2 classic cars parked up, Laois CoCo demanding them to be removed

iguy

A friend invested in 2 cheap classic cars, he lives in a council owned property, he just recently bought them, end of last year , they are kept in the large back yard, almost 2 months ago a routine check from two council officials took place, he was told everything seemed ok, and was asked to clear out a shed, and the officials joked(or seemingly joked) that getting rid of the cars would help pay for the skip(s) required to clean up shed, etc.

After a month they called back again and they were happy with the shed, yard, etc, nothing said about the cars, today marks just a little over 2 months and he got a call from a council officials saying the cars had to go, they were scrap and they detracted from the area, my friend told the council official that the cars were doing no harm, and can barely be seen from the road as the yard is big, and the cars are hidden from plain view, he said he'd put them in the shed, the official said no and the tenancy would be breached if the cars were not removed in the next few weeks,

How is that even possible, my friend says there is nothing in his agreement/contract with Laois CoCo stating that cars can't be kept, as he put it they are in the confines of the yard, not on the road, or even on the drive, I'm assuming cars can be kept on rented property, he's going to his solicitor tomorrow to see what they think.

shimadzu

Depends on the condition of the cars, if they are road worthy, taxed and insured your friend would be able to argue their case. If they have been sitting for a while and no progress has been made to improve their condition between inspections the council are right to push for their removal. It used to be a common sight to see a car rotting in front of a council house as the tenants refused to pay to scrap a non-functioning vehicle and the council would eventually have to remove the eyesore at taxpayers expense as result most councils would have policies in place regarding vehicles that can be stored on council property.

Smee_Again

Its probably irrelevant that its 2 cars, the issue is that the CoCo consider the cars as waste/rubbish etc and there will be a clause about keeping the grounds neat and tidy.

elperello

Your friend should contact a local councillor as well.

Classic cars are an established hobby and their owners often raise funds for charity by organising shows and runs.

It seems unreasonable to prevent a council tenant from partaking in his chosen hobby.

Is there a specific clause in the lease forbidding keeping cars in the yard ?

Maybe if he put one in the shed and a car cover on the other one it would help.

ballyharpat

I agree, tax them, insure them, then they are fine, if he doesnt't do that, they are just rustbuckets. I'd hate to be looking out my window and seeing 2 piles of scrap in the yard.

Ive a vintage car, it takes a lot of maintenance and it's garaged. I know a lot of lads that bought a 'vintage' 'classic' car, left it in the yard and it's still there 5/10 years later till they get time/money.

Ray Palmer

What some people see as two cheap classic cars others will see junk. The fact he already had to be "asked" to clear out the shed suggests he is not keeping the place as he should. The routine checks are rare they normally go to problem houses that are reported by other residents. I am assuming the other neighbours can see these cars from their top floor back windows.

How much work has he done on these cars for the last 10 months?

He certainly wouldn't have the right to park them there in private rentals without explicit permission from the landlord and could be requested to move them at his expense not the landlord's. While the contract might not mention cars it will mention maintenance and junk (which some may see the cars as).

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122115092#Comment_122115092

Tax and insure them doesn't matter if they are rust buckets that can't go on the road. They need to be be road worthy or at least being worked on not to be rubbish.

iguy

Thanks all for your replies, he went to his solicitor, this morning ,

the solicitor advised him to declare the cars of road, and if possible join a vintage/classic club, the solicitor said that no local authority in Ireland can prevent one from keeping cars, apparently he's asked that a lot, he told me friend that even private homeowners, the council may ask someone to remove unused vehicles, the stance the local authority use the vehicles might attract vermin, etc.

The solicitor said local authorities use scare tactics, but not to give in,

My friend intends on using them as show cars, one of them will be classed as a vintage in a few years time, he got lucky, he knows and others know the cars together a worth 10 fold what he paid for them and once fully restored that can be doubled,

In regards to the shed, he retired last year, he's a mechanic, and he used to rent a unit and small yard, and he brought everything back, bits of scrap, end of life or near broken tools, he just flung it into the shed at his house, didn't organise it, and the shed by his own admission was somewhat of a death trap, he's an absolute gent, he used to own a farm machinery (imports) and garage(cars), and imported cars during the boom/Celtic Tiger, two companies he dealt with, one in Wales(for the tractors and agricultural machinery) and one in England(cars) went bust, he was due 55+ cars and 70 machinery, tractors, vintage, he specialised in automatic cars mostly that couldn't be got in Ireland, same with tractors, and he sourced vintage tractors/machinery, cars, etc , he had big money paid and he never got his cars or his money back, he was so unlucky that both of the businesses, owned separately went bust within weeks of each other,

he had other debts and bad investments, however the investments usually paid out, 3rd time unlucky, by his own admission he never saved, what profit he had he'd spend it, and he was always buying the best of tools, fancy gadgets and he employed 24 people at one stage, he'd reinvest, but he had like many back then, loans from banks, credit unions and others left right and centre, nearly almost every residential mobile home park in Ireland he had a mobile home, always up to date top of the range with mod cons,

Like many he lost it all, and it was a big shock for him when he became homeless, after a ten year battle at the end of 2018 he lost his home, that was in his family for over 200 years, the only saving grace was he gave his son the farm in 05, he was always a motor head, farming in the sons blood, skipped his generation.

Ezeoul

You gave an awful lot of identifiable information there that was not really necessary!

Field east

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122119553#Comment_122119553

so

GSBellew

Curious as to how this pans out.

I'm not in a council property, but always have a few cars that I'm working on, there have been times I've been afraid of a letter landing in from the council about end of life vehicles.

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122119601#Comment_122119601

If I was your friend, I wouldn't be happy about so much (unnecessary) detail about me and my businesses (past and present) being posted on a public forum. Not to metntion its not really relevant to the question you asked advice on.

Like I said, you've made him easily identifiable. But maybe he won't mind!

Jet Black

The council dont want them on the property because they are difficult to get rid of or even move if the lessor leaves or passes away. Could be months or even years and that property has to remain vacant until the cars are removed. There's a few more issues I could list for you but I think that it is fairly reasonable for them not to want them on the property.

Their decision is based on practical concerns to avoid wasting time, money, and resources on potential complications that could be avoided. Prevention is better than cure.

herbalplants

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122119945#Comment_122119945

I agree too much personal info. Not necessary.

iguy

He knows what I'm posting, he wanted me to explain, he hates living in a council property, there are people in the community, thinking he had money in offshore accounts or whatever you call them,

It's not hard to figure out who he is, and he doesn't mind, admittedly I went off track.

However an update,

Three local authority officers called this morning, it turned out they don't give a monkeys about the cars, he was reported as working from the house, which is a big no no, I even know a business can't be operated from rented residential properties,

Apparently he was reported and the person reporting claimed he imported the cars for a customer,

The council official said provided the cars are for personal use and restoring for his own purpose/hobby that's fair enough, and as the solicitor mentioned declare them off road, the council asked him to do so and when they are roadworthy them he could perhaps use them as show cars,

Also he was told not to allow vermin to make the cars their home, they told him he'd be amazed the amount of people have vehicles and do next to nothing with them and vermin make the vehicles their home.

They told him they'd call back in a year or so and check progress, they apologised for any inconvenience and distress, and stated as required, with reports protocols have to be followed.

Thanks all for your views and responses.

Trigger Happy

This sounds like BS to be honest.

iguy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122121009#Comment_122121009

If you say so, everyone has their views and opinions.