Licensing of Mobile Home sites

To run a caravan and camping site you need a licence from us.

From 1st April 2014, the Mobile Homes Act 2013 introduced changes to Mobile Homes Site Licensing. The Act is designed to give greater protection to occupiers of residential caravan and mobile homes.  It also gives the Council greater powers to monitor mobile home site licences to ensure the conditions are met to carry out effective enforcement where appropriate.

The Changes have no impact on holiday caravan site licences.

Site Rules

The site owner may set site rules on residential caravan sites. The Council does not enforce these rules, although some rules may be a duplicate of the site licence conditions. The site rules are part of the contract between the home owner and supplement the Mobile Homes Written Agreement between both parties.

Licence Summary

We keep a Register of Site Rules where the site owner has set their own rules for a residential park home site.

Conditions may be attached to a licence to cover any of the following:

• restricting when caravans can be on the site for human habitation or restricting the number of caravans that can be on the site at any one time
• controlling the types of caravans on the site
• controlling the positioning of the caravans or regulating the use of other structures and vehicles including tents
• to ensure steps are taken enhance the land, including planting/replanting bushes and trees
• fire safety and fire fighting controls
• to ensure that sanitary and other facilities, services and equipment are supplied and maintained

Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must be entitled to use the land as a caravan site.

Licences will not be issued to applicants who have had a site licence revoked within three years of the current application.

Regulation Summary

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence

Application Evaluation Process

Applications for site licences are made to the local authority in whose area the land situated.

Applications must be in writing, should detail the land the application concerns and any other information required by the local authority.

Will Tacit Consent Apply?

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period

Apply online

Apply to run a caravan site or camp site

Tell us about a change to your existing caravan or camp site

To transfer a caravan or camp site licence

Fees policy for Licensing of Residential Park Homes [pdf] 183KB

Failed Application Redress

You are advised to take up any issue with the local authority first.

If a licence holder is refused an application to alter a condition they may appeal to the local Magistrates' court or, in Scotland, the Sheriff. The appeal must be made within 28 days of the written notification of the refusal and a notice of appeal must be served on the local district council.

Licence Holder Redress

You are advised to take up any issue with the local authority first.

If a licence holder wishes to appeal against a condition attached to a licence they may appeal to the local Magistrates' Court or, in Scotland, the Sheriff. The appeal must be made within 28 days of the licence being issued.

The local district council may alter conditions at any time but must give licence holders the opportunity to make representations about the proposed changes. If a licence holder disagrees with the alterations they may appeal to the local Magistrates' court or, in Scotland, the Sheriff. The appeal must be made within 28 days of the written notification of the alteration and a notice of appeal must be served on the local district council.

Consumer Complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Citizens Advice Service will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.

Other Redress

E.g.. about noise, pollution, etc. Also should one licence holder complain about another.

Fit and Proper Person Test

The Mobile Homes (Requirement for Manager of Site to be Fit and Proper Person) (England) Regulations 2020 (“the Regulations”) introduced a fit and proper person test for mobile home site owners or the person appointed to manage the site, unless exempted by the Regulations.

Fit and Proper Person Register [pdf] 196KB

Please see below for the Council’s policies on this matter: 

Fit and proper person Determination Policy [pdf] 276KB

Fit and proper person Policy [pdf] 194KB

Trade Associations

Association of Caravan and Camping Exempted Organisations (ACCEO)

British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA)

British Resorts and Destinations Association

Caravan Industry Training (CITO)

Federation of Tour Operators (FTO)

Group Travel Organisers Association (GTOA)

Hotel Marketing Association

National Caravan Council (NCC)