Caravan and camping sites

Mobile Homes Act 2013

The Mobile Homes Act 2013. This act covers the civil law between site owners and residents on 'relevant protected sites'.

A relevant protected site is one which has planning permission for permanent residential use and has been issued with a site licence. These sites are typically known as residential park homes or mobile home parks.

The Mobile Homes Act 2013 also made some changes to the way that site rules are made on relevant protected sites and how they are made available for people to see.

In February 2015 all existing site rules ceased to have effect. Site owners must now follow a legal process of consulting their residents about any new site rules that they wish to introduce. This is the case even where replacement rules are the same or similar to existing rules. Site owners are required to follow the correct process for site rules to be valid.

If residents do not agree with the proposed rules, they can appeal the decision to a tribunal who will determine whether the proposal is allowed. Once the rules have been agreed, they must be deposited with us, and we will publish them on our website.

Under the Mobile Homes Act 2013 the Council can now charge a fee. This is to recover its costs for administering the licensing function for relevant protected sites.

Fee Policy and charges

Register of sites

There are currently 6 sites in the district and 3 of them are relevant protected sites.

Site Rules

West Park Homes - Date deposited 11 November 2014 site rules

Oakland Hill Park Home Estate  site rules 

Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960

The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 prohibits the use of land as a caravan site. This is unless the occupier holds a site licence issued by the Council.

A caravan site includes anywhere a caravan (including mobile or 'park' home) is situated and occupied for human habitation. This includes touring sites and single sites.

Sites can be for:

• permanent caravans (utilised as holiday caravans)
• touring caravans
• permanent residential caravans

If you allow your land to be used as a camping site by the public for more than 42 days consecutively - or 60 days in a year - you require a licence.

A licence may only be granted if the land has appropriate planning consent at the time when the licence is issued.

There are exemptions

• a caravan sited within the grounds of a dwelling and its use is incidental to the use of the dwelling. This means that it can't be occupied separately
  
  
• a single caravan sited for not more than two consecutive nights for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months
  
  
• up to three caravans on a site of not less than five acres for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months
  
  
• sites occupied by the local authority. These are usually Traveller sites
  
  
• sites for temporary and special purposes such as:
  • caravan rallies
  • agricultural and forestry workers
  • building and engineering sites
  • travelling showmen
    
    
• a site for tents can only be used for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months
  
  
• there are exceptions for organisations that hold camping exemption certificates

Licence Conditions

The licence conditions for Caravan Sites in our District are based on the Model Standards for Caravan Sites in England. However, the conditions will be customised to suit each specific application.

These site licence conditions aim to ensure the well-being and safety of caravan occupants and cover various aspects such as:

• the type of caravan
  
  
• fire safety precautions and electrical installations
  
  
• water supply and drainage, lavatory, and washing facilities
  
  
• the positioning, density, and distance between caravans

Once licensed, sites maybe subject to inspections. This is to make sure compliance with the conditions and complaints will be investigated.

Register of fit and proper persons

The Mobile Homes (Requirement for Manager of Site to be Fit and Proper Person) (England) Regulations 2020 ensure that land can only be used as a residential mobile home site. This is if the owner or manager is deemed a fit and proper person by the local authority.

This test aims to enhance the standards of park home site management. The site owner must apply to the local authority to have themselves or the site manager included on a register of fit and proper persons. This can be accessed below.

Register for fit and proper persons

For enquiries relating to holiday parks or touring caravan sites use the environmental health contact us details.

For enquiries related to residential park homes / mobile home parks use the strategic housing contact us details.