Mobile park homes and residential sites

A park home is a mobile home that you live in all year round.

You buy the park home and rent your pitch from a residential site owner.

Residential sites

Residential sites must be licensed by the local council. They are called protected sites.

The site owner must display the licence on the site.

You have strong rights on a protected site.

For example, the site owner:

• cannot evict you without a reason

• needs a court order to evict you

• must not harass you or ignore your rights. For example, they cannot sell your home or give it to a family member

Holiday sites

You cannot live on a holiday site all year round.

You have fewer rights on a holiday site. The site owner can evict you without a court order.

Holiday sites are called unprotected sites. They should be licensed by the council.

Mixed use sites

Some sites are for residential and holiday use.

Different parts of the park are set aside for residence or holidays.

Contact your local council if you:

• want to know about the site's licence

• are worried about the way the site is run

Pitch fees

You pay a pitch fee to the site owner. Pitch fees are usually paid monthly.

Park site owners must give you 28 days' notice in writing if they want to increase the pitch fee. They can only do this once a year.

Benefits to help with fees

You can claim benefits to help pay your pitch fee and maintenance charges if you live in your mobile home.

Utility charges

Check what your written agreement says about charges for water, gas, electricity or LPG.

These services can be part of your pitch fee or a separate charge.

The site owner cannot profit from selling on water, electricity or gas.

But they can set their own price for LPG.

Council tax

You need to pay council tax if you live in a park home.

Ask your council for a council tax reduction if your income is low.

You can apply for a single person's discount of 25% if you live by yourself.

You do not pay council tax if you live in a holiday home.

Repairs and maintenance

You are responsible for:

• your mobile home

• fences or outbuildings that you own or have on your pitch

Park home site owners are responsible for:

• keeping shared areas such as walkways in good condition

• repairs to the hardstanding area where your home sits

• services they supply like sewerage

Site rules

The site owner must give you a written copy of site rules, terms and conditions.

Park home sites usually have rules about:

• parking arrangements

• if children or pets are allowed

• satellite dishes and television aerials

Eviction

A park home site owner needs a court order to evict you.

The court only grants an order if it is reasonable to evict you.

For example, because:

• you have not paid your pitch fees

• you broke site rules, for example, you caused antisocial behaviour

• you did something serious, for example, you assaulted another resident

• your mobile home is not your only or main home

• your mobile home is in very poor condition

Selling a mobile park home

You have the right to sell your mobile home without asking the site owner.

Your buyer must pay 10% of the agreed sale price to the site owner. They take this from the amount they pay you.

For example, if you sell your home for £100,000, you get £90,000 and the site owner gets £10,000.

Passing on your home and pitch

If you die, you can pass your mobile park home and your pitch agreement to your partner or another family member who you live with.

Friends or family members cannot take over your pitch right away if they do not live with you. They need the site owner's consent.

Giving a mobile park home to a family member

You can give your home to a partner or family member in your lifetime.

They must live there as their main home.

Need more advice on park homes?

Read the guide on GOV.UK

Get free independent legal advice from LEASE