Static Caravan heating

Bungle69

Hi,
My daughter lives in a static caravan on our land.
The caravan is connected to our electricity (not an issue).
The caravan is heated (GCH) using propane gas bottles.
Would she be eligible for any government energy payment assistance fund etc?

Mstty

I don't think so, without paying council tax it's going to be difficult to claim the £400 EBSS as in impossible and the £200 alternate Fuel payment again the same issue no council tax no claim.

Happy to be proved wrong.

Alnat1

Don't you need to have planning permission for a static caravan to be used year round on your land? Would that not make it liable for council tax?

Spoonie_Turtle

Is it a separate address?  If so, worth applying although I haven't seen any information about actual eligibility criteria - if she doesn't qualify, nothing lost*, and if she does qualify, everything gained!

*Edit: unless there are council tax/permissions issues - presumably that's sorted if it is an official separate address as in my first question though.

£400 EBSS-AF https://www.gov.uk/apply-energy-bill-support-if-not-automatic
£200 AFP (applications open next month) https://www.gov.uk/get-help-energy-bills/alternative-fuels

matelodave

You could find that trying to put in a claim for the AFP would open a whole can of worms if you don't have planning permission and she isn't paying council tax.

One or two have been pounced on by the council around where we live because of statics being used as permanent accommodation without planning permission etc so it may be better to keep quiet.

ProDave

But people on a park home site who pay their electricity to the park home owner will be able to apply directly for the grant.

But that is another can of worms.  If the occupation of the static van is "incidental to the main house" e.g. a family member uses it and they make SOME use of the facilities in the main house, perhaps for washing or showering, then it is permitted development usually.  But if the occupant lives there entirely independant of the main house, that would need planning permission as a separate residential unit.

It is a can or worms I would not be looking to open and keeping my head down.

MWT

ProDave said:

But people on a park home site who pay their electricity to the park home owner will be able to apply directly for the grant.

As long as they are on a site that is licenced for residential occupation, and hence paying Council Tax, not a site licenced for non-residential holiday occupation where there is no Council Tax due...