• 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: 194

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

  • 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: 194

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

  • 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

  • Mac99
  • Noisy neighbour!
  • Offline
  • Registered: 16 April 2010
  • Posts: 113

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

Hi,

Some bits for you to have a look at:

http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/7216 … ILC-SEARCH

http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/7117 … ILC-SEARCH

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/s … =firefox-a

Regards
Mac

Last edited by Mac99 (4 August 2010 13:51)

Quote Post 6

  • Registered: 1 April 2010
  • Posts: 194

Re: my new neighbours are running a nursery from home

Yes, but has her new house been approved?

Quote Post 7