Anyone stationing a caravan or mobile home on land and using it for accommodation will require planning permission both for the caravan or mobile home and for the use of the land for residential purposes.
There are some limited exceptions to this which covers small numbers of touring caravans (up to 5) on land for a limited period of time, where the owner of the land has a certificate from an organisation such as the caravan club.
Where a site has got planning permission the owner of the site must have a caravan site licence which is granted by Tendring District Council. The purpose of the licence is to regulate the standards being maintained. To ensure that there is adequate space between the vehicles to protect against the spread of fire and that fire precautions are maintained, that the electricity supply to the site is safe and that there is adequate facilities in terms of water, sanitation and recreation space.
More detailed information about standards on licenced caravan sites is available below:
Caravan Site Licensing Standards
You can apply for caravan site licensing online here Caravan Site Licensing
Residential Mobile Homes Conditions
You can print the licencing form here Caravan Site License Form
This application is subject to tacit approval under the European Union Services Directive. Applications are usually dealt with within 62 days of receipt of full application. In exceptional circumstances the deadline may be required to be extended, you will be notified of the new deadline and the reason for extending it.
We are required under the Mobile Homes 1983 (as amended by the Mobile Homes Act 2013) to keep and publish an up-to-date register of park home rules.
Sites rules on residential mobile home sites ensure community cohesion and good management of the site, while also making sure that mobile home owners are clear of the rules that apply to them.
The Mobile Homes (Site Rules) Regulations 2014 detail the procedure that a site owner must use when making, varying or deleting a site rule. They establish the process for consulting on proposed changes, grant appeals rights and require local authorities to keep and publish a register of site rules of sites in their area.
Overview
From 1st April 2015 residential mobile homes sites known as “Park Home Sites” and mixed sites with residential and holiday mobile homes will need to be licenced under the Mobile Homes Act 2013.
Site owners of existing sites will need to make an application for a new licence as the licence they currently hold for residential caravans/mobile homes under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 will no longer be valid after 1st April 2015, however mixed sites, the old licence will continue to apply for the holiday and touring caravan element of the site.
Planning permission for residential mobile homes will need to be in place first and the site owner or manager will need to be a “fit and proper” person to hold such a licence.
For residents selling or buying a residential mobile home, new rules are in place.
Additional Mobile Home Guidance can be found at:- https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/park-homes
From 1st October 2021, each Protected Site must have applied for the person responsible for the site to be assessed as a Fit and Proper Person. Once an application has been made, the local authority must decide as soon as possible, whether an entry onto the register can be made, with the decision made in writing and an entry being placed on our online Fit and Proper Person Register.
Normally, an entry on the register will last for five years, and costs a one-off fee, which is set in accordance with Mobile Homes Policy.
We attach conditions to licences, and if site licence conditions aren’t met, Tendering District Council can take enforcement action which includes the serving of Compliance Notices or Fixed Penalty Notices. Site licence conditions are designed to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents and covers things like drainage, distances between mobile homes and so on.
Site Rules
Site rules are not compulsory, but where a site has park rules, these will need to be reviewed before 1st October 2015 and sent to this department, so they can be reviewed online by the public. More information about “Site Rules” and the process for reviewing them can be found at:- https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/park-homes
More Information
Site Owners – British Holiday and Home Park Association www.bhhpa.org.uk
Site Residents – National Association of Park Home Residents NAPHR.co.uk
If you have any queries regarding caravan site licensing or about the standards of accommodation being provided in a mobile home or on a caravan site, please contact our Health and Safety Section.
E-mail: pshousing@tendringdc.gov.uk
Address: Operational Services
88-90 Pier Avenue
Clacton on Sea
Essex
CO15 1TN
Telephone: 01255 686617
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