We recognise the real value of our mobile homes housing stock, often referred to as 'caravans'.
In recent years, this housing sector has improved in many ways, for example:
- affordability
- more rigid construction
- better fire safety
- better energy efficiency.
This sector has thrived in Medway and is a valued boost to a much-needed housing stock.
Site licence conditions and park management
With each successful planning application for a new mobile home park, Medway Council aim to control park development by enforcing a series of licence conditions. We promote a relaxed, yet proactive, approach to park licensing. We involve town planners, park owners, the Kent Fire Service and park residents.
These include controls on parking, combustible structures, fences and unkempt vegetation, which must be controlled to within acceptable levels ensuring greater fire safety. We must also consider government guidance by applying the industry produced Model Standards 2008.
Day-to-day management of parks lies with site licence holders.
Medway Council must license all mobile home sites. Find out more about site licensing.
Site rules
Park rules aim to promote cohesion, harmony and fair play. They are drawn up and enforced by the park owner.
We will ensure all park rules follow a prescribed process and are free from 'banned rules'.
We must publish the site rules and maintain a register of them under the Mobile Homes (Site Rules) (England) Regulations 2014.
View the register of park rules.
Park life legislation
The following aims to help clarify mobile homes legislation.
Qualifying residents' associations
We welcome residents setting up a ‘qualifying residents' association' to represent home owners in the mobile home park where they live.
The site owner has a duty to consult with the association on any proposed changes to the operation and management of their site.
Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960
The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 specifies minimum standards such as:
- demarking site boundaries
- density and spacing between mobile homes relating to fire safety
- providing and maintaining a firefighting risk assessment
- displaying certain notices - including a copy of the site licence.
Caravan Sites Act 1968
The Caravan Sites Act 1968 contains provisions for the protection of occupiers against harassment. The council can enforce this.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that a competent person must undertake a fire risk assessment of the site and identify the risks present.
Model Standards 2008
Government issued Model Standards aim to help control site development, and ensure a healthy, happy and safe park.
Mobile Homes Act 2013
The Mobile Homes Act 2013 introduced a new site licensing process for 'relevant protected sites' (that is park home sites and mixed sites of both residential park homes and holiday homes). The new site licensing process gives us more effective control of conditions on relevant protected sites.
It enables us to take enforcement action including:
- the power to serve compliance notices relating to breaches of site licence conditions
- emergency action powers
- the ability to carry out works in default and recover our expenses.
Relevant protected sites
The following are types of sites that are relevant protected sites and therefore subject to Medway Council's licensing process:
- a single owner-occupied or rented pitch on which a caravan is stationed with consent for residential use or where it has planning permission to station a caravan, but the consent is silent on the type of use of the pitch if it is occupied by a caravan used as a permanent residence
- a site comprising rented caravans which has consent for residential use
- a site comprising owner-occupied caravans which has consent for residential use
- a site comprising both rented and owner-occupied caravans which has consent for residential use
- a site which has consent for both holiday and permanent residential use and is occupied under that arrangement
- a site with consent for both holiday and permanent residential use but where the pitches for permanent residential use are:
- for the time being vacant, or
- being used for holiday purposes or otherwise – whether in breach of the planning permission or site licence or otherwise
- a site which has planning permission restricting permanent residential occupation of part of it, but which also comprises pitches for permanent residential occupation (as permitted in the consent) and occupied under that arrangement
- a site which has planning permission restricting permanent residential occupation of part of it, but which also comprises pitches for permanent residential occupation (as permitted in the consent) but where the pitches for permanent residential use are:
- for the time being vacant, or
- being used for holiday purposes or otherwise – whether in breach of the planning permission or site licence or otherwise
- an owner-occupied gypsy and traveller site with relevant consent
- a rented gypsy and traveller site with relevant consent
- a site with planning permission as a caravan site, but the consent is silent on type of use, but such use includes permanent residential use (notwithstanding any other usage).
Find out more about relevant protected sites.
Fit and proper persons register
The Mobile Homes (Requirement for Manager of Site to be Fit and Proper Person) (England) Regulations 2020 introduced a fit and proper person test for site owners of the person appointed to manage the site. The purpose of the fit and proper person test is to improve the standards of park home site management.
Site owners operating a relevant protected site must apply to Medway Council and register a relevant person (themselves or their appointed manager) for inclusion on Medway’s fit and proper persons register.
View the fit and proper persons register.
Advice
For further advice, email mobilehomes.enquiries@medway.gov.uk.