How to complain about a neighbour's caravan

Despite all the fun and excitement it can bring, owning a touring caravan is a big commitment. One of the many things you need to consider as a caravan owner is how and where to park your caravan when you’re not using it.

While it’s safe to say that most caravan owners are responsible, you can never be too careful, and you should always be aware of the rules. Even if you don’t own a caravan yourself—someone you know (or indeed live next door to) might.

This article will outline some of the current caravan parking rules, as well as how to complain about a neighbour’s caravan should you feel you need to.

Caravan parking: the law

Currently, there is no concrete law in place regarding parking your caravan when it’s not in use—so a little common sense is often required instead.

Whether or not you can legally park your caravan outside your property often depends on the deeds of the property. There will normally be a clause in the deeds which states whether caravans can or cannot be kept on the property.

You can usually get hold of property deeds online via the Land Registry. You can be given access to the deeds for any property—not just your own—so you can check your neighbour’s deeds too. This page on the government website contains more information on how to access property deeds.

Caravan parking rules are also sometimes set by local authorities, so read up on the rules specific to wherever you live to ensure that you don’t get caught out.

Can you park a caravan on the road?

The Highway Code does not currently mention parking caravans on residential roads. So, doing so is generally considered okay. This is, however, providing that the caravan has been parked carefully and responsibly, and it isn’t causing any obstruction to neighbouring properties, roads or pavements.

As a sensible caravan owner, you should consider the impact of your parking on others before picking a spot—just as you would when parking your car.

Also, it’s important to note that when parking a caravan on the road, the caravan’s nearside (i.e. the left-hand side) must be facing the pavement. This is so the rear lights are facing oncoming traffic to make other road users aware that the caravan is parked.

You must not park your caravan across driveways either (including your own—unless you are merely picking up or dropping off passengers). So, if your neighbour’s caravan is blocking your drive, you could have valid grounds to make a complaint.

When to complain about a neighbour's caravan 

There needs to be a valid reason for you to specifically make a complaint about a neighbour’s caravan. For example, you can’t simply use their caravan as an excuse to make a complaint because you don’t get on with your neighbour on a personal level.

Perhaps the most common reason people complain about a neighbour’s caravan is that it’s causing an obstruction. This could be an obstruction to a path or, in some cases, even a view.

If your neighbour’s caravan is causing an obstruction to your property, you can make a complaint.

How to complain about a neighbour's caravan 

If you want to complain about a neighbour’s caravan, there are several routes you may wish to consider.

Try talking to them first

You should always try and talk to your neighbour directly about your grievances before escalating a complaint further.

You may find that having an open and honest conversation is the best way to identify and solve any issues, particularly if you’re usually on good terms with your neighbour.

Also, if it’s only a minor complaint, it might not be worth taking it further than a quick chat over the fence. Ask yourself if it’s really worth escalating.

Involving local authorities or the police

However, if your complaint regarding your neighbour’s caravan is more serious, you might choose to involve the local authorities, i.e. the council or even the police.

Should you wish to take this route, check out the website for your local authority wherever you live, as it will probably have published details of its official complaints procedure.

You can also seek advice from places such as Citizens Advice if you’re unsure how to proceed.

Specialist touring caravan insurance through Ripe

If you own a caravan which you keep outside your home when not in use, you may also want to consider protecting it against things like theft and damage with specialist touring caravan insurance.

With Ripe, you can cover your caravan up to the value of £75,000. You can also opt for a range of additional cover options to protect things like your contents and awnings.

You can also get Public Liability cover through Ripe, which will cover you should you accidentally injure someone or cause damage to someone else’s property with your caravan.

Learn more about how Ripe can help and get a quote today.