Licensing of Mobile Home Parks

Bromsgrove District Council has over 15 residential mobile home sites throughout the district.  The Private Sector Housing Team, sets and monitors standards throughout the mobile home parks and caravan sites, this is to ensure the safety of the residents and determine compliance with Mobile Homes Site Licence conditions.

Moble home residents are probably in the unusual position of owning your home but not the land on which it is situated.  There are several pieces of legislation relating to mobile homes which are as follows: -

Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960

All mobile home parks must have a licence issued by the council by virtue of this Act.  The council cannot refuse to grant a licence and a licence cannot be issued for a limited period (unless the planning permission has a time-limit).  The council attaches conditions to the licences of all mobile home parks, specifying minimum standards which must be achieved and maintained by the site owner.  Site licence conditions include the following: -

• marking of site boundaries
• spacing between mobile homes for fire safety
• provision and maintenance of fire fighting equipment
• display of notices - including a copy of the site licence
• specifications for roadways and footpaths

The council cannot, unfortunately address any matters outside the scope of the site licence conditions.  These can only be tackled by you under your rights contained in the Mobile Homes Act 1983.  This Act gives you the right to have a written agreement which sets out both the site owner's and your responsibilities.  The agreement must contain the name and address of the site owner, a description of the pitch to which the agreement relates together with implied and express terms.

Implied terms cannot under any circumstances be changed, and cover issues such as:

• the duration of the agreement
• rights of termination of the agreement
• recovery of overpayment in the event of termination
• rights to sell or gift your mobile home.
• park owners' entitlement to commission on sale of home

Express terms, on the other hand, can be altered either by agreement or by order of the County Court.  Express terms vary from park to park and will cover such matters as pitch fees, service charges and details about maintenance responsibilities for the site and the homes on it.  The Mobile Homes Act potentially provides you with extensive rights.  Unfortunately it is only enforceable through the civil court which means that you must pursue any action yourself, usually with the assistance of a solicitor.  The council is not able to intervene on your behalf.  

The Caravan Sites Act 1968

This legislation contains provisions for the protection of occupiers against eviction and harassment and is enforced by the Council.  Harassment, (in the legal sense) is confined to a site owner "illegally depriving occupiers of occupation" of their mobile home or "carrying out acts calculated to interfere with the peace and comfort of an occupier with the intention of causing them to leave" or" to stop them exercising a right or remedy that they may have".  Any other form of 'harassment', for example the site owner being abusive or rude can only be addressed by the person affected and cannot be pursued by the council.

Please note: Park rules and other matters not covered under the site licence are strictly an issue between the resident and owner.  The council is unable to act on behalf of residents or owners in such circumstances.  If you are unable to resolve any issues, you can ask a court or arbitrator to make a decision if both parties agree. You should consider seeking advice from a solicitors (yellow pages will provide a list of solicitors who operate in this area) or your local Citizens Advice Bureau before taking such action.

For further information regarding Mobile Homes Park Site Licences and the processes involved in licensing and regulating them please do not hesitate to contact at privatesectorhousing@bromsgrove.gov.uk.

Location of Caravan Sites

• Waterside Orchard, Bittel Lane, Hopwood
• St. Mary's Park, Church Lane, Wythall
• Hillcrest Park, Alcester Road, Wythall
• Bransons Cross Farm, Bransons Cross, Beoley, Nr Redditch
• Daleswood Park, Winwood Heath Road, Romsley
• Dells Farm Park, Batemans Lane, Wythall
• The Glen, Linthurst Newtown, Blackwell
• 422 Bromsgrove Road, Hunnington

Documents

Mobile Homes Act 1983>

Private Sector Housing Renewal and Assistance Policy  (79.00 KB)

Bromsgrove District Private Sector Housing Strategy  (109.45 KB)