Neighbours and RV stored on property

[dodger22]

Last September my neighbour came over and started talking about my 5'er parked in the side yard between the houses. He told me 3 times that the trailer parked where it was didn't bother him which obviously it did! He was whining about the fact I had cut some of the branches of his trees that hang over my property. I told him I was entitled to do this. The only time he sees my trailer is when he is using his pool.



Fast forward now to last evening (April 11) he came over to the house again whining this time that they get the smell of THEIR pool heater fumes due to the trailer being parked where it is. He then went on to say that the windows in the trailer overlook their pool and "while he knows there is no one in the trailer he feels there privacy is being impinged upon"!!



He also pointed out that the ladder on the rear of the coach is too close to the fence and someone could climb over and gain access to his pool. I concurred with this and will get a security cover to go over the ladder.



Our bylaws are such the City would act on a complaint basis if the 5'er was parked in the driveway - in front of the house so to speak but I am not sure about the side yard. I plan to visit the by-law office and find out although I am a bit reluctant to do so for fear of opening a can of worms.



I would like to know how other members have handled this situation as I'm sure it comes up a lot.



Thanks,



Richard

 

[Murle]

Tell him to get a life and get over it.



Tell him you don't like his pool being so close to your RV.

 

[redramnc]

First thing to do - GET NEW NEIGHBORS Actually, it really depends on the area you are in. Some people are just hard to get along with and use all of the rules to make others do what they want (or don't want) you to do. You might want to check any covenants in your neighborhood because that will be the next thing your neighbor does.



You can always install a TALL privacy fence on your side of the property line that blocks the view of his pool from your camper (his problem if the pool chemical vapors are obnoxious).



If all else fails you may be able to find a storage facility that has outside parking to store the rig. My wife used to run a storage facility and most of the people who had boats and RVs there were renting space because the covenants in their neighborhood wouldn't allow them to park in/near their abode.



I feel for you, whatever the outcome. Keep us posted.

 

[redramnc]

What murle said.



Does the guy drive a Subaru, per chance?

 

[BarryG]

Lets see here I assume you are parked on your property legally, you are going to take care of the possible ladder issue (which I dont think is really a legal issue) but you being a nice guy are going to fix. The tree branches over your property are your business (been down that road myself), as far as the pool heater they are his fumes he can have them. You might try putting up a taller fence along that portion maybe even get him to split the cost of the longer pickets with you. It does really suck to be at odds with your neighbors. Best thing is try to work out the problem together to everyones mutual advantage/compromise since both sides from their perspective are right.

 

[Joe G.]

Richard,



Getting along with some neighbors is hopeless. It sounds like you are trying. The FIRST thing I would do is find out what the laws, ordinances, and neighborhood regulations say. Then you will know where you stand as far as what your neighbor can or cannot make you do. It's best to keep peace with your neighbor if possible, but you need to know what the rules are that you are working with.



This sort of thing makes me appreciate living in the country more.

 

[Bob Wagner]

know your rights

Joe G. is right on the money

 

[BigMike]

Joe G is right on the money. Look at your restrictive covenants. Mine allow storing an RV as long as it's behind a 6' fence. Our city ordinances only cover RV parking on the street. 24hr max here in Walla Walla, Wa, although I don't think anyone pays any attention to it. I store mine elsewhere, but bring it over to the house frequently and put it in my driveway. I've had it there for up to 2 weeks. My neighbor doesn't particularly care for it, but I don't care for some of the things he does either. Next place I own will be out in the country where I can park my damn 5er anywhere I want.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

How does your trailer parked in your yard make him smell his pool heater fumes? I just can't figure that one out. On the window thing close the curtains on that side (I keep my blinds down when the trailers stored anyways to keep the interior from fading). I would place an anonymous call to the city and find out what the restrictions are, no need to tell them who or where you are. You may want to get a copy of the city ordnances and any neighborhood restrictions - you may very find that he's violating some. Being a PITA can be a two way street .



P. S. Sure glad I live in the sticks. I'm in town but there's only 600 people and about 40% of the houses have campers parked by them.

 

[Batman]

You can always use my favorite line... ... ... ... ... ... and tel him to go F$%k himself... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... or to mind his own business, my bike club has been looking for a place to have some parties this summer and... ... ... ... . you know, something to get his blood boiling.



Just kidding, people like that pi$$ me off.

 

[jwdeeming]

Tell him you HAVE to park the RV there because if you don't, YOU smell his pool heater fumes. It was either park the RV to block them, or sue his pants off. Which would he prefer?



Sorry, I'm not helping. I feel for you on the neighbor woes. And moving to the country doesn't always make them go away - I can vouch for that.



JimD

 

[dodger22]

First off guys thanks for your responses and support!



