Caravans and Mobile Homes
The Caravan and Control of Development Act 1960
The Caravan and Control of Development Act 1960 prohibits the use of land as a caravan site unless the occupier holds a site licence that has been issued by the local authority.
A licence cannot be issued unless planning permission has been granted allowing the land to be used as a caravan site.
How to apply
Please complete the application form to:
- apply for a residential caravan site licence,
- transfer one to a new owner or leaseholder, or
- alter the conditions attached to a current licence.
The application must include the current fee, please see our fees and charges, also a site plan of 1:500 scale showing the layout of roads, caravans, structures and facilities (a plan is not required for an application for alteration of licence conditions unless the proposal changes the site layout).
The fees are calculated each year in line with our Mobile Homes Fee Policy.
Exemptions
There are some exceptions to the requirement for a caravan site licence:
- A caravan sited with the curtilage of a dwelling and its use is incidental to the dwelling. This means it cannot 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 exempted organisations such as the Caravan Club.
- Sites of up to five caravans certified by an exempt organisation and which are for members only.
- Sites occupied by the Local Authority.
- Sites for temporary and special purposes such as caravan rallies, agricultural and forestry workers, building and engineering sites and travelling salesmen.
- A site for tents only can be used for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months.
Eligibility Criteria
The applicant must be entitled to use the land as a caravan site. The application must be in writing and valid planning permission must be obtained before a licence can be issued. Licences will not be issued to applicants who have had a site licence revoked within three years of the current application.
Licence conditions
Licences have conditions attached which may include:
- Controlling the type of caravan, eg residential, static holiday or touring
- Restricting when caravans can be on the site for habitation, the number of caravans and the spacing between caravans
- Ensuring maintenance and safety of facilities on sites eg water supplies, drainage, fire precautions and electrical installations
What happens next?
Once your application form has been received an inspection of the premises will be undertaken before the licence is issued.
What if my application is refused?
Please contact the licensing service in the first instance. An appeal against the refusal to issue a licence can be made to the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).
Consumer complaints
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first point of contact should be made with the service provider (The Council). If this has not worked and you are located in the UK then contact Consumer Direct. If you are outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
Register
View licence information on the public register.
Mobile Homes Act 2013
The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 is amended by the Mobile Homes Act 2013, which came into force on 1st April 2014. Local Authorities can charge fees for their licensing functions in respect of 'relevant protected sites'.
A 'relevant protected site' is defined as any land to be used as a caravan site other than one where a licence is:
- Granted for holiday use only
- In any other way subject to conditions which restrict the usage of the site for the stationing of caravans for human habitation at certain times of the year (such as planning conditions)
- Relevant protected sites are typically known as residential parks, mobile home parks, Gypsy Roma and Traveller sites and so on.
The Mobile Homes Fees
The Mobile Homes Act 2013 also amended the Mobile Homes Act 1983 by requiring Local Authorities to oversee and validate the park rules formed between park owners and their residents in the manner prescribed under the Mobile Homes (Site Rules) (England) Regulations 2014.
Site Rules
The Mobile Homes (Site Rules) (England) Regulations 2014 prescribe the procedure for the making, variation and deletion of site rules on residential mobile home parks. Site Licence Holders must follow a set procedure for changes to be made to “site rules” for a permanent residential home site.
Once the rules have been agreed, they must be deposited with the Local Authority and we will publish them on our website. Please note that Rushcliffe Borough Council does not have any enforcement powers to object to site rules and you should seek legal advice if you disagree with rules in place for your site. Advice on site rules can be obtained from Lease – Park Homes Lease Advice.
‘Disclaimer’ regarding Mobile Homes Site Rules
All Site Rules received by Rushcliffe Borough Council are required to be published under Regulation 16 of the Mobile Homes (Site Rules) (England) Regulations 2014. The Site Rules that are published to the Register as required by the above Regulation are an exact copy as presented to Rushcliffe Borough Council. The Council accepts no responsibility if there are errors or omissions regarding the site rules. Further:
- The Local Authority does not endorse or approve these Site Rules.
- The Local Authority is not responsible for their content or enforcement.
The Local Authority is obliged to maintain a public register of all site rules that have been deposited. The register can be found below:
| Date of deposit |
Site | Site rules |
|---|---|---|
| 18.11.2014 | Gamston, Bassingfield Lane, Gamston, Nottinghamshire. NG26NJ | Gamston Site |
| 17.12.2014 | Tollerton, Tollerton Lane, Tollerton, Nottingham, NG12 4DG | Tollerton Park |
| 16.12.2014 | Bridgford Court, Trent Lane, East Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, NG13 8PF | Bridgford Court |
| 12.01.2016 | Radcliffe Park, Wharf Lane, Radcliffe on Trent, Nottingham. NG12 2AP | Radcliffe Park |
| 29.09.2014 | Langar Woods, Harby Road, Langar, Nottinghamshire, NG13 9HZ | Langar Woods |
| 26.08.2014 | Greenacres, Adbolton Lane, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire. NG25AZ | Greenacres site rules |
| 19.11.2014 | Carlight Gardens, Adbolton Lane, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire. NG25AZ | Carlight Gardens |
The Mobile Homes (Requirements for Manager of Site to Fit and Proper) (England) Regulations 2020
From 1 July 2021 new regulations apply to owners and licence holders of residential caravan sites. The purpose of the legislation is to improve the standards of park home site management, by introducing an assessment to ensure that the person responsible for managing the site is suitable and of good character, and as such does not pose a risk to the welfare or safety of persons occupying mobile homes on the site. The requirement for the person responsible for managing the site to be a fit and proper person is in addition to the requirement for a site to be licensed.
The fit and proper person requirement will make it an offence for a site licence holder to operate a park home site unless they, or their appointed manager, are a fit and proper person to do so. Under some circumstances we have the power to appoint a fit and proper person to manage the site, with the owner's consent.
How to apply
Completed applications can be submitted to the local authority, download and complete the form. The deadline for applications is 1 October 2021.
What must a site owner do?
Site owners operating a relevant protected site must apply (after 1 July 2021) to us for the relevant person (themselves or their appointed manager) to be included in the local register of fit and proper persons to manage a site.
A site owner may only apply if they hold or have applied for a site licence for the site.
From 1 October 2021, unless the site is exempt, the site owner must:
- be a fit and proper person to lawfully operate a park home site, or
- have a fit and proper site manager in place
Exempt sites
A site is exempt if it's “a non-commercial family occupied site”. This is one:
- only occupied by members of the same family, and
- not being run on a commercial basis
The regulations provide further detail. See the GOV.UK - legislation website for more details.
We'll make a charge for the processing of applications to cover our costs. This charge will be in line with our current mobile homes fees.
What is a fit and proper person?
Any applicant applying to go onto the register will have to show that there are suitable financial and management arrangements in place for the site and to provide information relating to their conduct in relation to any of the following:
- Offences relating to fraud, dishonesty, violence, arson or drugs or listed in schedule 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
- Contraventions of law in relation to housing, caravan sites, mobile homes, public health, planning or environmental health or landlord and tenant law.
- Contraventions of law in relation to the Equality Act 2010, or in connection with the carrying out of any business.
- Harassment of any person in connection with the carrying out of any business.
- Insolvency within the last 10 years.
- Disqualification from acting as a company director within the last 10 years.
- Has the right to work in the UK.
You can search the public registers at
Fit and proper person register.
Alternatively the current public register extract can be downloaded here.
Contact Us
Rushcliffe Borough Council Licensing team
- Email: licensing@rushcliffe.gov.uk