Private Pupils And Parking!, any advice gratefully received Options

[jpiano]

Hi, I've lived and taught private pupils in my small cul de sac for nearly nine years with no problems whatsoever. So I was really surprised this evening when one of my adult students mentioned that he'd been suddenly 'told off' by a neighbour (who has lived here for about 9 months or so) for parking in a bay opposite my house, because to quote, the parking was 'residents only, as it says in my deeds, and you parked there last week too you know'.

We all have one parking bay outside our houses, and as far as I've always understood, but don't think it says on deeds which I must find and read, the remaining parking bays are visitors. The trouble is that when I moved in most people had no car or only one, now two cars (in case of neighbour) are the norm-one parked in front of their house, one in bay. None of the bays are marked, so it's a bit of a free for all with the exception of parking in front of one's own house.

I feel rather upset on my pupil's behalf and also a bit apprehensive-don't know if I'm making a mountain out of a mole-hill, but this particular pupil is really nice and easy going, and will happily park up the road if it causes less hassle for himself and for me, but I have one or two rather more assertive pupils/parents who would I think object to being spoken to like that.

I think if it were simply a case of non-teaching visitors parking, I wouldn't really give it a second thought, but would raise it with neighbour or forget about it-but I do worry he could make things very difficult-ie complaining about running a business (albeit only approx 8 hours a week as most of my teaching is in schools) on private premises, etc. It's especially annoying as same neighbour took up nearly all of the spaces earlier this year having building work done with skips, etc, and didn't even have the courtesy to mention it to anyone else.

My immediate reaction is not to rush into anything that could turn into a silly dispute, but to wait and see if any other students comment- the incident was 2 weeks ago but I only saw the pupil tonight-I haven't taught that many since as its holidays, but those I've seen have mainly been adults with cars, and nobody else has commented. I just wondered it anyone else had similar experiences and how they dealt with it. As I say, I think I may be making more out of it than I need-but when teaching is your sole income it's easy to do that. I think it also feels tricky because it's on home territory-if this was a similar incident at school, it's much easier to be detached and professional about it-but because it's at home, and I have to live with my neighbours, it's a lot trickier.

[ringaringa]

You need to know who own and maintains the spaces. You could try the local council.

I am allowed so many work visits as a self employed person, and it's certainly more per day than you are getting in a whole week. But I live in NZ and it is probably completely different.

[all ears]

I also suggest that you contact your council - in my experience, people can have extremely unrealistic views about their right to use certain areas of public roads as their own personal domain, and because they are quite sure that their view is just plain common sense, it takes both tact and fact to solve problems.

Sounds as if you'd feel better knowing what the regulations are too.

[petrat]

I hqave a similar problem with a neighbour. Although they park on their own drive they get very stroppy if anyone parks on the road infront of their house. I think that the best thing to do is to park your own car somewhere else if possible and leave the space outside your property free for pupils. Do find out about your rights from the council too, and perhaps send a letter to the neighbour explaining what they are if you do not fancy talking to them face to face.

[AnnC]

First of all you need to find out about those parking bays - who owns what and what is allocated for visitors parking. The definitive answer will be on your deeds - I doubt that the local council would have the details. Try asking the solicitor who handled your conveyancing.
I also have a problem with my neighbour from time to time - not with bays as we don't have these, but with parking outside her house. All of my teaching is private, so there is a significant amount of coming and going. I always leave the road immediately outside my house clear for pupils, and, as we are on a corner, there is space to the side as well. Sometimes however, when we have non-student visitors, or simply that someone else has parked there, students have parked outside the neighbour's house. She has occasionally been rude to them , but her latest trick is to box them in so they cannot get out of the space. Luckily it is my car that is the other one involved, so it's easy enough to move mine, though it does take up part of the next person's lesson.
But - there is a happy ending! The law states that you do not own the bit of road outside your property (if it's a public road), and anyone whose car is taxed, insured and has an MOT can park there for as long as they like. Fortunately, the student my neighbour chose to block in is a police sergeant! I will leave the rest to your imagination!!
Don't worry also about using your private house for teaching purposes - it is perfectly legal without any council tax implications.
I would recommend joining the ISM - it is just this sort of thing that you will get free legal advice on, amongst many other benefits.
Good luck!

[gazdudeuk]

I teach from home to, and i also live in cul-de-sac and we have a neighbour who we dont talk to, she has complained about me playing!!

Anyway, my pupils tend to park outside the house or infront of next doors (either side) but we have a public road and not bays so they cant say anything.

I do tell them not to park outside our drive as other members of family still use driveway, but i do remember one ex-pupil parking right outside our not-so-nice neighbours driveway!!! Didnt i get it in the neck!!! lol (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[LizzieT]

Don't worry also about using your private house for teaching purposes - it is perfectly legal without any council tax implications.

I am not sure you are correct Ann - council tax apart, title deeds often do contain restrictions on how a property can or cannot be used. Also if you look at the thread 'Neighbours' and JohnS's comments, it seems that the Council can get involved if there are large numbers of students involved - not that this is jpiano's situation.

[jod]

Don't worry also about using your private house for teaching purposes - it is perfectly legal without any council tax implications.

