[Mr H]

Probably also find in the covernent that you are NOT permitted to run a business from your home either so if someone grassed you up you could be in trouble with the council for running a business from a residential property (self employed, one man bands are classed as working FROM home and not of running a business)

Just think yourself lucky you don't live in Bradley Stoke in Bristol as part of their covernant states that you are not permitted to hang out the laundry nor to have sign written vans parked overnight outside your property. Thats ANY van, not just one belonging to you.

Personally I would say let the staff take a van home as it will stop the estate looking like an industrial estate.....

Regards
Mr H

[DaveG]

Probably also find in the covernent that you are NOT permitted to run a business from your home either so if someone grassed you up you could be in trouble with the council for running a business from a residential property (self employed, one man bands are classed as working FROM home and not of running a business)

Just think yourself lucky you don't live in Bradley Stoke in Bristol as part of their covernant states that you are not permitted to hang out the laundry nor to have sign written vans parked overnight outside your property. Thats ANY van, not just one belonging to you.

Personally I would say let the staff take a van home as it will stop the estate looking like an industrial estate.....

Regards
Mr H

I think the "running a business from home" law/covenant means if you have customers visiting your house.....
not a self employed man running his business from there..

[ftp]

One of my neighbours who hasn't worked for four years has damaged cars delivered and spends his days fitting new wings etc. He had seven cars on his drive and roadside last week  :
Might get my dialling finger warmed up.

[mark dew]

I think 3 vans and whatever cars you have would be too much. Though i wouldn't complain to anyone.
I would put a tracker in the van and let the best employee take it home.

[Niall McAllister]

just be careful if you do let employee take van home, 'cause it might get you into company car territroy if you do that.
I'm sure one of the many experts will know more about it

[cozy]

If they complain,buy a drum kit, get a pit-bull and let it c**p on their lawns,washing line in front garden, paint your house turquoise, settee on the lawn,plaster the whole house in xmas lights and turn them on all night all year round and get a Harley and rev it up at 5 in the morning. They'll soon ask you to get the van back.

Live near me do you by any chance? :

[Moderator David@stives]

I park 3 vans in the street, the neighbours really love me, in fact on of them has taken a vow of silence and wont speak to me.

One of them even phoned me up to say i was taking a Liberty washing one of my vans outside his house.

Another even left a kind note on my winscreen to inform me that , it says on his deeds he cant have a commercial vehicle parked in front of his house.

A few of them even huddle in groups and whisper, and go quiet as i walk by and say hi.

Such a lovely street to live on

[kenaltobelli]

they are going to make our road permit parking imagine that.
its allready ilegale to drive down the road unless you live here.
point is theres two or three roads like this allready in the town wheres sh
stuff like this going to end.

[Oakley Windows]

It seems its always best to park on a drive.

I was rudely woken this morning by this...........




















My van was unscathed as you can see. The Ford Ka was my Mums, which we took ownership of when she died last year.

This old boy was coming down the road, reckons he had an appointment at the hospital at 10.15 for his eyes. Ironic what!!

So the cars a write-off without a doubt, but Im glad I didnt leave the van on the road, it could have neded up like the Ka.

The old boys didnt sound good when they dragged it onto the back of the recovery truck, some damage underneath by the sounds of it as well the externals.

Witness reckoned the Ka left the ground, it moved 30' anyway.

Matt

[BDCS]

At least your wheely bin looks ok

[elite mike]

At least your wheely bin looks ok

 

[pjulk]

It must be a day for accidents my daughter went to work this morning at 6 am and hit a parked car just up to road from me she only drove about 50 yards.

Her little 1994 peugeot 106 had to have a new front wing and new bumper, new headlight and new indicator and a plate rewelding on under the wing.

The car she hit was a 06 ford focus which just folded up she hit the front corner on the drivers side and it just caved in and also rippled the door frame so drivers door won't open.

I hope she pays more attention from now on.

[dd]

Clive, I always got the impression you were a sole trader. Why do you need 3 vans?

One family in our close has 4 cars and only park one on the drive. This is a pain as it takes up a lot of the limited parking space in the cul de sac (only 2 members of their family drive).

Personally if you run a business from home I don't think having a lot of vehicles parked outside your house is considerate to the neighbours. Let your employees park them outside their house.

[DaveG]

At least your wheely bin looks ok

PMSL!!!

[leapstallbuildings]

At least your wheely bin looks ok

I was going to say it must be a window cleaner's car because it went for the wheelie bin but then I read the other posts     .
Just enough to be thankful that no-one was hurt I suppose.

[Clive McDonald]

I was asking for your opinions because i respect them, and three vans on my drive or around my house may be asking for trouble. A lot of my neighbours have businesses themselves and are fairly tolerant, and so i probably shouldn't abuse that. Dave surprised me; i remember him posting that his back garden was full of piles of spent resin.Again, not trying to sound better than anybody else, but i have obscured my ibc with a garden screen, so a visitor would never see it. I admire his strenght of character but in my case i would get it in the neck off the wife. If the neighbours were whispering about us i would have to lose a van or two.The legal situation is that covenants are enforceable by the original developer. So in my case a somplaint would have to be made to david wilson homes and they would have to instruct a solicitor. A lot of biulders can't be bothered with something they did 15yrs ago, or have since gone bust, so to that degree these covenants may be unenforceable.

I am a sole trader but thinking of employing when i get back from egypt. I use a scudo for window cleaning, 650l + reel+ bottle, so with two men the weight might be a problem. I do get through 600l on my own in 6hrs, so two of us would use more. I can fill up from home but there is a time issue.

The easy answer would be to junk the scudo and go bigger. It cost 8k two years ago. I imagine all the water bits apart from maybe the tank would be reusable.But it is such a brilliant van and money machine that i don't want too.

The other van is for market trading and during the day it stays at home empty.This van could be used if i could figure a way of loading full wfp kit on and off it every day.

[matt]

builders often pass them covenants onto the local councils after a set time, i know some1 on my estate complained to the builders only to be told " we have finished on site now, its for your council to deal with "

they did, and the caravan had to be moved

[Clive McDonald]

Another option could be go even bigger- movano- and leave wfp kit plus stock on, and then come home mnus stock and use van. assuming the total load was 2000kg would the van take this?

[dd]

Hi Clive, you must have a high flow rate to use 600l in 6 hours. Do you use a flow controller or on/off valve on hose/pole?

As you use a hot system I would have thought this might cut down the amount of water you use.

Business must be going well though if you are looking to expand. Would think you would lose some efficiency with 2 working from same van. Good luck. Let us know how things go.

[Clive McDonald]

The flow is high because of the heater- which is bad- because of this heavy flow i can work very fast indeed and almost never get any faults or complaints- which is good-

I sometimes feel a bit guilty about the speed and the rates i hit, but when you're good, you're good. I also have an electric reel which helps.My little scudo has to be the black pearl of the window cleaning world and scorches it's way through a premium priced george list like you've never seen. (thats why i want to keep it)

I'm less confident about employing though, but i don't see why i should have to do all of the work all of the time.I've put a lot of thought into creating the kudos that makes the customers seek me out instead of someone else and if i can maintain that as i grow without the quality dropping i'll be happy.