Residential Mobile Homes

The Mobile Homes Act 2013 introduces important changes to the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, which directly affects the way the Council licenses caravan sites with residential pitches in its area.

This Act provides improved protection for people who live in a mobile home on a relevant protected site.  Under the Act site owners must consult with residents with a view to agreeing new site rules that comply with the Act.  

Site owners of all relevant protected sites must deposit these agreed rules with the Local Authority. The Act also introduces new enforcement powers and the ability for Councils to charge fees to cover the cost of implementing the Act. Other categories of caravan site, such as those used for holiday purposes, are not subject to licensing fees.

Further information and guidance for site owners and residents is available from the government website (please note that our Park Homes fees policy is currently under review as at 4.1.2024).

FIT AND PROPER PERSON REQUIREMENT

The Mobile Homes (Requirement for Manager of Site to be Fit and Proper Person) (England) Regulations 2020 introduced rules to require all park home (permanent residential) sites operated on a commercial basis to be managed by a fit and proper person. Torridge District Council has approved a determination policy (PDF) [498KB]  and a  fee policy (PDF) [804KB]  to implement the new regulations and enable site owners or site managers to make their application (PDF) [723KB]  to be included on the register of fit and proper persons. New applications are required if site manager arrangements change. Registrations last for 5 years.