Today I was asked if I'd consider renting out our unused driveway at the side of the house so someone could park his RV.

I was so surprised I didn't think to ask what he had in mind - Winter, whole year round, just summer availability etc.

I've already seen that in some places making it a commercial arrangement is against bylaws.

But what other issues might there be such as minimum distance from house or boundaries, insurance problems, neighbours, income tax, property tax etc

Not sure about the insurance you might wanna look into that one carefully cos if it get damaged or broken into while on your property then you're opening a whole big can of whoop ass.

The only thing I do know is that (certainly in AB) it cannot overhang your property or cause even the slightest obstruction to the walkway or your lovely neighbours will be onto the town before you can blink and you get something like 72 hours to move it before they fine you.

As a going concern, it can only enhance your property value.

We have a small sailboat. At 25' it could fit into our driveway, but we choose not to as we are in a city-lot type neighbourhood. Since it sits up on its trailer at a height of about 14 ft, folks who aren't sailors don't much appreciate it.

At our previous address we had 1-1/4 acres and kept it alongside the house without a hint of trouble. We had some enquiries from other sailors about keeping their boats at our place as well, and I would have gladly done it.

I can't say what going rates for boat/RV storage are in your area, you should shop around a bit to establish what things cost before setting a rate.

Have the owner sign a waiver stating that you are not responsible for theft, vandalism, or other damage. Also make it clear in writing that your kids may beat it with sticks, the lawnmower may throw a rock, there is no protection at your place.

Do not connect the RV to household electric. Last thing you want is a burning RV outside your bedroom window. Do not allow them to empty tanks into your septic. Find out if they plan on using your house as a maintenance yard or weekend getaway. Either of these could be problematic.

For simple storage though, you might as well go for the extra cash.

rofl

I think I saw something about 2.5m from the house for somewhere in Alberta while another place said a metre. That's quite a difference. 8' from the house? That's going to move it over a lot!

Kijiji has people asking $100 for the winter, which doesn't seem much, while others are asking $50 a month for a car in work hours only.

Is such a thing binding? What if I'm the one who damages it? Or sells it?

Thanks for the responses so far.

My neighbour did exactly that and I went apeshit about it. Ugly as sin and it blocked the view and blocked the light. The township has no bylaws against it, some do some don't. As the neighbour was away I went round to the owner's house and persuaded him to move it. Not long after he was detained in Mexico while his wife came home and took out a restraining order against him.

How close are you to your neighbours and how much do you care about upsetting them?

Actually thats one of the things you want the right to do - if the owner goes AWOL on you, and you have a rusting heap of junk by the house, you want the right to dispose of it, despite it being registered in the owner's name. That could mean parting it out, or selling it.

All of this is pretty straight forward and is in most storage contracts.

Depending on who built your driveway, it could get broken. A lot of driveways have been built with only page-wire reinforcing, (adequate for passenger cars), and an rv would require a minimum 1/2" rebar, (5/8 would be better) tied in a 2' page.

Not sure how close it was but if it was further away from the lot lines than building setbacks allow, I don't know what basis you can complain about it. Ugly is not something that by-law enforcement officers can go by to have somebody move it. Some municipalities don't allow trailers etc to be on driveways for more than a fixed number of days, but if you live in a smaller place that isn't typically common.

No more than nodding hello, really. He occasionally uses his snowblower on the city plow's ridge at the end of the drive, which can be a great help. I do his path to front door sometimes.

People are quite informal around here....which is probably a bad thing now you bring that point up.

I don't have a clue about those technicalities, but that's a new consideration, thanks.

I'm definitely feeling against the idea.

Definitely check the by-laws some areas around here, for example, have restrictions on the height of a vehicle that can be parked - an RV would exceed that height.

The by-law in Gatineau is very clear. The RV must belong to the resident.

You have to keep an eye on by-laws. We have rented a carport for the winter. The guys who installed it got the tape measure out before they did anything. The thing had to be the right distance from the kerb and from a hydrant.

I love the carport already.

Do you mean one of these

http://www.karoesler.com/images/Temp%20Garage.JPG

If so, your assimilation into QC is complete....

Here in Ottawa, they are only permitted in the former City of Vanier. It is a rule that is not enforced a great deal.

Certainly a benefit should you fall out with your other half..no more sleeping on the sofa..i mean you could drag an argument/sulk for weeks