The Mobile Homes Act provides a legal definition for what constitutes a mobile home. It also defines a park owner’s responsibilities and obligations, and the rights of mobile home owners on protected sites. This particular act does not in itself deal with parks which come under a holiday home licence.

Click to view the Mobile Homes Act 1983

Click to view the Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment of Schedule 1)

Mobile Home Legislation

The definition of a caravan is provided in section 29 of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 as follows:
• In section 29 (1) of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 ("The 1960 Act") a caravan is defined as
o "... any structure designed or adapted for human habitation which is capable of being moved from one place to another (whether by being towed, or by being transported on a motor vehicle or trailer) and any motor vehicle so designed or adapted but does not include:
o Any railway rolling stock which is for the time being on rails forming part of a railway system, or
o Any tent."
• This definition has been modified by Section 13 (1) of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 ("The 1968 Act"), which deals with twin-unit caravans. Section 13 (1) provides that:
"A structure designed or adapted for human habitation which:
a) Is composed of not more than two sections separately constructed and designed to be assembled on a site by means of bolts, clamps or other devices;
and
b) Is, when assembled, physically capable of being moved by road from one place to another (whether by being towed, or by being transported on a motor vehicle or trailer), shall not be treated as not being (or not having been) a caravan within the meaning of Part 1 of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 by reason only that it cannot lawfully be moved on a highway when assembled."
Section 13(2) of the 1968 Act (amended October 2006, see below for full document) prescribes the following maximum dimensions for "twin unit caravans"
(a) length (exclusive of any drawbar); 65.616 feet (20 metres);
(b) width: 23.309 feet (6.8 metres);
(c) overall height of living accommodation (measured internally from the floor at the lowest level to the ceiling at the highest level): 10.006 feet (3.05 metres).
So far as the law is concerned, a park/mobile home, a caravan holiday home, touring caravan or Gypsy and Traveller home are all capable of coming within the legal definition of a caravan provided they retain the element of mobility. Mobility, in this context, means that the caravan must be capable of being moved when assembled from one place to another. This means that it cannot be fixed to the ground. Permanent works, such as an extension or large porch, which fix the caravan to the ground could mean that a caravan no longer comes within the legal definition of a caravan and could as a consequence be treated as a building. This could have serious planning, legal and contract implications for site owners and residents alike such as residents of park homes not having protection under the Mobile Home Act 1983 (see above for full Mobile Home Act)

To view the Caravan Sites and Development Control Act 1960 click here.

To view the Statutory Instrument detailing the amendments to the Caravan Sites and Development Control Act 1960, click here

If you have any queries regarding this topic or any other, please do not hesitate to call us on 01376 501011 or email on info@joalleisure.com