What is a caravan?
In law the term caravan includes those which can be towed behind cars, motor homes, static holiday homes and the more modern residential park homes, which often arrive on site in two sections and are then bolted together.
The law covering caravan sites
The law covering caravans is contained in:
- Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 - This act covers the licensing of caravan sites and the safety, welfare and management conditions which need to be provided.
- Caravan Sites Act 1968 - This act deals with protection from eviction from residential sites and the maximum dimensions for caravans.
- The Mobile Homes Act 1983 - This act covers the civil law between site owners and residents on 'protected sites'. A protected site is one which has planning permission for permanent residential use and has been issued with a site licence.
The first two Acts are enforced by us but the Mobile Homes Act may involve County Court action by residents or site owners themselves to resolve any disputes.
Use the links below to find the information that you need
Caravan site licences
Applications for site licences are made to the local authority in whose area the land is situated. Applications must be in writing, should detail the land the application concerns and any other information required by the local authority.
In order to be eligible to be issued with a licence you must be entitled to use the land as a caravan site. In addition licences will not be issued to you if you have had a site licence revoked within three years of the current application.
We can only issue a licence for a new caravan site after the site has received the necessary planning permission and a completed application for a site licence.
Local Authorities are responsible for safeguarding the interests of home owners and the public at large through the licensing regime under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.
Therefore, in order to ensure compliance with applicable licence conditions , a visit is carried out on any site for which a licence has been requested. What conditions are applicable to any particular site may vary, but will be based on model conditions established by the Act, visit The National Archives website for more information on Model Standards 2008 for Caravan Sites.
We may also agree to the transfer of an existing licence to a new licensee.
An annual fee is required to maintain the licence on any relevant protected site. A relevant protected site is defined as any land to be used as a caravan site other than one where a licence is:
- Granted for holiday use only
- In any other way subject to conditions which restrict the usage of the site for the stationing of caravans for human habitation at certain times of the year (such as planning conditions)
Apply for a licence
All matters relating to the issue of caravan and camping licences, together with any related matters, are dealt with by Worcester Regulatory Services, on behalf of the Authority. Please see the contact details below to request an application form.
Worcester Regulatory Services – email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Contact Telephone Number – 01527 822799
The current fees for caravan site licences can be found on our Licensing Fees and Charges page.
Will tacit consent apply?
No, it is in the public interest that we process and consider all applications.
Caravan sites – Fit and proper person test
The Mobile Homes (Requirement for Manager of Site to be Fit and Proper Person) (England) Regulations 2020 ("the Regulations") introduced a fit and proper person test for mobile home site owners or the person appointed to manage the site, unless exempted by the Regulations.
What does this mean for site owners?
From 1 October 2021, unless the site is exempt, the site owner must be a fit and proper person to lawfully operate a park home site, or have a fit and proper site manager in place.
What must a site owner do?
Site owners operating a relevant protected site must apply between 1 July 2021 and 1 October 2021 to us for the relevant person (themselves or their appointed manager) to be included in the local register of fit and proper persons to manage a site.
A site owner may only apply if they hold or have applied for a site licence for the site.
To request an application form, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01905 822799.
The applicant seeking entry on the register will need a basic DBS certificate (dated no more than 6 months before the date of the application) and this must be included with the application. The DBS certificate must be from an approved supplier. Information about how to arrange a DBS check can be found on the Government's website.
Exempt sites
A site is exempt if it's "a non-commercial family occupied site". This is one:
- only occupied by members of the same family, and
- not being run on a commercial basis
The regulations provide further detail about this exemption, visit The Mobile Homes (Requirement for Manager of Site to be Fit and Proper Person) (England) Regulations 2020 for more details.
What we will consider
To be happy that the relevant person is a fit and proper person to manage the site, and to add them to the register, we will consider:
- past compliance with the site licence
- the long-term maintenance of the site
- whether the relevant person has sufficient level of competence to manage the site
- the management structure and funding arrangements for the site or proposed management structure and funding arrangements.
We will also consider whether the relevant person:
- has the right to work within the UK
- has committed any offence involving fraud or other dishonesty, violence, arson or drugs or listed in Schedule 3 to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (offences attracting notification requirements)
- has contravened any provision of the law relating to housing, caravan sites, mobile homes, public health, planning or environmental health or of landlord and tenant law
- has contravened any provision of the Equality Act 2010 in, or in connection with, the carrying on of any business
- has harassed any person in, or in connection with, the carrying on of any business
- has had an application rejected by any other local authority
- is, or has been within the past 10 years, personally insolvent
- is, or has been within the last 10 years, disqualified from acting as a company director
We also may consider the conduct of any person associated or formerly associated with the relevant person (whether on a personal, work or other basis), if it appears that person's conduct is relevant.
We can also consider any evidence on any other relevant matters.
document
Download registration form
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Register of Fit and Proper Persons
The Council’s register of persons it is satisfied are fit and proper persons to manage a relevant protected site in the Council’s area can be viewed on the Public Register page.
