Caravan sites - fit and proper person

There are new regulations for owners and licence holders of caravan sites.

About the regulations

The Mobile Homes (Requirements for Manager of Site to Fit and Proper) (England) Regulations 2020 prohibit the use of land as a residential mobile home site unless we are satisfied that the owner or manager of the site is a fit and proper person to manage the site. The purpose of the fit and proper person test is to improve the standards of park (mobile) home site management.

What does this mean for site owners?

Unless a 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 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 a site.

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. Please visit the Government's Legislation website for more details.

What we 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 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 also consider whether the relevant person:

  • has the right to work in the UK
  • has committed any offence involving fraud or other dishonesty, violence, arson or drugs or listed in Schedule 3 of 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 may also 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.

Application cost

There is currently no fee for applications to be added to the Fit and Proper Person Register.

Fit and Proper Person Register

 Mobile Homes Act 2013 - Register of Fit and Proper Persons (PDF 159KB)

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Page Last Updated: Tuesday, 05 October 2021 at 10:21 AM