• Registered: 26 July 2010
  • Posts: 1

Topic: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

Hello

I have new neighbours who have moved into the rented house that backs onto my garden. They are running a nursery/child-minding service from their conservatory which is in full view of our house and not very far away as our gardens are quite short. She spends most of the day with the children either in the conservatory or the garden. My husband and I both work from home and the noise they create is really starting to disrupt our working day. The children are about from Mon to Frid from 7.30/8am until around 5. This was a very quiet neighbourhood until 6 weeks ago.

Any advice on what I can do? I haven't even spoken to her yet - I wanted to know all my rights and legislations before I go around and explain the situation to her.

I welcome any comments or advice.

Quote Post 1

  • Registered: 1 April 2010
  • Posts: 454

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

Easy, Sunshine - this I do know, as I know a couple of childminders. Ring up your council, and ask if the woman is registered as a childminder. All childminders have to have all sorts of checks, so the council will know!

Thinking on this since yesterday, it does seem very odd that the woman has only just moved in to rented accommodation, and is immediately looking after children there. For anyone to look after a large number of children, all day, (and without doubt, for payment) requires checks to be made on the accommodation - for obvious reasons. I'd guess that she was already a childminder, has moved, and believed that she could just carry on as normal. Unless that house had already been checked beforehand, then she shouldn't be continuing without checks being made. It may well be, too, that immediate neighbours should have been informed of the intention, as this is basically another (potentially noisy) business being run from a domestic dwelling. Definitely contact the council, Sunshine!

Quote Post 2

  • pressy
  • New neighbour
  • Offline
  • Registered: 28 July 2010
  • Posts: 2

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

Is it a coincidence? or do you live in LE13 like me.  I live next door but one to the exact same situation as you and I have written to MBC about this issue.  It is important that you and I encourage all our neighbours to write and complain about this intrusion on our previous relatively peaceful existence. Like you I was going to knock on the door and complain, but their lack of consideration to neighbours is already evident so why and how would they respond to a polite request? I doubt it would do any good.
Make it formal and quick is I believe the best approach.

Quote Post 3

  • Registered: 1 April 2010
  • Posts: 454

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

Pressy, I advise you NOT to take things into your own hands before checking.  Yes, get the other neighbours' support, by all means, but don't go to this woman in 'battle mode'! If you do, you could end up having the tables turned. These people just MAY be under the impression that moving to another proerty with their child minding is permitted, simply because they had permission at their previous house. Please, check with the council first.

Quote Post 4

  • pressy
  • New neighbour
  • Offline
  • Registered: 28 July 2010
  • Posts: 2

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

My local council has responded to my enquiry and have replied,

"Thank you for bringing this complaint to my attention. I have consulted with an officer of our planning service and it appears that for a child minder to be able to care for up to six children under the age of 8 planning permission is not needed. Courts have previously determined that children playing in a normal manner is not a statutory noise nuisance. I note also that the events you describe are not noise sensitive times.  That is it is not before 7:am or late into the evening.

The result of this is that there is no legal action I can take on your behalf.  Should you wish however, I am happy to bring your complaint to the occupiers of the property.  Should I do so, you would not be identified. You may however wish to discuss your complaint with the occupiers of the house yourself."

On the assumption that the lady doing the child minding is approved and registered there is little else that can be done.

Quote Post 5

  • Registered: 1 April 2010
  • Posts: 454

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

Yes, but has her new house been approved?

Quote Post 6

  • jaytee
  • Noisy neighbour
  • Offline
  • Registered: 4 February 2011
  • Posts: 372

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

Sound awful but out of interest I am asking:

Does the property not have to be approved only from a health and safety perspective?  That would not  necessarily include  considering neighbours. I think it is quite  common for smaller child minding facilities with a registered childminder to take place within the child minders house  which may or may not have neighbours close by.

Again it is  other people  not giving consideration to neighbours.

Quote Post 7

8 Reply by PinkMole

  • PinkMole
  • Unregistered poster

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

Does anyone know what the "children playing in a normal manner is not nuisance" case is called?

Quote Post 8

  • Registered: 7 December 2010
  • Posts: 1,745

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

Blooming ridiculous is what its called Pink...some people might not find children playing a nuisence but how can 1 person look after 6 kids at the same time???! Jeeez I have trouble with just 1 when they're kicking off!

