Planning for established mobile home on freehold land

kiden

I’m thinking of buying a 20’ x 36’ mobile home on freehold land (cash sale), but first I need an idea of what planning laws might apply.

I’ve contacted the council but it’s going to be a slow process getting an answer from them (either provisional or concrete). I might miss out on the property if I wait for the council.

So I’m wondering if anyone here can point me in the direction of what I might be able to legally do (or not do!) with the property.

It’s been there 50-60 years, having originally been built as a granny annexe at the end of garden, and has been permanently lived in for at least 18 years.

Current owner pays Council Tax, water, electric, broadband, so it’s a recognised address.

Some cons I don’t mind (though would affect resale value):
- there’s no gas and sewage is a tank which needs emptying once a year.
- access is via a footpath (short walk from road) though there’s an adjoining park which makes it possible (with permission) to occasionally bring a van on site.
- it’s among several tall trees, so insurance will be tricky

The mobile home needs replacing soon, so I’m wondering about two options if I were to go ahead:
- replacing it with another one, though can’t be sure I’d get a new one in over the park
- replacing it with a small home (trees prevent anything tall)

The current owner suggests a two stage approach that he thinks avoids planning, which is to extend the existing home first, then replace the old part.

Any thoughts or things I should be thinking about?

Davesnave

kiden wrote: »

The mobile home needs replacing soon, so I’m wondering about two options if I were to go ahead:
- replacing it with another one, though can’t be sure I’d get a new one in over the park
- replacing it with a small home (trees prevent anything tall)

The current owner suggests a two stage approach that he thinks avoids planning, which is to extend the existing home first, then replace the old part.

Any thoughts or things I should be thinking about?

It's not clear what you mean by 'small home.'


A mobile home is classed as a temporary dwelling. If you are thinking of replacing it with anything that has foundations, that would require planning permission and its proposed construction would need to meet building regulations.

kiden

By small home I mean something like a log cabin or small bungalow, but yes, something that’s likely to need the current concrete base replacing with proper foundations.

I’m wondering what the likelihood of getting planning permission might be, considering that the current home (also often called a ‘park home’ but this one is on freehold land so that term feels misleading) has been established for so long.

Davesnave

kiden wrote: »

I’m wondering what the likelihood of getting planning permission might be, considering that the current home (also often called a ‘park home’ but this one is on freehold land so that term feels misleading) has been established for so long.

There's a sheep shed in the field where I used to go sledging as a lad 60 years ago.
It looks a little worse for wear now, but its planning status remains that it's a shed, until someone succeeds in applying for a change of use.

There is nothing special about a Park Home being sited on freehold land.

babyblade41

It won't make any difference.. if you replace it with something more solid, a planning application will be necessary.

I've just moved from a house with a 3 acre paddock , all freehold but a mobile home was still refused as it wasn't going to be used for anyone who would be working onsite.

Different councils have different views, but mobile structures are getting increasingly hard to gain planning permission

G_M

'Freehold' does not mean you are free to do whatever you wish.


You sillhave to comply with Planning (and other) law, as well as any covenants that may apply.

kiden

I read a few things here and there (but nothing official, and mostly old stories) suggesting that if a mobile home has been established a long time with someone living in it, and the land is considered residential, then a planning application for a more permanent dwelling is more likely to be successful.

I have contacted the council as I realise I need to speak to them. In the meantime I’m trying to get a feel for whether to take a risk, i.e. buy it, if it looks like the property might go before the council get back to me.

kiden

I realise what freehold means I mention it to distinguish my question from similar ones relating to mobile homes sited on parks that are owned by another party, or ‘park homes’.

I’ll ask about convenants...

G_M

kiden wrote: »

I’ll ask about convenants...

No need to ask.

Better to read...........!


https://eservices.landregistry.gov.uk/eservices/FindAProperty/view/QuickEnquiryInit.do

lincroft1710

If the mobile home was originally used as a "granny annex" then the planning may reflect this usage and a stand alone dwelling may not be permitted.

Do not do anything until you have thoroughly researched both current and possible future planning issues. Pedestrian only access may also be a problem.

Finally that size of mobile home wasn't made 60 yrs ago, so has probably been there not much more than 50 yrs at the most

ProDave

So the caravan has been lived in for plenty of years.

No 1, get a certificate of lawful development from the council to establish beyond doubt that you have permission to live on the site in a "caravan"

THEN you can replace that particular caravan with ANY other caravan that meets the legal definition of a "caravan" under the caravan act. I forget the exact sizers but it will cover you up to a twin unit 20ft by 40ft or even more, when I looked it up last, I recall it was a gross floor area of about 100 square metres.

Then you can buy or BUILD your replacement caravan.

To qualify as a "caravan" it does not have to be on wheels, it just has to fit within those size limits, and be capable of being moved, and moving may be by means of a crane to lift it and a low loader to transport it.

So under the caravan definition, you can actually build a very nice very well insulated timber bungalow. There was one such build like this featured on Grand Designs some years ago.

And the best bit, no building regulations involved, so you can be a lot more flexible with what you build.