City Motorhome Stays – Would You Use This?

[Northern Explorers]

Hi all! I’ve noticed that when planning city breaks in the UK, finding a legal, safe, and conveniently located overnight spot for a motorhome is really difficult — campsites are often far out or fully booked, and hotels are expensive. I’m exploring an idea: a small network of pre-bookable private driveways in or near cities for self-contained motorhomes, offering a safe overnight stay without the hassle or cost of hotels/campsites. It would be bookable online, with clear rules and verified hosts.

If this existed, would you use it for city breaks? What would matter most to you — location, price, safety, or something else?

Would love your honest thoughts!

 

[Molly 3]

Don't think the neighbours would be impressed

 

[edina]

It is a great idea, but the last time I heard it floated the thing that stopped it was the uncertainty of home insurance allowing paying vehicles on the drive. Be interesting to see if you do get it running. Good luck.

 

[Bertietoo]

There are several 'park on my drive' schemes for daytime, so it would just be an extension for overnight.

Steve

 

[Northern Explorers]

Don't think the neighbours would be impressed

Thanks Molly for your response. I have thought about this and it is likely I would need to look into limiting how many times per week/month each location can be used.

 

[Northern Explorers]

It is a great idea, but the last time I heard it floated the thing that stopped it was the uncertainty of home insurance allowing paying vehicles on the drive. Be interesting to see if you do get it running. Good luck.

Thanks Edina, as part of the platform and using Air BnB as an example I would include Public Liability Cover, however the home owner would still need to advise their insurance company. Is this likely to increase the home owners premium, at this stage my understanding is it is unlikely to increase by much if any.

 

[Northern Explorers]

There are several 'park on my drive' schemes for daytime, so it would just be an extension for overnight.

Steve

Hi Steve, thanks for your feedback and you raise a very good point. I find the majority of these rent they drives during to day as they are usually away from home themselves working. They want to come back in the evening and park there themselves so in most cases parking overnight is not an option.

 

[Sidders]

Two points from me,
Don’t restrict it to city’s there’s often a town / area we would like to visit but are generally put off by the no motorhome parking councils,

Home owners would need to check deeds , some houses have covenants on them to prevent, motorhome , caravan , commercial vehicles, this can be a total no parking rule or just in front of building line,
Our 1980s property had this, put in place by the building company luckily they are still in business and a letter pointing out the problems had them sending a solicitor letter to all houses saying they would rectify the situation , later that year we all received a letter to say the covenant had been removed and commercial vehicles and caravans were now allowed

 

[Rumour]

I wouldn't park on someone's drive. They would need to get insurance and I believe council approval as it is an earner. And how would the areas be picked? In our town, we live in a safe area, less that 5 "crimes" per 1000 people per month on the southern end. On the north side of town, there are 49.7 and on the east 68+! Of course I know you cannot always guarantee safety, but as I see it, those Surron electric motorcycles are a problem in all towns with thugs and drug dealers in the centres. But then, we don't do visits to towns or cities. We prefer to be out of town and if we need to visit? Bus pass.

 

[Northern Explorers]

Two points from me,
Don’t restrict it to city’s there’s often a town / area we would like to visit but are generally put off by the no motorhome parking councils,

Home owners would need to check deeds , some houses have covenants on them to prevent, motorhome , caravan , commercial vehicles, this can be a total no parking rule or just in front of building line,
Our 1980s property had this, put in place by the building company luckily they are still in business and a letter pointing out the problems had them sending a solicitor letter to all houses saying they would rectify the situation , later that year we all received a letter to say the covenant had been removed and commercial vehicles and caravans were now allowed

Thanks Sidders, it wouldn't be restricted to Cities but I would need to start somewhere and then hopefully expand it if it proved to be a viable plan. Insurance would be taken jnto account and I have already made a start, but I need to find out if this has any kegs before looking at the fine detail. Thanks again some good points

 

[Northern Explorers]

I wouldn't park on someone's drive. They would need to get insurance and I believe council approval as it is an earner. And how would the areas be picked? In our town, we live in a safe area, less that 5 "crimes" per 1000 people per month on the southern end. On the north side of town, there are 49.7 and on the east 68+! Of course I know you cannot always guarantee safety, but as I see it, those Surron electric motorcycles are a problem in all towns with thugs and drug dealers in the centres. But then, we don't do visits to towns or cities. We prefer to be out of town and if we need to visit? Bus pass.

Thanks again for your feedback, valid points and I wouldn't expect this solution to be for everyone's taste. As for picking an area, that's not really my focus. It's down to who would be wanting to make there land/drive etc available for overnight use.

 

[merl]

I think it's a great Idea, there's obviously sticking points that you're going to navigate but if you manage it I for one would probably use it. I've considered trying one of the rent a drive apps but I've been put off by the fact that you don't give dimensions or declare that you're a motorhome and could turn up to be refused because they were expecting a small car.
Personally we'd be looking for a park up on or near a bus route into town if the place wasn't in walking distance to the centre.
Good luck

 

[Northern Explorers]

I think it's a great Idea, there's obviously sticking points that you're going to navigate but if you manage it I for one would probably use it. I've considered trying one of the rent a drive apps but I've been put off by the fact that you don't give dimensions or declare that you're a motorhome and could turn up to be refused because they were expecting a small car.
Personally we'd be looking for a park up on or near a bus route into town if the place wasn't in walking distance to the centre.
Good luck

Thanks Merl, adding dimensions would be key as we all have different size vehicles. Last thing you want is to turn up and find out your to big. And we are on the same wave length, I think having public transport close by is a must.

 

[Carrerasax]

I often think in big cities it would make sense to get commercial properties on board for Friday /Saturday nights , when their property is empty.
Early vacation Monday morning.
Must increase security of the premises

 

[Val54]

Going back to the insurance point. Wouldn't both you as the business website and each parking site need separate public liability insurance? I'm not sure that ordinary household insurance would cover the "parking site" when it is a paying business for the houseowner. You need to speak to an underwriter to tease out the issues, the insurance cost set against potential income might be a disincentive.

 

[Rumour]

Thanks again for your feedback, valid points and I wouldn't expect this solution to be for everyone's taste. As for picking an area, that's not really my focus. It's down to who would be wanting to make there land/drive etc available for overnight use.

Then I can see another problem. Are the organiser, would you not have some culpability if one of those using a site on the database gets damaged ann or broken into? At the very least, it wouldn't instil confidence in the provider of the database.

 

[Rumour]

Then I can see another problem. Are the organiser, would you not have some culpability if one of those using a site on the database gets damaged ann or broken into? At the very least, it wouldn't instil confidence in the provider of the database.

Another thing that springs to mind. The property would become a part business property, increasing the council tax on part of the property to business rates. It seems there are a lot of extra charges for the drive owner.