I am not sure you are correct Ann - council tax apart, title deeds often do contain restrictions on how a property can or cannot be used. Also if you look at the thread 'Neighbours' and JohnS's comments, it seems that the Council can get involved if there are large numbers of students involved - not that this is jpiano's situation.

I also live in a cul-de-sac, but have excellent neighbours so parking isn't really an issue just as long as people don't block driveways. They also tolerate practice very well... which is a good thing because at full tilt I make a lot of noise.

They're more likely to want to go to one of my concerts than complain particularly as they know that when their child takes up a musical instrument I'm likely to make encouraging noises. I already do this with the girl round the corner who regularly serenades us with her Clarinet practice.

[sarah-flute]

Fortunately, the student my neighbour chose to block in is a police sergeant! I will leave the rest to your imagination!!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Nice one.

It sounds like it would be a great idea to find out exactly what the regulations are: if you know absolutely that you're in the right, then you can confidently do something about it.

[notmusimum]

We spent five years when our children were very small living next door to a religious cult! If I knew where they were now I'd send them round with their double decker bus to reverse outside your neighbours at 3 in the morning. They might also bring their whole fleet of mini buses and cars and bang the doors for them.

You won't believe this! One christmas eve I peered over the fence to find a set of portaloos in their garden! At that point I rang the council. It seemed a bit OTT especially when there are about 5 bathrooms already in the house!

Sunday afternoons we could not set foot in the back or front gardens without 50 pairs of eyes watching us, and I'm not exaggerating.

Puts a piano teacher with a few pupils into perspective. The council incidently did nothing, it took the MP to force their hand.

[AnnC]

Don't worry also about using your private house for teaching purposes - it is perfectly legal without any council tax implications.

I am not sure you are correct Ann - council tax apart, title deeds often do contain restrictions on how a property can or cannot be used. Also if you look at the thread 'Neighbours' and JohnS's comments, it seems that the Council can get involved if there are large numbers of students involved - not that this is jpiano's situation.

I stand corrected Lizzie - sorry. Mind you, new houses for the last 30 years have had restrictions on them regarding caravans, hedges and more, which are disregarded. As far as I am aware, as long as your room is only partly used for business purposes, i.e. remains part of the living accommodation, then it's OK. Many, many people do this, not just music teachers. I think that the council would only get involved if there was a nuisance - noise late at night, traffic etc. The ISM recommends not teaching after 8PM. I do, but then I have no immediate neighbours, being detached, and neighbours house front wall starts where our house back wall is, so to speak. I don't think one car at a time parking considerately constitutes a nuisance.

[joyjoy]

I have to move my car form outside my house now, as I have neighbours who moan when a car is even parked in front of our drive way. I like to keep our drive clear, anyway, so other people can get out when needed, but it's a nightmare trying to sort it all out. You have to talk to your council, like the others have said. The issue of parking makes me so mad though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[salrec]

I have to move my car form outside my house now, as I have neighbours who moan when a car is even parked in front of our drive way. I like to keep our drive clear, anyway, so other people can get out when needed, but it's a nightmare trying to sort it all out. You have to talk to your council, like the others have said. The issue of parking makes me so mad though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

Luckily, our neighbours are very tolerant and I don't teach too many at home. But I do ask pupils or their parents to park carefully, and have asked the neighbours to knock on the door immediately if there is a problem with a car. Several of my pupils are very local, however, so I try to encourage walking or cycling where possible.

[jod]

Don't worry also about using your private house for teaching purposes - it is perfectly legal without any council tax implications.

I am not sure you are correct Ann - council tax apart, title deeds often do contain restrictions on how a property can or cannot be used. Also if you look at the thread 'Neighbours' and JohnS's comments, it seems that the Council can get involved if there are large numbers of students involved - not that this is jpiano's situation.

I stand corrected Lizzie - sorry. Mind you, new houses for the last 30 years have had restrictions on them regarding caravans, hedges and more, which are disregarded. As far as I am aware, as long as your room is only partly used for business purposes, i.e. remains part of the living accommodation, then it's OK. Many, many people do this, not just music teachers. I think that the council would only get involved if there was a nuisance - noise late at night, traffic etc. The ISM recommends not teaching after 8PM. I do, but then I have no immediate neighbours, being detached, and neighbours house front wall starts where our house back wall is, so to speak. I don't think one car at a time parking considerately constitutes a nuisance.

If I didn't teach after 8pm I'd have no pupils!.. Fortunately the house is detached.

[jpiano]

A big thank you to everyone for their replies and advice-it's very easy to feel isolated in these things when you work from home. I think my first port of call needs to be to check my deeds and find out who owns what. Approaching the neighbour feels bit awkward, as he hasn't actually complained to me personally-I only know which neighbour is was by the (not hugely complimentary!) description of what he looked like! It's the pettiness of it all which really stresses me out- and as you mention, Notmusimum, the sum total of about 8 hours private teaching at home per week really doesn't cause a disturbance in the big scheme of things. I have always tried to be as tolerant as possible where neighbours are concerned, and would rather find a workable compromise than stick up for my rights regardless-but people are right in that nothing seems to get otherwise reasonable individuals hot under the collar as quickly as parking !If I hear of any more complaints, my instinct for the sake of peace is to move my car up the road so they can park in my drive.