The thread on vehicle boarding.

[ILuvCowparsely]

I seem to remember a thread saying if vehicles are stored on your premises you are liable but can't seem to find it. The reason I ask is a local mechanic wants to knock the end of the barn down and store vehicles in the stables. I have just paid a small fortune putting drinkers in there and do not want my yard turning into a garage, upsetting liveries with vehicles and junk. Hubby seems to think it gd idea same like trailers in field as it is money for nothing. Yeh right only loosing valuable grazing
and £12 per week which is less than the diy. Not exactly a money earner.

I am sure it was on here, who remembers??

 

[The Xmas Furry]

As a land owner, you are ultimately liable for all authorised activities and persons on your land. (Whether they are there legally or not). That's H&S liable, insurance for all eventualities liable too.
I certainly wouldn't want any non equestrian activities going on in my yard!

Surely, you and husband need to discuss this?

 

[rabatsa]

You may also need change of use on the building and have to pay business rates.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I think you DO run into considerable difficulties if you take money for "storage" of vehicles.

The main problem being the fact that (obviously!) there is fuel in the vehicles, and your insurance company is liable to throw a bit of a hooley about this - and you must tell them about it. Your premium will go through the roof!!

I had a livery who wanted to park her lorry at my place; I said OK but that it was at her own risk and that I wasn't taking any money for it. It was also stated in the loan agreement that there was "no payment" for the lorry and that it was at her own risk.

A professional yard (BHS) in the vicinity has always allowed clients to store vehicles on site but will not take any money for doing so, it is stated this is at client's own risk. The clients are invited to make a voluntary donation to an equine-related charity such as RDA, Air Ambulance or local equine charity - they have a different one each month.

Please be very very careful indeed. Suggest to hubby that he ring up a few insurance companies and ask what they might be asking in way of premium for what he is proposing........... then go away and prepare a darkened room for him with a stiff drink handy coz I can pretty well predict that he will need it!

 

[chaps89]

Storage yards usually go for a lot more money than stables can be rented for!
I viewed a block of 3 gorgeous stables once, with an acre of grazing. It was advertised 2 stables for storage only for around £500 pcm I think from memory. Clearly I couldn’t compete with that price wanting the grazing and all 3 stables as well!
Likewise about an acre of hard standing was renting for over £1k pcm (near Heathrow admittedly) last year - and it went quickly.
So if you do decide to go ahead ensure you charge accordingly - if nothing else, as pointed out above there will almost certainly be larger costs incurred, even if he sorts the knocking down of walls etc