Site licences and conditions

You can use the site licence to check things like:

• if the site is licensed for residential, holiday or mixed-use
• if your pitch is in an area approved for residential occupation
• what standards the site must meet
• if the conditions of the licence affect your pitch – for example, any alterations you want to make

The licence will include a set of conditions the site owner must follow and enforce. This means the licence conditions will affect you too. For example, they may say what materials are allowed to be used for porches and sheds on your pitch, or where flammable material can be stored. The site rules may reflect these licence conditions, but not always.

Every site is different so always check the licence for your site.

Model standards

There are standards for park home sites that all councils should consider when setting the conditions of the licence or reviewing them.

These standards are a guide and do not automatically apply to every park home site. Th council should follow the model standards unless they have good reasons for not doing so. For example, on older sites the council would have to take into account the age, layout and character of the site.

The standards are:

• Model Standards 2008 for Caravan Sites in England
• Model Standards 2008 for Caravan Sites in Wales

On site

The site licence and conditions should be displayed in an obvious place, usually on a noticeboard.

If the licence is not displayed, you can report the site owner to your local council.

Copies might also be available from the site office, but this cannot be instead of having the licence displayed.

From the local council

The local council must keep a public register of site licences.

You can download a copy of the licence from the council’s website or visit their offices and ask to see the register. Anyone can do this. You do not have to be living on the site.

Find your local council’s website

A park home site with pitches used for residential living must have:

• a site licence from the local council
• planning permission from the local council

If you’re buying a park home it’s best to check these for yourself rather than relying on sales material or verbal assurances from the site owner.

1. Check the site licence

The licence issued by the local council will confirm if the site is licensed for holiday, residential or mixed use. Mixed use means the site has both residential and holiday pitches.

Licences vary as to how they phrase permanent residential living, and park homes will often be referred to as caravans or mobile homes. Look for phrases like:

• permanent residential use
• residential mobile homes
• use as a residential caravan site
• year-round residential occupation
• stationing of mobile homes for residential occupation
• protected site (used in England only)
• regulated site (used in Wales only)

A protected site or regulated site means one that has a licence and planning permission for people to live there year-round. It does not include holiday-only sites or sites where occupation is restricted to certain months of the year.

Wording to look out for that would suggest the site or pitch cannot be used as your permanent home (because they limit how long you can live there) include:

• holiday use only
• seasonal occupation only
• not to be used as a person’s sole or main residence
• no caravan shall be occupied between various dates
• 11-month occupancy only

2. Check the site plan or map

The licence should also include a map or plan of the site with areas clearly marked for residential pitches and (if applicable) holiday pitches.

Use this to check that your pitch is on a part of the site where residential use is allowed.

The planning permission for the site will confirm if the site has permission for residential use.

Check with the local council that:

• the site has permission
• there is no end or expiry date for that permission – if there is, the site owner must explain how this affects your right to live in the home

To check, use the council’s online register of planning permissions or contact the planning team directly. This information might also be referenced on the site licence but it’s best to check directly with the council.

Find your local council website

The local council is responsible for enforcing the conditions of the licence.

If the site owner is not following them, the council can issue a compliance notice telling them what must be put right and by when. They can also take further action if the site owner fails to act.

Find out more

• Check your park home is managed by a fit and proper person
• Resolving disputes with the site owner
• Reporting a problem to the local council