LSL : Park Home Solicitors

04/03/2026

Are park homes different from ‘bricks-and-mortar’ ones ?

Yes ! One of the big differences is with planning: Planning permission is needed in England and Wales for “carrying out of building, engineering …. or other operations in, on, over or under land, or the making of any material change in the use”

With bricks-and-mortar, there are ‘permitted development rights’, meaning that some things can be done without permission – such as erecting a washing line building a shed.

With park homes, the only permitted development rights are where a site licence condition requires something to be done. This means that, strictly speaking, planning permission is needed for almost anything else on a park – from putting in a pond through to constructing a freestanding conservatory.

It may be that the Planning Authority will not take too much of an issue with some things, but it is always best to check so that there is no breach of the Mobile Homes Act Written Statement.

https://parkhome.law

13/02/2026

Understanding the boundaries and plan of site

The site boundary is the line that marks where the site ends and where other land begins. Sometimes it can be the same as a pitch boundary, sometimes not, so it is worth checking if you have a pitch next to the edge of the site.

Councils will often add a condition to a licence requiring that the boundary ;

• should be easy to see and kept in good condition.
• Must be marked by a fence, hedge, wall, or a natural feature like a river or woodland.

The site owner must give a plan of the site to the local council when applying for a new licence.

There must be at least 3 metres of space between your caravan and the site boundary.

This gap helps protect your privacy and keeps a safe distance from roads, houses, or anything else outside the site.

The distance is measured from the wall of your caravan to the boundary line.

https://parkhome.law/

29/01/2026

Caravan site licence conditions

Because it is a term of an agreement not to do anything which might cause the site owner to breach the conditions of their licence, we would recommend buyers familiarise themselves with the licence conditions.

Copies of the licence are held by the local authority and can be requested free of charge; the site owner is also required to display a summary of their licence publicly near to the entrance of the site or in ‘some conspicuous place’.

https://parkhome.law/

14/01/2026

We are looking at a new topic this year : the Model Standards for Caravan Sites in England 2008.

It is a legal requirement for site owners to hold a site licence issued by the local authority. The local authority will normally impose conditions on this licence, based on the Model Standards: The standards are not themselves law unless they are included on the licence.

The standards relate mainly to issues such as health and safety or welfare and we will look through these in the coming months.

https://www.facebook.com/parkhomelaw

24/12/2025

Season’s greetings from all of us!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas filled with happiness and festive cheer and a happy New Year!

Please note that our offices will reopen on 29th December at 9AM.

Stay tuned for more posts and updates!

14/11/2025

Should you get a survey done on the park home?

If you are planning to buy a park home, you may wish to get a survey report from a specialist park home surveyor. Although it is not a legal requirement, a survey can help you understand the home’s condition and how old it is.

Whether you buy a new or pre-owned home, a survey may also help you to understand the maintenance that will be required once you move in.

If you decide to get a survey, the surveyor will undertake thorough examinations of the inside, outside and underneath of the home. After the survey they will provide you with a full report which will explain of any issues that require repair or maintenance.

It's also a good idea to check whether the report includes an opinion on whether the home is indeed a caravan, meets the legal definition and is for residential use.

We work with a number of specialist surveyors and can put you in contact if it is of interest.

Stay tuned—our next posts will cover the Model Standards and licence conditions in more detail.

https://parkhome.law/

28/10/2025

We continue our look at the 'Implied terms' of Mobile Home Act agreements which gives residents the right to be consulted on proposed improvements to the site.

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What does it mean to “consult” an occupier (resident) about proposed improvements?

�To ‘consult’ means to provide at least 28 days’ written notice of:
• the improvements and their short- and long-term benefits to residents
• how the pitch fee may be affected,
• when and where occupiers can make representations.

All representations made by the occupier must be considered before deciding whether or not to go ahead.

Proper consultation is required under Mobile Homes Act for residential protected sites. We are currently involved in a number of cases where proper consultation was apparently not undertaken and it will be interesting to see how the Tribunal considers those cases.

https://www.facebook.com/parkhomelaw

15/09/2025

Understanding the 10% Commission:

Buyers of residential park homes often ask us: “Do I need to pay an extra 10% on top of the sale price?”

No, you do not.

Instead, the 10% commission is deducted from the sale price and buyer/new occupier pays directly to the site owner.

Example:
If a park home is sold for £200,000, the seller receives £180,000, and £20,000 (10%) goes to the site owner.

The law sets out clearly a maximum commission rate of 10% of the purchase price of the mobile home, as outlined in Mobile Homes Selling & Gifting Regulations 2013

Note that commission on holiday homes is not governed by this.

https://parkhome.law/

02/09/2025

Selling or Buying a Mobile Home - Pitch Fee Apportionment

When a mobile home is sold, especially partway through the month, sometimes the vendor seeks an ‘apportionment’ of the pitch fee

The pitch fee is the amount payable to the site owner for the right to keep your mobile home on their land and maintenance of the common parts of the site — usually paid monthly in advance.

If the sale completes halfway through the month, the seller may have already paid the full month’s pitch fee to the site owner.

In that case, the seller might ask the buyer to reimburse them for the remainder of the month — this is called apportionment.

For example:
* Pitch fee: £200/month
* Completion date: 15th of the month
* Seller has paid the full £200 already
* Buyer may be asked to repay £100 (their share from the 15th to the end of the month)

Agree early on how the pitch fee will be handled and make sure it’s recorded clearly in writing, ideally within the sale/ purchase agreement or handled by your legal representative.

https://www.facebook.com/parkhomelaw

22/08/2025

We are pleased to have been recognised as Specialist Legal Service of the Year (South of England)

20/08/2025

If you're planning to purchase or sell a mobile or park home, it's crucial to understand who has the legal right to sell it — because sometimes the owner of the home itself and who has the right to sell can be different to the person who has the right to occupy it.

When the seller and occupier are different, this can happen in several common situations:

1. LPA (Lasting Power of Attorney): A relative or friend is acting on behalf of the homeowner who has lost mental capacity. An attorney under a registered LPA must show they have authority to act on the owner's behalf.

2. Probate: The homeowner has passed away, and a family member or executor is now handling the estate. A person selling after a death might have probate or letters of administration confirming their right to deal with the estate.

3. Sometimes the owner of the home might be different to the person who lived in it, such as if a child bought the home for a parent.

Trying to sell without proper authority can lead to disputes with the site owner or delays for the buyer. If you're unsure about your position, seek legal advice early to avoid complications.

https://parkhome.law/