Quote Post 9

  • jaytee
  • Noisy neighbour
  • Offline
  • Registered: 4 February 2011
  • Posts: 372

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

I would say 6 of them  could make a dreadful nosie. The collective sound of screams - Not good for anybody.

Quote Post 10

11 Reply by karen

  • karen
  • Unregistered poster

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

jaytee wrote:

I would say 6 of them  could make a dreadful nosie. The collective sound of screams - Not good for anybody.

hi i have a childminder next to me she her daughter mother and husband and sometimes other paid help work at this small house she works any time this includes all day every day she usually starts at 6.30am till 7.30pm but she has over nights and weekend both houses are for sale ever side of her we stand to lose out on thousands and we recon shes on 70 80 grand most i counted is18 children i complaind to every one and no one gives dam and nose is so loud with doors and shut istill carn t here tv iask them not park over the drive and he s thretend me now every time i go in the garden teenagers stero out of the back window the sadest thing is i am paying the same raters as her they residentel street screeming war zone it 5pm you carnt hear your self think and shes making money over fist and it wrong while her niegours have to docs about there shatted nerves

Quote Post 11

12 Reply by karen

  • karen
  • Unregistered poster

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

karen wrote:
jaytee wrote:

I would say 6 of them  could make a dreadful nosie. The collective sound of screams - Not good for anybody.

hi i have a childminder next to me .she her daughter, mother and husband and sometimes other paid help help work at this small house she works any time this includes all day every day she usually starts at 6.30am till 7.30pm but she has over nights and weekend Both houses are for sale ether side of her we stand to lose out on thousands and we recon shes on 70 80 grand the most i counted is18 children I complaind to every one and no one gives dam and nose is so loud ,with the doors and shut I still carn t here tv I ask them not to park over the drive and husbond thretend me now every time I go in the garden her teenagers stero is blearing out of the back window the sadest thing is I am paying the same raters as her we are suposed to live on residentel street I DID NOT WANT TO LIVE NEXT TO LARGE NURSREY WHICH IS OPEN EVERY DAY SATERDAY AND SUNDAY screeming kids its a war zone? at 5pm you carnt hear your self think and shes making money over fist and it wrong while SHES MAKING MONEY AND NOT PAYING BUSSNESS RATES and I have to docs about there shatted nerves

sorry? it is the first warm day of the year and she has then all outside well she has put up two large out door rooms{sheads} so her house dose not get spoild and am left shaking and I will never enjoy my garden again

Quote Post 12

  • jaytee
  • Noisy neighbour
  • Offline
  • Registered: 4 February 2011
  • Posts: 372

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

I wonder is she allowed to use the sheds for that purpose.

That sounds dreadful. Are the other residents not in support of your objection to this 'at home' nursery?

Quote Post 13

  • Registered: 1 April 2010
  • Posts: 454

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

Karen, the children noise issue in a business setting isn't the same as in a residential situation, and the rules may well be different in your area. Please contact the Environmental Health department at your local council, and make sure you mention that you're also worried about the Health and Safety situation. I suspect that the 'sheds' are garden buildings, rather than small store type sheds, but the H&S issue is still relevant. For example, if there are very young children, are they likely to get splinters in themselves, and are the floors of these buildings covered? Are there pets wandering aroud with the children? Unless ALL places that the children are likely to play have been checked by the council, then the children shouldn't be there!

I suspect, Karen, that English isn't your first language. No problem, but could you try to write slightly shorter sentences, please, as it's quite difficult to work out what you're saying.

Quote Post 14

15 Reply by karen

  • karen
  • Unregistered poster

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

bearness wrote:

Karen, the children noise issue in a business setting isn't the same as in a residential situation, and the rules may well be different in your area. Please contact the Environmental Health department at your local council, and make sure you mention that you're also worried about the Health and Safety situation. I suspect that the 'sheds' are garden buildings, rather than small store type sheds, but the H&S issue is still relevant. For example, if there are very young children, are they likely to get splinters in themselves, and are the floors of these buildings covered? Are there pets wandering aroud with the children? Unless ALL places that the children are likely to play have been checked by the council, then the children shouldn't be there!

I suspect, Karen, that English isn't your first language. No problem, but could you try to write slightlyshorter sentences, please, as it's quite difficult to work out what you're saying.

t

today there was birthday party in the back garden such screaming fun. Were is health and safty in all this , she wanders down the pavment from the school her and her helper both pushing prams both with four children hanging on to the sides its only a matter of time before one gets on the road god forbid and gots hit by a car

Quote Post 15