This a. m. I visited our City by-law office and related to them what I said earlier on this BB.



What it boils down to is this. the trailer must be parked on a non-organic surface - which it is, it's on gravel.



It must not protrude beyond the front of the house. Mine does by about 3-4 feet but I can push it back much further.



Lastly the by-law officer asked how far is it from the property line, I said about 12-18 inches. He said no problem. Later I measured and it's about 23"



I asked him about the fumes from the pool heater. My neighbour contends that since I've parked it there it causes a down-draught on some occasions. The by-law officer shrugged his shoulders and said the guy has problem with the heater!



I did offer to extend the stack on his heater but then he said it would have to be supported (guyed) and he didn't want to look at that.



With respect to the windows and privacy issue I am planning to offer to get a cover for the RV if he will split the cost 50-50 After that I might just follow Batman's advice



Thanks again guys, I'll keep y'all posted!



Richard

 

[Pit Bull]

You did what I would of suggested. Now go over and tell your neighbor what you found out and what you plan to do. I bet you money that your neighbor has already been to the by law man and found out that he had no leverage over you. I think you are being very reasonable. I'm with Steve, I moved to the sticks. No covenents and the neighbor is far enough away they would have to work at bugging me ( 5 acre lots ) Wish I had 50 acres

 

[Fireman Dave]

Take a swim in his pool some day - in the nude. :-laf When he asks what the heck you're doing, say, "see how bad things COULD be?" Maybe that'll put things in perspective for him.



Now, fess up - how IS the view from the 5er windows?:-laf



Sorry, good luck.

 

[BigMike]

Throw a beer over the fence every once in awhile. Pretty soon you'll be having barbeques together. I'd take advantage of his pool if I were you!

 

[Mingoglia]

I too have a RV, but I *have* to store mine somewhere else. I wish I had your problems. I live in the metro Phoenix area and more than 90% of the housing communities are part of a "home owners association" (HOA). This home owners association won't allow anything that extends higher than the wall. I have family a few miles away and the HOA made them take down my nephews swing set because it extended higher than the wall... this swing set was hidden by a tree!!!!.



In my town (Gilbert, AZ), you need to get a building permit to build one of those cheap aluminum sheds. We also have to have all our houses painted the same color (actually we have a couple shades to choose from). My neighbor got a letter in the mail telling him to paint his gate and that his trash can was visible from the street just recently on one of the HOA "drive-bys"...



Let me reiterate, I wish I had your problem.

 

[Steve M]

I guess it would really peace them off if you dumped the chitter out in the yard. I did that one time. Boy did it stink.

There's a price for freedom and I pay highly. For the freedom to park my fiver beside the house and my Harley under the carport, I have to live in the kind of neighborhood that has inhabitants who think a plywood porch looks GRAND! Some even leave their Christmas lights up all year. Very cheery! Nothing sets off the value of a neighborhood like a beat up race car on it's trailer out front and an old tire around the mailbox post filled with flowers! But what to do? I can't live in a neighborhood with neighbors telling me I can't have my expensive toys at home. So I keep my house clean and painted and the yard and landscaping looks nice along with well maintained vehicles clean and off the grass and I don't bother the neighbors. Best of all they don't bother me.

 

[radyvolk]

I saw the police running a license plate check on my motorhome, but that didn't bother me because I already knew that as long as the plates were current I could have it parked in my yard. A few weeks later I received a call from the zoning office. She told me she was getting complaints from neightbors about my motorhome. I asked her if I was breaking any zoning laws, & she said no. I told her to call back when zoning would prohibit parking in my yard.



What upset me the most was my neighbor never said anything to me.



Randy

 

[Briar Hopper]

I've been leaving my trailer out on my buddy's farm, thanks to his generosity (he says it gives him less to mow) but it's a 25 mile drive to get there. Lots of my neighbors have trailers parked in the side yards, back yards, and driveways, one even has a big 5'er in the driveway. Well, I haven't been able to park mine at home because the neighbor's tree branches extend over my property, and she's really old, with a mean disposition to go along with the osteoporosis. Not sure it's worth the hassle of cutting branches while she tries to shake me off the ladder (how loud is a sawzall at 3:00 a. m. ? Anybody know?) or if it's worth killing a 30' long patch of grass when I'm planning on trying to sell the house.

 

[Steve M]

Richard,

I have another idea! Next time your neighbor and his wife are out at the pool you could stand up on your fiver's door step and peer over at 'em. When he looks up at you in disgust, holler back at him joyfully " HEY! Man, she don't look like a potato in a bathing suit! You should be proud of 'er! You shouldn't call your own wife a fattenin' hog! The way you described her I was "afraid" to look over the fence. You just don't want anyone to see how good she looks!"