legit and cause you a headache then return the favour by reporting them for things that are against the law.

[Az]

If i'm honest mate, it sounds like an extremely shit place to be living in. A large garden to maintain, annoying neighbours and so on… I'll tell you what (because i'm such a nice person) i'll swap houses with you. This will resolve all of your issues with your grumpy neighbour and any other problems you may have with the property.

[waffles]

[Rogerborg]

As stinkwheel says.

First, what letter? Did you sign anything?

Councils are supposed to begin with mediation, not diktats, so you could ask them why they've failed to do so. However, I do agree that you should not make any response unless and until they actually try to take action.

Whatever you do, don't try and get the local rag on the case.

"Local man persecuted over his treasured collection of motorcycles" might make page 4, but if any of the local pikeys can read and pick up on it, it might result in an involuntary reduction in your collection.

It might help you later if you tell the good neighbours what's happened so that they can get glowing references prepared. Check that you're not bothering them.

Apply for a shotgun permit.
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[DrDonnyBrago]

[STONEY!]

I DO run a small business selling bikes from home, they are well aware of that and don't have a problem with it as long as it stays at a small scale 4-5 bikes a month.

They simply have an issue with the amount of vehicles on the property as it is above that of an average household. They have requested that I reply within 7 days to let them know what I will be doing either applying for planning which they have made clear they will not allow or reducing the amount of vehicles at the property and details of how and when I will be doing so.

I am not concerned about the business side of things, I have an option of a share in a unit which I will most likely take up so that's solves that side of things. But even if I were to sell a few of my own vehicles I would begrudgingly part with I would still be left with 3 cars 2 vans and 10 bikes between myself and the missus.

[STONEY!]

Just to clarify I do not do repairs, servicing or breaking I buy bikes from various sources and sell on mostly to a couple of breakers yards.

[Suntan Sid]

[lihp]

Now we get the full story

You're running a business, buying and selling bikes from home, on a property that has no permission for being used for this purpose?

I think, that unless you can prove that the bikes are ALL personal and not being traded, then I think the council are going to have you tied up on this.

[lihp]

[STONEY!]

The reason I didn't mention this in the first place was because I knew I would get comments along the lines of what PhilDawson is saying.

The council are well aware of my trading and as I have already stated they do not have a problem with that as long as it stays on a small scale. They are satisfied that as I do not cause a marked increase in footfall, traffic or noise in the area my business is not a problem.

All I want to know is where I stand with my own private vehicles.

[Itchy]

Didn't Kickstart (Keith) have about 80 bikes+ in his property?

I remember him bemoaning about the yearly SORN declarations.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[STONEY!]

To clarify once again they are NOT interested in the business purely the AMOUNT of vehicles on the property of which all but 3 currently are personal vehicles belonging to myself and the missus.

[Itchy]

[lihp]

Do you have written permission from the council?

Now they are having complaints from neighbours about it, they may decide that they want you to officially apply for planning permission.

If you took an informal agreement with a council, then you're a fool, and should have got the permission when you had an easy way of getting it.

If I am wrong, and you do have planning permission, or evidence in writing that the council has allowed this.

Why not say that they're business vehicles that have been approved?

Alternatively, if you think the council cannot place restrictions after giving permission you are exceptionally naieve as there are a lot of documented cases where councils have put tighter controls and restrictions on business post planning permission, sometimes many years after they have been operating with no complaint.

[Rogerborg]

Well, give half the story, get half the answer, and probably the wrong half.

[rideslikean00...]

Typical. One jealous moody asshole ruins it for someone minding their own business and getting on with their life. I swear there are people out there who don't/can't have a life of their own so make it their mission in life to try and sabotage everyone else's. These people tend to be leeches with few redeeming features in the first place in my experience.

Personally I'd be the neighbour coming round every so often to shoot the breeze about cars and bikes, not the one dobbing you in and whining to the council cos you have more material goods than I do.
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Previous/Current Bikes
2013 Yamaha YBR-125ED -> 1997 Yamaha YZF-1000R Thunderace -> 2009 Yamaha XJ-6 Diversion -> 2007 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer S2

[J4mes]