One neighbour’s complaint just cost this Aussie $80 a month—could it happen on your street too?
- Replies 1
A Perth family returned from a European holiday to an unexpected problem waiting at their doorstep.
A council ranger knocked just hours after they landed, demanding that their caravan be removed from outside their home.
The order came after a neighbour lodged a complaint, forcing the owner to find—and pay for—alternative storage.
Eddy Luquero had owned his caravan for more than three years when the council became involved.
The knock at the door came while he and his wife were overseas, with a ranger advising their son that the vehicle could not remain parked on the verge outside their Ocean Reef home.
When Eddy returned, the ranger appeared again within three hours of him stepping back into the house.
'My wife and I were in Europe, but our son was at home... The council ranger said they'd had a complaint from someone in the area,' Eddy told Yahoo News.
'We were back a fortnight later, and we'd literally been back in the house for about three hours from the airport, and lo and behold, the lady turned up again.'
The council’s rules were clear—unattached caravans, boats, and trailers were not permitted on verges, roads, or car parks at any time.
With little choice, Eddy relocated his caravan to a storage facility 20 minutes away, now paying $80 a month just to keep it there.
He said the new arrangement had made caravanning less convenient, turning a simple getaway into a logistical exercise.
'I've got to go over there in the car now, get it, bring it back to my house, load it up, then go,' he explained.
'I really don't understand. Yes, if I'm pulling out or pulling in, it does take a little bit to get into the correct position... but it's no problem when it's there.'
Caravan parking has become a flashpoint across the country as popularity surges and streets grow more crowded.
The community reporting app Snap Send Solve revealed it had already received 2,100 complaints this year about caravans parked in residential areas.
One Sunshine Coast resident even launched a petition after caravans blocked both sides of his driveway, with more than 500 signatures supporting tighter restrictions.
Meanwhile, Sydney’s Northern Beaches Council has been running its own investigation into how to manage the growing issue.
Traffic lawyer Avinash Singh warned that failing to plan caravan storage could quickly turn neighbours against each other.
'You don't want to be putting all your neighbours and the rest of the community offside with a caravan causing issues for parking,' he told Yahoo News.
'Sometimes, because of their size, they can even be a danger in terms of driving.'
He urged prospective owners to check their council regulations and have a storage plan before committing to such a large purchase.
Parking disputes like Eddy’s aren’t isolated—councils across the country have been fielding a surge of complaints about caravans, boats, and trailers left on verges or streets.
In some areas, the rules are even stricter, with rangers actively patrolling and issuing fines.
One recent case shows just how heated these clashes can become when neighbours and councils lock horns over space.
Read more: Is your neighbor breaking the rules? What you need to know about the council’s crackdown on caravans and boats
Would you be frustrated if a neighbour’s complaint suddenly left you paying extra just to enjoy your own caravan?
A council ranger knocked just hours after they landed, demanding that their caravan be removed from outside their home.
The order came after a neighbour lodged a complaint, forcing the owner to find—and pay for—alternative storage.
Eddy Luquero had owned his caravan for more than three years when the council became involved.
The knock at the door came while he and his wife were overseas, with a ranger advising their son that the vehicle could not remain parked on the verge outside their Ocean Reef home.
When Eddy returned, the ranger appeared again within three hours of him stepping back into the house.
Neighbour complaint sparks costly caravan dispute. Image source: Facebook/Eddy Luquero
'My wife and I were in Europe, but our son was at home... The council ranger said they'd had a complaint from someone in the area,' Eddy told Yahoo News.
'We were back a fortnight later, and we'd literally been back in the house for about three hours from the airport, and lo and behold, the lady turned up again.'
The council’s rules were clear—unattached caravans, boats, and trailers were not permitted on verges, roads, or car parks at any time.
With little choice, Eddy relocated his caravan to a storage facility 20 minutes away, now paying $80 a month just to keep it there.
He said the new arrangement had made caravanning less convenient, turning a simple getaway into a logistical exercise.
'I've got to go over there in the car now, get it, bring it back to my house, load it up, then go,' he explained.
'I really don't understand. Yes, if I'm pulling out or pulling in, it does take a little bit to get into the correct position... but it's no problem when it's there.'
Caravan parking has become a flashpoint across the country as popularity surges and streets grow more crowded.
The community reporting app Snap Send Solve revealed it had already received 2,100 complaints this year about caravans parked in residential areas.
One Sunshine Coast resident even launched a petition after caravans blocked both sides of his driveway, with more than 500 signatures supporting tighter restrictions.
Meanwhile, Sydney’s Northern Beaches Council has been running its own investigation into how to manage the growing issue.
Traffic lawyer Avinash Singh warned that failing to plan caravan storage could quickly turn neighbours against each other.
'You don't want to be putting all your neighbours and the rest of the community offside with a caravan causing issues for parking,' he told Yahoo News.
'Sometimes, because of their size, they can even be a danger in terms of driving.'
He urged prospective owners to check their council regulations and have a storage plan before committing to such a large purchase.
Parking disputes like Eddy’s aren’t isolated—councils across the country have been fielding a surge of complaints about caravans, boats, and trailers left on verges or streets.
In some areas, the rules are even stricter, with rangers actively patrolling and issuing fines.
One recent case shows just how heated these clashes can become when neighbours and councils lock horns over space.
Read more: Is your neighbor breaking the rules? What you need to know about the council’s crackdown on caravans and boats
Would you be frustrated if a neighbour’s complaint suddenly left you paying extra just to enjoy your own caravan?
.png){kind=icon}
