Am I too much if a stickler?

For several years it has been possible to check on planning applications - whether made/approved/turned down. That might be a good place to start.

For several years it has been possible to check on planning applications - whether made/approved/turned down. Taht might be a good place to start.

It's all been said but your dilemma reminded me of when the Manse next door (vicarage in England) was sold to a very large and boisterous family who set out to make changes. They had big parties outside into the early hours and invited us but we had young DC who needed to sleep.
They wanted to put in new windows and build extensions. He was a builder but when they didn't get planning permission they sold the house. Phew! Now it's home to people with special needs and their carers who are all very considerate.

How about you apply to the planning dept for change of use for your house to an old peoples home just to test the process?

It could be a whole lot worse, if it’s only the children you object to, surely they aren’t there at weekends, and are gone by early evening, and I doubt they are outside all day.

We’ve all had children, presumably have grandchildren, I don’t know why so many people are grumpy about having children around

I had (have) eight children living next to me and they are English ?I think unless you live in your own grounds in a detached house you may never find the perfect neighbour
It is difficult for you but personally I would not report her unless you are going to report all the business on your little esrate Make a friend of her, enjoy hearing the kids play and be thankful it's not a brothel or drug house, which happened to my friend she went from lovely neighbours to having people banging on the door morning, noon and night and very unsavoury characters hanging around
Personally I wouldn’t think she’s breaking the law by being a childminder if she’s approved and inspected
I do understand how you feel but is it really that bad that you can’t sit outside if very young kids are playing next door.
I m a bit of a stickler for rules but there does have to be give and take too

If your estate has certain regulations you should have, or be able to obtain, a copy of these. We live in a controlled private estate and have a management company and a residents association. Perhaps you should start a residents group? Others may have similar concerns.

Covenants in House Deeds are there for the benefit of owners and usually benefit neighbouring properties too.
It's a legal matter If you have a convenant and want it upheld you need to see a solicitor and have him/her act on your behalf.

If you take this to its logical conclusion, it seems you will be the pariah for reporting her, depriving her of a living and putting other people in your estate under pressure.

All those who now run businesses are going to be (at the very least) wary of you in case you report them as well.

How would you feel if an English-born person with 6 lively children moved in beside you. How would you control that sort of noise in summer?

It's a difficult one and I can understand it wanting to sit out in your garden in the summer for peace and quiet.
The only thing I can suggest is earplugs and try to let it go to reduce the stress you are feeling.
From the legal point of someone running a business, like people have said even if there was a clause stating no business from the property it may have run out after 10 years.
I am sure if you have the funds you could take this to a solicitor to get their advice.
Some solicitors allow 30 minutes free consultation. You would need to phone around to find one who does this. I have used this free service myself.
Best of luck

Honestly? I wouldn't know what to suggest for you OP. Over years with changing neighbours, things change and even if they don't change, their own children grow up and increase car volume with constant people coming and going. The thing is UNLESS you live in a detached house in the middle of nowhere, it is hard to find that perfect idyllic quiet spot for ever (and even then there may be land purchased for development)

I am thinking specifically of a friend who lived in a lovely quaint cul de sac. All the neighbours got on but over the years, it changed. Not businesses per se but as I say adult children having parties and inviting all and sundry and some collecting old bangers to do up on the front lawn!

I think you will just have to weigh up just how MUCH of a nuisance your neighbours are to you? If it is just children's noise which I presume ends early in evening I doubt there is much you can do. It may well be that there is a law in place but do you really want to go down that route which will be no doubt lengthy and expensive? Not to mention the bad feelings caused?

I would say be careful what you wish for? Children playing could be the least of your worries.

And end up on terrible terms with your neighbors!

Is it worth it?

If they are causing a nuisance then complain to the local council, especially if there is a lot of noise, people complain about noisy parties and loud music playing so why not children screaming, ditto car parking.

Get a copy of your deeds, read them and, if you can afford it take out an injunction on your neighbours for breach of covenant.

You may need your young neighbor one day!

I think a bit of give and take is required

My worry would be that accepting these businesses might be setting a precedent.
If the next home-buyer decides to use the drive and garage to run a car repair business it might be difficult to complain, given that all the other businesses are well-established by now.

Firstly look up online the Local Authority list of Child Minders and check she is registered. It used to be that you could only have 3 under 5s to mind and if she has children of her own under 5 then those are deducted from the total.

It is hard on you re the noise, but people do need child minders and she is providing for that need. There ought to be a LA person who checks up on registered minders. Could you perhaps contact them and explain your problem. It might be that you can reach a compromise about how long the children play out and at what time?

There was a covenant on our houses when they were built but this expired after 10 years.

We have the same prohibition in our cul de sac and it's clearly noted in the deeds. However I wonder if, now that copies of the deeds are not issued to new buyers, whether they are even aware of this ban on businesses run from home. I'd also like to know who to approach in circumstances like yours because now that younger people are moving into our bungalows we are surely likely to have a similar problem to you. There certainly is no mention of the original developer's name in my deeds and nor is there any mention of a time lapse regarding the prohibition. I'll be interested to see if any other poster has information regarding this problem.

Katy’s
I pay for a trade waste collection. My bag goes out with the household bin.

I feel for you 4allweknow, we have the same problems, although not directly next to us, that's one of the reasons were moving.For what it's worth,i dont think it should be allowed, we all pay our rates, and as far as I know they don't pay more for running a business from home, although they generate a lot more rubbish etc than us.Our neighbours have complained several times, but got nowhere so far.

Report, report, report.

Perhaps the way to go is to see if the restrictions are written as a covenant in/on your deeds.
Also, are the people running these businesses new to your estate, as they may not be aware of the restrictions?
I must admit it is maddening, when you abide by the rules and others flout them.
We used to have a covenant, by which no caravans were allowed to be parked on a property, but that lapsed after 25 years. Has yours maybe elapsed after 10 years?

It does sound as though she shouldn’t be running a business from home.
I run my beauty therapy salon from home now that I am semi retired. Before I started I checked with the council and assured their concerns about parking. I have plenty.
I do live in a detached house on a road with garden all around and my clients are more likely to need walking sticks than trampolines.
Basically I agree with you about the rules and regulations and I am one of those people that keep off the grass if instructed to even if others are picnicking.
Would anyone know if you reported her?
Bear in mind she may move out and a family with 4 small children may move in. Then you would have the disruption at weekends and evenings too!